Social Science - Associate of Arts Degree

The Associate of Arts degree Social Science emphasizes the study of social and behavioral sciences. Students will recognize, describe and analyze individual behaviors and social institutions that influence our world. This degree is multidisciplinary preparing students to transfer in majors such as psychology, sociology, political science, history, anthropology and religious studies.

Major/Program Requirements

Career and Academic Pathways

A minimum of (3) three units must be taken from each of the following groups:

Required Courses:

History and Culture

ANTHRO 102 or ANTHRO 102H	Cultural Anthropology	3.00
GEOG 102 or GEOG 102H	Human Geography	3.00
GEOG 120	World Regional Geography	3.00
HIST 100 or HIST 100H	History of the United States to 1877	3.00
HIST 101 or HIST 101H	History of the United States 1865 to Present	3.00
HIST 170 or HIST 170H	World Civilizations (3500BCE - 1500CE)	3.00
HIST 171 or HIST 171H	World Civilizations (1500CE to the Present)	3.00

Political and Social Institutions

ECON 100	Introduction to Economics	3.00
ECON 200 or ECON 200H	Principles of Macroeconomics	3.00
ECON 201 or ECON 201H	Principles of Microeconomics	3.00
POLIT 100 or POLIT 100H	American Politics	3.00
POLIT 102	California Politics and Culture	3.00
POLIT 104	Introduction to Comparative Politics	3.00
POLIT 106	Introduction to World Politics	3.00
POLIT 110	Introduction to Political Theory	3.00

Philosophy and Religion

PHIL 101 or PHIL 101H	Introduction to Philosophy	3.00
PHIL 105 or PHIL 105H	Introduction to Ethics: Moral Values in Today's Society	3.00
RELIG 100 or RELIG 100H	Introduction to Religious Studies	3.00
RELIG 101 or RELIG 101H	Introduction to World Religions	3.00
RELIG 110 or ANTHRO 110	Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion	3.00
RELIG 135 or HIST 135	Religion in America	3.00
RELIG 113	Introduction to Eastern Religions	3.00
RELIG 176	Jesus and His Interpreters	3.00

Behavioral Science

CD 105 or CD 105H	Child Growth and Development	3.00
CD 126	Child, Family and Community	3.00
PSYCH 100 or PSYCH 100H	General Psychology	3.00
PSYCH 102	Personal and Social Adjustment	3.00
PSYCH 103	Theories of Personality	3.00
PSYCH 110	Abnormal Psychology	3.00
PSYCH 111	Developmental Psychology: Lifespan	3.00
PSYCH 118	Human Sexual Behavior	3.00
SOC 100 or SOC 100H	Introduction to Sociology	3.00
SOC 105	Social Problems	3.00
SOC 130	Marriage, Family and Intimate Relationships	3.00
SOC 141 or ETHS 141 or ETHS 141H or SOC 141H	Race, Ethnicity and Diversity	3.00
SOC 150	Gerontology	3.00

Additional Units

Additional units must be selected from any of the above options to total a minimum of 18 units of major prep coursework.

Total Credit Hours: 18.00

Students planning to transfer to a four-year university are cautioned that this degree may not meet all of the lower division requirements for transfer into a particular major; however, through careful educational planning with a counselor, this degree would offer a solid foundation in the transfer process. Students should consult with a counselor for specific information regarding their intended major at the university of their choice.

A student receiving a degree in this field will be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding that History shares with English a narrative tradition that relies on the written word to tell its story by evaluating documents.
Discuss and appraise the influence of multiple factors or "causes" in an historical event or development.
Recognize and evaluate the influence of contingency or chance in an historical event or development.
Compare, contrast and evaluate the influence or role of actions or inaction in determining an outcome in an historical event or development.
Considering History's multi-discipline nature, describe and appraise the role that "environment" (physical, social, cultural, technological and economic, etc.) may play in an historical event or development.
Critique and evaluate an historical event or development as a study of human activity and conclude how it informs us about human nature.
Analyze and evaluate an historical event or development that demonstrates the fact that at times we cannot have absolute certainty about what happened in the past.

2023-2024 Catalog