Social Sciences, B.A.

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:

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.
6. 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.

General Education (48 Units)

General Education Requirements  

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:

• 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 (54-58 Units)

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:

Border Studies

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

Communication

A Primary Field in Communication shall be distributed as follows:

Geography

A Primary Field in Geography shall be distributed as follows:

History

A Primary Field in History shall be distributed as follows:

Linguistics

A Primary Field in Linguistics shall be distributed as follows:

Total (18 Units)

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, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

A Primary Field in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality 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).

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:

Border Studies

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

Communication

A Secondary Field in Communication shall be distributed as follows:

Geography

A Secondary Field in Geography 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.

Linguistics

A Secondary Field in Linguistics shall be distributed as follows:   

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, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

A Secondary Field in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies shall be distributed as follows:

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