Undergraduate Electives

Such course work must meet the generally accepted definitions that the humanities are the branches of knowledge concerned with people and culture, while the social sciences are the studies of society. Examples of traditional subjects in these areas are philosophy, religion, history, literature, fine arts, sociology, psychology, political science, anthropology, economics, and foreign languages other than a student's native language(s). Non-traditional subjects are exemplified by courses such as technology and human affairs, history of technology, and professional ethics and social responsibility.

Approved HSS Electives

You should select your HSS electives in consultation with your advisor. Courses that instill cultural values are acceptable while skills development courses are not. Consequently, courses that involve performance must be accompanied by theory or history of the subject. Courses on communication in the student’s native language, regardless of their level, may not be used to satisfy any HSS requirement.

Students may petition the Engineering and Society Department for approval as an HSS elective or other courses not on the approved list, using the Engineering Curriculum Modification Request Form. Each petition should include the official catalog description for the course and a syllabus for the course. The justification should clearly state how the course meets the definition of an HSS elective.

*only ETP 2020, 2030, 3870, 4800
EDLF 5000 (but not EDLF 5001)

Exceptions to the approved list (i.e., courses in the acceptable mnemonics that are not suitable for HSS elective credit, generally because of their specialized nature for majors in that field or because they are predominantly skills courses):
• ANTH: 1090, 3810, 3820, 4991, 4993, 4998, 4999, 5080, 5800, 5870, 5880, 5989
• ECON: 3710, 3720, 4010, 4350, 4710, 5090, 5100
• ENSP: 1600
• GDS: 1100, 4951, 4952
• MDST: 3702
• PSYC: 2005, 2200, 2210, 2220, 3005, 3006, 3210, 3870, 3590, 4111, 4125, 4200, 4290, 4330, 4500, 4910, 4970, 4930, 4940, 4980, 5200, 5210, 5260, 5330, 5350, 5401
• SOC: 4800, 4810, 4820, 4970, 5100, 5110, 5120, 5595, 5596
• STS: 1800, 4110, 4810

Elective credit for ANY course with a temporary course number (often x559 or x595 or x599) must be requested by petition, and the course syllabus must be attached to the petition.

Unrestricted Electives:

Unrestricted electives may be chosen from any graded course in the University except mathematics courses below MATH 1310; courses that substantially duplicate any others offered for the degree, including PHYS 2010, PHYS 2020, CS 1010, CS 1020; any introductory programming course; or SCPS courses (see below). APMA 1090 counts as a three-credit unrestricted elective.

Math and Science Elective I

BIOL 2100: Cell Biology & Genetics with Lab
BIOL 2200: Organismal and Evolutionary Biology with Lab
CE 2001: Sustainability Science
CHEM 1420: Introductory Chemistry for Engineers II
PHYS 2620: Modern Physics 
MSE 2090: Intro. to the Sci. and Engr. of Materials
EVSC 2800: Fundamentals of Geology
EVSC 3200: Fundamentals of Ecology
EVSC 3300: Atmosphere & Weather

OR

Any APMA course 2000 or higher not already required by a student’s major and does not duplicate material from another APMA course

See degree requirements

Petitions

Students may petition the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs for approval as an HSS elective or other courses not on the approved list by completing the Engineering Curriculum Modification Request Form. Each petition should include the official catalog description for the course and a syllabus for the course. The justification should clearly state how the course meets the definition of an HSS elective.

STS Courses

The required STS courses beginning in the 2023-2024 engineering curriculum are STS 2600, STS 4500, and STS 4600.  These required STS cousres cannot also be counted as an HSS Elective. However, STS courses taken beyond the three course requirements can be used as HSS electives, EXCEPT for STS 1800 and STS 4810.

COMM Courses

In general, courses taken for credit in the McIntire School of Commerce (COMM) are not acceptable for HSS credit. COMM courses (such as those used to satisfy the requirements of the Engineering Business Minor) will be counted as unrestricted electives.

SCPS Courses

Courses in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) cannot be used to satisfy any degree requirement in SEAS.