Social Sciences, B.A.

Program of Study

The Social Sciences Major is a multidisciplinary program that aims to provide students with a broad understanding and appreciation of the social sciences. By following a major in which a number of social sciences disciplines are studied, students will learn the varied approaches and methodologies of these fields, as well as the interrelatedness of the social sciences disciplines.

In the major, the student chooses one Primary Field and two Secondary Fields. The Primary Field is chosen from seven disciplines: border studies, communication, history, political science, psychology, sociology, and women’s studies. Secondary Fields are chosen from these seven disciplines and other fields in the social sciences. Students interested in the Social Sciences major are encouraged to discuss their education and career objectives with the Program Director.

Career Opportunities

The Social Sciences Major is appropriate for students with career interests in human services and social work, education, counseling, business, law, and government.

Social Sciences Mission Statement

The mission of the Social Sciences B.A. degree program is to prepare students to be informed citizens who use multidisciplinary understandings of concepts, theories, and methods from the social sciences to respond to a range of human experiences, events, and real-world social problems. The major prepares students for employment in varied fields and professions that include human services and social work, education, counseling, business, and government as well as the pursuit of advanced degrees in social science disciplines.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the historical emergence, questions asked, and distinctive contributions of the social science disciplines to the analysis of human behavior and social issues.
2. Locate, analyze, assess, and communicate social science scholarship.
3. Assess and utilize concepts and theories from two social science disciplines to explore the varieties of social experience encountered by those of different nations, classes, races, genders, or sexual orientations.
4. Compare, contrast, and apply research strategies from two social science disciplines to the analysis of human experience, a social issue, or to the solution of a real-world problem.
5. Articulate the ethical implications of social science inquiry.

Special Conditions for the Bachelor of Arts and Minor in Social Sciences

All courses counted toward the major and the minor, including Preparation for the Major courses, must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or better.

General Education (51 Units)

General Education Requirements 

Preparation for the Major (3 Units)

Choose one course from:

• PSYC 220 - Introductory Statistics in Psychology Units: 3 (Those choosing a Psychology Primary Field must take PSYC 220 )

• or

• SOC 201 - Introductory Statistics for the Social Sciences Units: 3 (Other introductory statistics courses may be accepted upon approval of the Program Director)

Requirements for the Major (48-52 Units)

Primary Field Requirements (18-22 Units)

Students must complete all the requirements for ONE Primary Field.

Border Studies

A Primary Field in Border Studies shall be distributed as follows:

Communication

A Primary Field in Communication shall be distributed as follows:

History

A Primary Field in History shall be distributed as follows:

Political Science

A Primary Field in Political Science shall be distributed as follows:

Psychology

A Primary Field in Psychology shall be distributed as follows:

Sociology

A Primary Field in Sociology shall be distributed as follows:

Women’s Studies

A Primary Field in Women’s Studies shall be distributed as follows:

Social Sciences Program Secondary Fields

A course taken in one of the Secondary Fields may be double counted toward the Upper-Division General Education requirement in the Social Sciences (DD). Major courses may NOT count toward both the Primary Field and Upper-Division General Education requirements.

Border Studies

A Secondary Field in Border Studies shall be distributed as follows:

Communication

A Secondary Field in Communication shall be distributed as follows:

History

A Secondary Field in History shall be distributed as follows:

One three-unit course listed below must include a course in the study of the history of women, gender, or U.S. ethnic/minority studies.

Political Science

A Secondary Field in Political Science shall be distributed as follows:

Psychology

A Secondary Field in Psychology shall be distributed as follows:

Sociology

A Secondary Field in Sociology shall be distributed as follows:

Women’s Studies

A Secondary Field in Women’s Studies shall be distributed as follows:

Individualized Secondary Field

The Individualized Secondary Field allows for a customized exploration of the theoretical and methodological approaches as well as substantive issues, topics, and themes from several social science disciplines. The courses taken in an Individualized Secondary Field must be from a coherent unit focused on a theme, topic, or issue.

Individualized Secondary Field courses must be taken at the upper-division level from at least three different social science disciplines. Not more than one course selected for the Individualized Field may be from the same discipline as the Primary or other Secondary Field.

A course may not be counted as fulfilling requirements in both the Individualized Secondary Field and the Primary Field or other Secondary Field disciplines. Courses meeting General Education social science (DD) requirements may be selected, but courses selected for this Secondary Field may not be counted toward both the major and General Education requirements.

The courses must be taken from at least three different disciplines. Courses selected for the Individualized Secondary field may not be from the same disciplines as those used in the Primary and other secondary field.

Courses taken for the Individualized Secondary Field must be approved through submission of Alternative Course Approval forms by the Social Sciences Program Director.

Minimum Total (120 Units)

Students must take a sufficient number of elective units to bring the total number of units to a minimum of 120