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

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

Required Courses:

History and Culture

ANTHRO 102 or ANTHRO 102HCultural Anthropology

3.00

GEOG 102 or GEOG 102HCultural Geography

3.00

GEOG 120World Regional Geography

3.00

HIST 100 or HIST 100HHistory of the United States to 1877

3.00

HIST 101 or HIST 101HHistory of the United States 1865 to Present

3.00

HIST 170 or HIST 170HWorld Civilizations (3500BCE - 1500CE)

3.00

HIST 171 or HIST 171HWorld Civilizations (1500CE to the Present)

3.00

Political and Social Institutions
ECON 100Introduction to Economics

3.00

ECON 200 or ECON 200HPrinciples of Macroeconomics

3.00

ECON 201 or ECON 201HPrinciples of Microeconomics

3.00

POLIT 100 or POLIT 100HAmerican Politics

3.00

POLIT 102California Politics and Culture

3.00

POLIT 104Introduction to Comparative Politics

3.00

POLIT 106Introduction to World Politics

3.00

POLIT 110Introduction to Political Theory

3.00

Philosophy and Religion
PHIL 101 or PHIL 101HIntroduction to Philosophy

3.00

PHIL 105 or PHIL 105HIntroduction to Ethics: Moral Values in Today's Society

3.00

RELIG 100 or RELIG 100HIntroduction to Religious Studies

3.00

RELIG 101 or RELIG 101HIntroduction to World Religions

3.00

RELIG 110 or ANTHRO 110Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion

3.00

RELIG 135 or HIST 135Religion in America

3.00

RELIG 113Introduction to Eastern Religions

3.00

RELIG 176Jesus and His Interpreters

3.00

Behavioral Science
CD 105Child Growth and Development

3.00

CD 126Child, Family and Community

3.00

PSYCH 100 or PSYCH 100HGeneral Psychology

3.00

PSYCH 102Personal and Social Adjustment

3.00

PSYCH 103Theories of Personality

3.00

PSYCH 110Abnormal Psychology

3.00

PSYCH 111Developmental Psychology: Lifespan

3.00

PSYCH 118Human Sexual Behavior

3.00

SOC 100 or SOC 100HIntroduction to Sociology

3.00

SOC 105Social Problems

3.00

SOC 130Marriage, Family and Intimate Relationships

3.00

SOC 141Race, Ethnicity and Diversity

3.00

SOC 150Gerontology

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.