Social Science
Award Type: Associate in Arts
The social sciences are concerned with the study of human behavior and the human condition. The various disciplines within social science are united in their quest to understand the “whys,” “causes,” and “consequences” of human experience and action. The social science major is designed to provide the student with an integrated liberal arts background that focuses on social science and fulfills the lower-division requirements for specific upper-division majors. Occupational choices for social scientists are numerous and varied in both the private and public sectors. Depending on the individual's specialization, career opportunities may be found most frequently in the areas of human services, education, law and criminal justice, government, and business administration.The graduate of the Associate in Arts in Social Science will:
- Synthesize and apply social science concepts.
- Use information/data from multiple sources and demonstrate knowledge of research methodologies and multiple theoretical perspectives.
- Have the ability to use social science methods to identify, formulate, and study social problems.
- Understand the interdisciplinary nature of knowledge and view issues from a holistic perspective.
- Have college-level knowledge and skills in critical thinking, analysis, and written communication.
- Understand the global society and processes of globalization from non-Western, Western, and indigenous perspectives.
- Make informed, reasoned, and ethical personal and public choices.
Program Requirements
A major of 18 units is required for the associate in arts degree. Required core courses (18 units):
| Course Number | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 102 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 3.0 |
| GEOG 102 | Human Geography | 3.0 |
| HIST 105 | Western Civilization Since 1650 | 3.0 |
| or | ||
| HUM 105 | Western Civilization Since 1650 | 3.0 |
| PSY 101 | General Psychology | 3.0 |
| POLS 101 | Introduction to Political Science | 3.0 |
| or | ||
| POLS 104 | Introduction to International Relations | 3.0 |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3.0 |
Recommended electives:
| Course Number | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BUS 141 | Global Economics | 3.0 |
| or | ||
| ECON 141 | Global Economics | 3.0 |
| or | ||
| GBST 141 | Global Economics | 3.0 |
| ECON 102 | Principles of Micro-Economics | 3.0 |
| or | ||
| SOC 122 | Sociology of the Hispanic Culture | 3.0 |
General Education Requirements
To see what other General Education requirements you need to fulfill in addition to the courses listed above, visit your myHancock account and select the DegreeWorks button in the Academic Profile widget.