We offer degrees in the following areas:

Criminal Justice

• BS in Criminal Justice – Law Enforcement
• BS in Criminal Justice – Corrections
• Minor in Criminal Justice – Law Enforcement
• Minor in Criminal Justice – Corrections

History and Global Studies

• BA in History
• BA in History – Global Studies
• Minor in History
• Minor in History – Global Studies
• Various courses in Geography

Political Science and Public Administration

• BA in Political Science
• BA in Political Science – Public Administration
• Minor in Political Science/Public Administration

Social Science Education

• BAEd in Social Science Education

Sociology

• BA in Sociology
• BA in Sociology – Juvenile Services
• Minor in Sociology

In addition, students majoring in criminal justice or sociology may minor in the inter-disciplinary Substance Abuse Minor, shared with the Department of Psychology and the Department of Social Work.

For a detailed look at the course requirements and descriptions for these degrees, please see the current Undergraduate Catalog.

Information about scholarships available for our programs can be found elsewhere on this page under the “Scholarships” heading.

Course Rotations

These documents show when courses will be taught in the following areas.

Social Science Education majors will need to refer to the course rotations in multiple of the following areas, as well as the course rotation for the education program.

• Criminal Justice
• Geography
• History and Global Studies
• Political Science and Public Administration
• Sociology

Plans of Study

These documents show example degree plans for students majoring in the following programs.

• Criminal Justice - Corrections
• Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement
• History
• History - Global Studies
• Political Science
• Political Science - Public Administration
• Social Science Education
• Sociology
• Sociology - Juvenile Services

Job Opportunities

• Between 90 and 95% of Social Sciences graduates are employed in their field within six months post-graduation, have been accepted into a graduate program in their field, or have been admitted to law school.

Department Activities

• Oklahoma State Legislature Internship: Each year, the department sends students to the Oklahoma State Legislature for a week-long internship at the end of the legislative session at the State Capitol.
• Post-Graduate Internships: Over the past 14 years the department has sponsored three alumni to serve as Interns on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Two of these individuals now work full time for elected officials in D.C. or at a federal agency.
• Guest Speakers: Each fall, the Social Sciences Department through its Endowed Institute for Citizenship Studies hosts the annual Constitution Day Event.  Each spring, it holds the annual Presidential Lecture Series. Often times prominent national speakers are invited to present at these functions.

Department Student Organizations

• Phi Alpha Theta: Honors society for students with at least 12 hours in history
• Pi Gamma Mu: Honors society for students with at least 20 hours in social sciences
• Pi Sigma Alpha: Honors society for students with at least 10 hours in political science

Department of Social Sciences Scholarships

The department has access to 14 different scholarship funds (some of which are shared with other departments). The amount we are able to fund varies each year. More information about each scholarship fund can be found at https://ournorthwestern.org/make-an-investment/scholarships.

• How to Apply: Fill out the Social Sciences Department Scholarship Application Form.
• Deadline: The deadline to submit is usually February 15th. Please check the form above for the updated deadline for the current school year.
• Requirements: Students must be sophomore-level or higher at the time they receive the scholarship and must be majoring (or minoring) in a Department of Social Sciences program. Typically, students are required to have at least a 2.5 minimum GPA to qualify. You do not need to apply to a specific scholarship fund. Department faculty will determine which fund is most appropriate for you.
• Considerations: The department awards scholarships based on academic achievement, involvement in classes, activities in and outside of school, career goals, and financial need. Please make sure to highlight one or more of these considerations in your application and/or discuss them with your academic advisor in the department.

Other NWOSU Scholarships

Additional information about NWOSU scholarships can be found on the Scholarships page.

• Incoming first-time freshman should apply for the Freshman Scholarship.
• Transfer students (including those who have completed an Associate’s degree) should apply for the Transfer Scholarship.
• Students who are entering their sophomore year or higher at Northwestern should apply for the Continuing Student Scholarship Application.

Students are also encouraged to complete the FAFSA form at www.studentaid.gov.

About the Program

The Donovan Reichenberger Legacy Scholar Program gives Northwestern Oklahoma State University students the chance to step out of the classroom and into American History.

Through travel and first-hand experience at historic locations, students will gain real-world exposure to ideas and concepts alongside traditional classroom experiences.

The program honors Donovan Reichenberger, a Northwestern alumnus (1966) and former faculty member (1967-1992), and his wife Dorothy, whose gifts established the Donovan Reichenberger Chair in History in 1996.

Fall 2025 & Spring 2026 Program

The first session of the program is titled “Ancient America: Exploring America's Pre-Columbian History.”

• Learning Goal: Students will consider the rise and fall of ancient American Indian civilizations.
• Class Experience: In Fall 2025, students will prepare for spring travel by exploring online resources, investigating required readings, and meeting with faculty.
• Travel Experience: In Spring 2026, students will visit historical burial mound sites, such as Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center in eastern Oklahoma and Cahokia Mounds near St. Louis, Missouri.
• Upon completion of both the fall and spring components, students earn the Donovan Reichenberger Legacy Scholar designation and receive a certificate to include on their resumes.

Applying to the Program

All full-time Northwestern undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply; no concurrent students are eligible, and applicants must be at least 18 years old.

• How to Apply: Fill out the online Donovan Reichenberger Legacy Scholar Application or download the form and email it to Dr. Eric Schmaltz, Social Sciences Chair, at ejschmaltz@nwosu.edu.
• Deadline: The deadline to apply for the 2025-26 program is Oct. 31, 2025.
• Eligibility: Students must be full-time NWOSU undergraduate or graduate students and must be at least 18 years old. Concurrent high school students are not eligible.