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2024-2025 Catalog
Social Sciences, B.A.
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Program of Study
The Social Sciences major is an interdisciplinary program that aims to provide students with a broad understanding and appreciation of the social sciences. By pursuing 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 ten disciplines: anthropology, border studies, communication, geography, history, linguistics, political science, psychology, sociology, and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies.
- Secondary Fields are chosen from: anthropology, border studies, communication, geography, history, linguistics, political science, psychology, sociology, women’s , gender, and sexuality studies, and an Individualized Secondary Field. 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. It is also a strong preparation for graduate or professional school.
Social Sciences Mission Statement
The mission of the Social Sciences B.A. degree program is to prepare students to be informed citizens who use interdisciplinary 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.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Students who graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences will be able to:
- 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.
- Locate, analyze, assess, and communicate social science scholarship.
- 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.
- 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.
- Articulate the ethical implications of social science inquiry.
- Integrate perspectives from multiple disciplines in order to understand and address social problems.
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.
Language Proficiency (0-9 Units)
All Social Sciences majors must meet a second-language proficiency requirement. This is satisfied with a 200-level class or demonstrating proficiency in a language other than English. For details on how to satisfy this requirement, please refer to Language Proficiency Requirement .
Interdisciplinary Social Sciences (3 Units)
All Social Sciences majors must meet an Interdisciplinary Social Sciences requirement. This is satisfied with an approved lower-division interdisciplinary social science (IDSS) 3-unit course from the following departments: American Indian Studies, Anthropology, Environmental Studies, Ethnic Studies, Global Studies, Liberal Studies, and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies. Courses taken to satisfy this requirement cannot double count with other major requirements.
Preparation for the Major (3 Units)
Choose one course from:
Requirements for the Major (54-58 Units)
Fifteen to Eighteen (15-18) Units in One Primary Field
There are ten options for disciplinary Primary Fields: anthropology, border studies, communication, geography, history, linguistics, political science, psychology, sociology, or women’s, gender, and sexuality studies.
Several lower-division courses in the different primary and secondary fields also fulfill General Education requirements.
Twelve to Thirteen (12-13) Units in Each of Two Secondary Fields
There are eleven options for Secondary Fields: anthropology, border studies, communication, geography, history, linguistics, political science, psychology, sociology, women’s, gender, and sexuality studies, and an Individualized Secondary Field.
Several lower-division courses in the different primary and secondary fields also fulfill General Education requirements.
Lower-Division Social Sciences Requirements (3 Units)
SSCI 101 - Introduction to Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Units: 3*
*Transfer students may meet this requirement with two 100-level courses in two different social science disciplines.
Upper-Division Social Sciences Requirements (9 Units)
Upper-Division Social Sciences Elective Requirement (3 Units)
Choose one course from any 300- or 400-level SSCI course not listed above as an upper-division Social Sciences requirement.
Primary Field Requirements (15-18 Units)
Students must complete all the requirements for one Primary Field.
Anthropology
A Primary Field in Anthropology shall be distributed as follows:
Upper-Division (12 Units)
Choose two additional 300-level ANTH courses (6 Units)
Choose one ANTH 400-level course (3 Units)
Border Studies
A Primary Field in Border Studies shall be distributed as follows:
Lower-Division Requirement (3 Units)
Upper-Division Requirements (12 Units)
Elective Requirements (9 Units)
Choose three courses from:
Communication
A Primary Field in Communication shall be distributed as follows:
Lower-Division Requirements (3 Units)
Upper-Division Requirements (12 Units)
Elective Requirements (9 Units)
Choose three courses from the following:
Geography
A Primary Field in Geography shall be distributed as follows:
Electives
Select one course from each of the following three areas (Human Geography, Physical Geography, Techniques):
History
A Primary Field in History shall be distributed as follows:
Lower-Division Requirements (3 Units)
Choose one course from the following:
Upper-Division Elective Requirements (12 Units)
Choose one course from each of the following areas:
Diversity in Historical Perspective (3 Units)
History in Contemporary Society (3 Units)
History of Politics and Policy (3 Units)
Global Histories and Social Issues (3 Units)
Linguistics
A Primary Field in Linguistics shall be distributed as follows:
Lower-Division Requirement (3 Units)
Upper-Division Requirements (9 Units)
Electives (6 Units)
Choose two courses from the following (at least one must be 300- or 400-level):
Political Science
A Primary Field in Political Science shall be distributed as follows:
Lower-Division Requirements (3 Units)
Upper-Division Requirements (6 Units)
Choose One Course from the Following (3 Units):
Elective Requirements (6 Units)
Choose one course from each of the following areas:
Global Perspectives (3 Units)
Psychology
A Primary Field in Psychology shall be distributed as follows:
Lower-Division Requirements (6 Units)
Elective Requirements (12 Units)
Choose one course from each of the following areas:
Biopsychology and Cognitive Processes
Developmental and Social Psychology
Personality and Abnormal Psychology
Sociology
A Primary Field in Sociology shall be distributed as follows:
Lower-Division Requirements (4 Units)
Upper-Division Requirements (4 Units)
Elective Requirements (10 Units)
Choose at least one course from each of the following areas:
American Society and Institutions
Social Justice and Community Life
Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
A Primary Field in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies shall be distributed as follows:
Lower-Division Requirements (3 Units)
Upper-Division Elective Requirements (12 Units)
At least one course from each of the following areas:
Leadership, Politics, and Activism
Gender, Culture, and Power
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).
