Associate of Arts in Social & Behavioral Sciences

This degree intends to prepare students for careers and/or higher education in the social sciences, generally, or in the specific disciplines within the overall social science designation. This degree emphasizes the nature of individual and collective human behavior; our interactions; the political-economic, social, and psychological structures and institutions of human beings; and the challenges of developing and sustaining interpersonal and intercultural relationships. This degree will enhance their ability to explain how groups and subgroups operate to make responsible political, moral, and social decisions.

Select at least one course (three units minimum) from each category. Select additional 9 units from any course not already used in category 1, 2, or 3 for a total of 18 units. This degree requires the completion of General Education coursework plus the following:

Required Courses

Core Courses

Select at least one course from each of the three categories: 9 Units

Category 1: Psychology, Sociology, and Human Development:

Choose a minimum of 3 units from the following: 3 Units

• BIOL 5 Contemporary Health Issues
• BIOL 13 Human Reproduction, Development, and Aging
• BIOL 15 Human Sexuality
  • or BIOL 15H Human Sexuality - Honors
• CHLD 1 Child, Family, School, and Community
• CHLD 10 Child Growth and Lifespan Development
  • or CHLD 10H Child Growth and Lifespan Development - Honors
• CHLD 11 Child and Adolescent Development
• PSYC 1A Introduction to Psychology
  • or PSYC 1AH Introduction to Psychology - Honors
• PSYC 1B Biological Psychology
• PSYC 14 Developmental Psychology
• PSYC 15 Introduction to Child Psychology
• PSYC 19 Abnormal Psychology
• PSYC 25 The Psychology of Women
• PSYC 26 Psychology of Sexuality
• SOC 1 Introduction to Sociology
  • or SOC 1H Introduction to Sociology - Honors
• SOC 2 Contemporary Social Problems
  • or SOC 2H Contemporary Social Problems - Honors
• SOC 4 Introduction to Gerontology
• SOC 5 Introduction to Criminology
  • or SOC 5H Introduction to Criminology - Honors
• SOC 14 Marriage and the Family
  • or SOC 14H Marriage and the Family - Honors
• SOC 15 Child Development
• SOC 20 Introduction to Race and Ethnicity
  • or SOC 20H Introduction to Race and Ethnicity - Honors
• SOC 40 Introduction to Sex and Gender Roles

Category 2: Anthropology, Geography, and Biology as it relates to Society

Choose a minimum of three units from the following: 3 Units

• ANTH 1 Biological Anthropology
  • or ANTH 1H Biological Anthropology - Honors
• ANTH 1L Biological Anthropology Laboratory
• ANTH 4 Archaeology
• ANTH 5 Cultural Anthropology
  • or ANTH 5H Cultural Anthropology - Honors
• ANTH 6 Language and Culture: An Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology
• ANTH 30 The Native American
• BIOL 6 Humans and the Environment
• BIOL 6L Humans and the Environment Laboratory
• BIOL 17 Neurobiology and Behavior
• BIOL 25 Conservation Biology
• GEOG 1 Physical Geography
• GEOG 1H Physical Geography - Honors
• GEOG 1L Physical Geography Laboratory
• GEOG 1LH Physical Geography Laboratory - Honors
• GEOG 2 Human Geography
• GEOG 2H Human Geography - Honors
• GEOG 5 World Regional Geography
• GEOG 8 Urban Geography
• GEOG 30 Geography of California
• PUBH 24 Introduction to Public Health
• PUBH 26 Introduction to Global Public Health
• PUBH 27 Public Health and the Environment

Category 3: Economics, History, and Political Science

Choose a minimum of three units from the following: 3 Units

• AGAG 1 Food Production, Land Use, and Politics - A Global Perspective
• BUSC 1A Principles of Economics - Macroeconomics
  • or BUSC 1AH Principles of Economics - Macroeconomics - Honors
• BUSC 1B Principles of Economics - Microeconomics
  • or BUSC 1BH Principles of Economics - Microeconomics - Honors
• BUSM 50 World Culture: A Business Perspective
• HIST 1 History of the United States
• HIST 3 World History: Prehistoric to Early Modern
  • or HIST 3H World History: Prehistoric to Early Modern - Honors
• HIST 4 World History: Early Modern to the Present
  • or HIST 4H World History: Early Modern to the Present - Honors
• HIST 7 History of the United States to 1877
  • or HIST 7H History of the United States to 1877 - Honors
• HIST 8 History of the United States from 1865
  • or HIST 8H History of the United States from 1865 - Honors
• HIST 30 History of the African American 1619-1877
• HIST 31 History of the African American
• HIST 35 History of Africa
• HIST 36 Women in American History
• HIST 39 California History
• HIST 40 History of the Mexican American
• POLI 1 Introduction to American Government and Politics
• POLI 1H Introduction to American Government and Politics - Honors
• POLI 2 Comparative Politics
• POLI 9 International Relations
• POLI 10 Environmental Politics
• POLI 25 Latino Politics in the United States
• POLI 35 African American/Black Politics

Recommended Electives

• MATH 110 Elementary Statistics
  • or MATH 110H Elementary Statistics - Honors
• PSYC 10 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences
• SPCH 7 Intercultural Communication
• SOC 23 Introduction to Statistics in Sociology and Social Sciences
• SPCH 26 Interpersonal Communication
  • or SPCH 26H Interpersonal Communication - Honors
• PSYC 3 Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology
• LIBR 1 Library Research Methods and Resources

Total Units: 18

Program Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this program, a student will be able to:

• Analyze cultural and gender diversity in humans.
• Explain the development of the person within society.
• Explain how biology relates to behavior or society.
• Discuss historical and political implications on society.

Student Learning Outcomes

*Student Learning Outcomes include general skills, knowledge, or applications which students are expected to demonstrate after completing a course or program of study. The discipline faculty are responsible for a course or program develop these outcomes, as well as measure or assess the students to determine if the outcomes are being met. The goal of assessing Student Learning Outcomes is to help improve our courses, curriculum, student success, and/or instruction. Course-level Student Learning Outcomes do not need to be comprehensive, they can focus on a particular aspect of a course, and the measurements of these assessments are not necessarily part of the student's grades in the courses. Remember, Student Learning Outcomes do not necessarily represent all of the material and objectives to be learned in a course.