Social Science, B.A.

Professor: Mary Pettenger
Associate Professor: Earlene Camarillo

Mission

Combines a general social science perspective with a specific discipline focus. The program prepares graduates for a specialized field as well as giving mobility across fields. Students learn the methods developed by their discipline to understand both the past and the present. Graduates apply these methods to resolving local, national and international issues.

Learning Outcomes

Critically analyze social issues from two or more disciplinary perspectives.
Effectively communicate about social issues in speech and in writing.
Demonstrate the ability to research the nature and consequences of social action in specific contexts.

Core Courses

The major requires 65 credits which must be from the following disciplines: Anthropology, Criminal Justice, Sustainability, History, Political Science or Sociology. A minimum of 36 credits must be upper division courses. No more than 20 credits may be in Criminal Justice. Courses should be chosen in consultation with a Social Science faculty advisor.

Students must also take at least one theory course and one methods course from the following lists:

Theory Courses

ANTH 311 Human Evolution Credits: 4
ANTH 324 Anthropological Theory Credits: 4
HST 413 Dissent and Opposition in East Europe Credits: 4
HST 440 Gender and Colonialism Credits: 4
HST 458 History of Inter-American Relations Credits: 4
PS 414 Political Parties, Pressure Groups and Elections Credits: 4
PS 419 American Presidential Elections Credits: 4
PS 440 Causes of War Credits: 4
PS 441 Causes of Peace Credits: 4
PS 449 Environmental Values and Political Action Credits: 4
PS 451 Political Theory: Plato to Marx Credits: 4
PS 452 Political Theory: Marx to Habermas Credits: 4
PS 492 Political Ideologies Credits: 4
SOC 204 Introduction to Sociology Credits: 4
SOC 370 Sociological Theory Credits: 4
SUST 495 Senior Seminar Credits: 4
Any course approved by the academic advisor for this purpose

Methods Courses

ANTH 325 Ethnographic Methods Credits: 4
ANTH 326 Ethnographic Writing Credits: 4
ANTH 360 Museum Studies Credits: 4
HST 301 Introduction to Historical Research Credits: 4
HST 403 Practicum Credits: 1-6 Credits: 4
HST 408 Oral History Credits: 4
HST 410 Introduction to Public History Credits: 4
PS 355 Civic Literacy and Engagement Credits: 4
PS 375 Scope and Methods of Political Science Credits: 4
SOC 317 Social Work Practical Applications and Methodologies Credits: 4
SOC 324 Introduction to Sociology: Research Credits: 4
SOC 325 Participant Observation and Qualitative Research Methods Credits: 4
SOC 327 Social Research Methods Credits: 4
SOC 328 Introduction to Social Data Analysis Credits: 4
SUST 221 Data Analysis Credits: 4
SUST 321 Field Geography Credits: 4
Any course approved by the academic advisor for this purpose

Capstone

SSC 405 Capstone Credits: 1-4 Credits: 1
Note: Students must complete SSC 405 Capstone (1 credit) in consultation with a social science division advisor.