Students may substitute SSCI 385 : Topics in the Social Sciences for one secondary field elective course for a total of three (3) units.
Anthropology
A Secondary Field in Anthropology shall be distributed as follows:
Upper-Division (9 Units)
Choose two 300-level ANTH courses (6 Units)
Choose one 300- or 400-level ANTH course (3 Units)
Border Studies
A Secondary Field in Border Studies shall be distributed as follows:
Lower-Division Requirements (3 Units)
Upper-Division Requirements (3 Units)
Elective Requirements (6 Units)
Communication
A Secondary Field in Communication shall be distributed as follows:
Elective Requirements (9 Units)
- Any 300- or 400-level COMM courses Units: 9
Geography
A Secondary Field in Geography shall be distributed as follows:
Upper-Division (6 Units)
Choose two courses from:
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.
Lower-Division Requirements (3 Units)
- One lower-division history course Units: 3
Upper-Division Elective Requirements (9 Units)
- One 300- or 400-level World Area #1 HIST course Units: 3
- One 300- or 400-level World Area #2 HIST course Units: 3
- One 300- or 400-level HIST course Units: 3
Linguistics
A Secondary Field in Linguistics shall be distributed as follows:
Upper-Division (9 Units)
Choose any three upper-division LING courses (9 units).
Political Science
A Secondary Field in Political Science shall be distributed as follows:
Lower-Division Requirements (3 Units)
- One lower-division PSCI course Units: 3
Upper-Division Elective Requirements (9 Units)
Three 300- or 400-level PSCI courses from two of the following fields:
- U.S. Government & Politics (PSCI courses numbered 300-329, 390F, 400-429, or LTWR 337)
- Comparative Politics (PSCI courses numbered 330-349, or 430-449)
- International Politics (PSCI courses numbered 351-369, or 450-469)
- Political Theory (PSCI courses numbered 370-389 or 470-489)
Psychology
A Secondary Field in Psychology shall be distributed as follows:
Lower-Division Requirements (3 Units)
Upper-Division Requirements (3 Units)
One course chosen from the following:
Elective Requirements (6 Units)
- Any 300- or 400-level PSYC courses
Sociology
A Secondary Field in Sociology shall be distributed as follows:
Lower-Division Requirements (4 Units)
Upper-Division Requirements (4 Units)
Elective Requirements (4-5 Units)
- Any 300- or 400-level SOC courses Units: 4
Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
A Secondary Field in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies shall be distributed as follows:
Lower-Division Requirements (3 Units)
Elective Requirements (9 Units)
One course from each of the following areas:
Leadership, Politics, and Activism
Gender, Culture, and Power
Individualized Secondary Field
The courses taken in an Individualized Secondary Field must form a coherent unit focused on a theme, topic, or issue. Courses must be taken at the upper-division level from at least three (3) different social science disciplines. Only one course (1) selected for the Individualized Field may be from the same discipline as the Primary or other Secondary Field. Courses used for the Individualized Field may not also double-count in the Primary Field, other Secondary Field or upper-division general education requirement (DD). All courses must be approved 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
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