Social and International Studies Department

Southern Polytechnic State University

Mission Statement

The Social and International Studies Department (SIS) of Southern Polytechnic State University (SPSU) seeks to provide every student with a multidisciplinary grounding in the social sciences, a sense of history, an international perspective, and the opportunity to acquire proficiency in a second language. SIS also offers SPSU students a wide range of enrichment opportunities from campus lecture series to study abroad, which will introduce students to new ideas, perspectives, and experiences. We strive to develop in every student skills that will allow them to gather and evaluate information, critically analyze diverse ideas, formulate and clearly communicate their own ideas, and function effectively in a wide range of cultural and interpersonal settings. We believe these are critical skills for responsible citizenship and life-long success in an increasingly global, rapidly changing, and challenging world. For those students who choose to embrace these challenges most fully, we provide opportunities for deeper study in majors, minors, and certificates designed, and continuously refined, to provide breadth of knowledge and focused competency in international studies and the social sciences, with opportunities for enrichment in numerous allied disciplines.