Social Sciences B.A.

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View information for the Department of Economics, Agriculture, and Social Sciences , including Learning Objectives for the departments and its programs.

View the degree program Roadmap, which provide recommended advising maps to complete the degree program. Please consult your academic advisor as you develop your academic plan.

Matthew Derrick, Ph. D., Social Sciences Director

Associate Professor: Derrick
Assistant Professor: Russell

Office: Bizzini Hall 102A
Phone: (209) 667-3037

The Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences program is an interdepartmental degree program consisting of courses in the following disciplines: anthropology, communication studies, criminal justice, economics, ethnic studies, gender studies, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology. Students select courses from any three of the above disciplines. The program offers a wide variety of courses dealing with human interaction in past and present society and acquaints students with contemporary social problems, their causes, and their potential solutions.

Additionally, a course in the methods of scientific investigation in the social sciences provides students with valuable analytical skills. Students should discuss career opportunities with their adviser in their areas of concentration in the Social Sciences major.

Students intending to apply for admission to the Social Sciences single subject credential program at Stanislaus State should also see the Social Sciences - Single Subject Matter Preparation .

Program Learning Outcomes

Social Sciences students will:

Effectively engage in critical thinking about methods, knowledge theories associated with specified Social Science concentration of study
Demonstrate technological skills for conducting studies in Social Sciences
Demonstrate effective oral and communication skills of Social Sciences concepts, terminology, research analysis, and conclusive association with Social Sciences concentration of study
Effectively use library resources and internet databases to formulate research questions and investigate topics in Social Sciences

Requirements

1. Complete the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements.

A student must comply with all University regulations and satisfy the following requirements:

Units and Residency (minimum of 120 units: 40 units of upper division coursework and 30 semester units at Stanislaus State. At least 24 of these 30 units must be earned in upper-division courses, at least 12 must be in the major, and at least 9 must be applicable to General Education-Breadth requirements)
Grade Point Average (minimum grade point average of 2.0 (C) or better)
General Education (minimum of 49 units)
Upper Division Writing Proficiency (minimum of 3 units)
- Writing Proficiency (WP) Course (may double count in the major)
United States Constitution and California State and Local Government (minimum of 3 units)
Multicultural Requirement (minimum of 3 units) (may double count with General Education requirements or in the major)

Subsequently all students must submit an application for graduation and receive approval from the major advisor, department chair, and Director of Academic Advising. For more information see the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements .

2. Complete the Interdepartmental Studies major, as approved by the adviser.

Of these, no more than 8 units of CR-graded coursework in courses graded exclusively CR/NC may apply.

3. Completion of a minor is not required.

Note: Immediately upon entering this interdepartmental degree program, students should select the three disciplines that will form their major.

The Major

(38 units minimum)

1. Complete the following courses:

(5 units)

SSCI 3005 - Research and Information Literacy 2 unit(s) (or MDIS 3005 )
AND
SSCI 4960 - Social Science Interdisciplinary Seminar 3 unit(s) or
SSCI 4961 - Teaching Social Studies 3 unit(s)

2. Complete one course in introductory methodology:

(3 units minimum)

COMM 3900 - Applied and Social Scientific Research Methods in Communication 3 unit(s)
PSCI 2000 - Introduction to Political Science 3 unit(s)
PSYC 2020 - Introduction to Psychological Methods 3 unit(s)
SOCL 3030 - Research Methods 4 unit(s)
SSCI 3010 - Introduction to Social Science Methodology 3 unit(s)
* Methodology course in one of the students’ concentrations or emphases.

3. Select three of the disciplines listed below:

Completing the prerequisite courses for each. Then complete a minimum of 12 upper-division units in the first of the three disciplines and a minimum of 9 upper-division units in each of the two other disciplines, as approved by the adviser.