Social & Behavioral Sciences, B.A.

Our global society presents a complex picture of human conditions that can be examined politically, economically, culturally, historically, socially, technologically, and behaviorally. In the Social & Behavioral Sciences major, you will gain knowledge and skills that are necessary for solving many of the world’s most pressing social problems.

We integrate seven social scientific fields of study to help you understand the full range of tools social scientists may use to develop innovative solutions. You will also specialize in one of these social sciences to acquire a deeper understanding of some of those tools. In addition, you have the opportunity to take courses in related majors such as Psychology and Global Studies.

Social scientists work in education, business, law, government, non-governmental organizations and civil society at local, national, and global levels, helping to shape discussions and affect positive change through teaching, research, and service.

Required Courses

In order to graduate, you will also need to complete your General Education and university requirements .

Complete all of the following Social Theory and Application courses:
STAT 100 - Introduction to Statistics Units: 3
SBS 300 - SBS Major ProSeminar: Theory Units: 4
SBS 328 - Social Science Theory Module Units: 3
SBS 400 - Senior Capstone Seminar I Units: 3
SBS 402 - Senior Capstone Seminar II Units: 3
Complete one of the following Research Methods courses:
SBS 321 - Survey Research in the Social Sciences Units: 3 ***
SBS 362 - Research Methods: Qualitative Emphasis Units: 4
SBS 366 - Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis Units: 4
***This course may be double counted only in the Sociology concentration
Complete one of the following Social Scientific Writing courses:
SBS 363 - Historical Methods Units: 3 ***
SBS 377 - Academic Publishing in the Social Sciences Units: 3
GS 362 - Global Literatures Units: 4
***This course may be double counted only in the Social History and Native American Studies concentrations
Complete one of the following Social Science Breadth courses:
SBS 304 - California Indian Societies Units: 3
SBS 320 - Archaeology of Colonialism Units: 3
SBS 322 - Asian American Women’s History Units: 3
SBS 335 - Digital Ethnographies Units: 3
SBS 345 - Cultural Anthropology Units: 3
SBS 350 - Domination and Resistance: US since 1880 Units: 3
SBS 354 - Rest vs West: Guns, Pirates, and Modernity Units: 3
SBS 356 - People, Places, & Environment: An Introduction to Geography Units: 3
SBS 364 - The Japanese Internment Camps Units: 3
SBS 379 - Tattoos, Makeup and Burkas Units: 3
SBS 386 - Social and Political Histories of California Units: 3
SBS 389 - Environmental History of California Units: 3
SOC 312 - Sociology of Gender Units: 3
SOC 317 - Social Movements Units: 3
SOC 320 - Labor and Labor Movements Units: 3
SOC 399 - Contemporary Immigration in Global Perspective Units: 3
To satisfy the requirements of the SBS major, either complete one of the following concentrations, or complete a Minor and additional major elective coursework.

Concentrations

Please note: Twelve (12) of the units taken to complete a concentration (all of which are upper division) may not be used in fulfillment of other minors or concentrations. Unless otherwise noted, students may not double count Social and Behavioral Science’s core courses and concentration courses.

Select and complete one of the following concentrations.

Anthropology Concentration

Geographic Information Systems Concentration

Political Economy Concentration

Social History Concentration

Sociology Concentration

Native American Studies Concentration

Minor + Major Electives

Complete a minor from the list below, plus at least 8 additional units selected from any upper-division SBS or SOC courses not previously taken.

Learning Outcomes

MLO 1 Social Theory

Understand the concepts and principles of both classical and contemporary social theories.

MLO 2 Research Methodology

Collect, manage, and analyze both qualitative and quantitative data.

MLO 3 Specialized Competency

Develop a strong knowledge base of at least one of the core disciplines in the Social & Behavioral Sciences: anthropology, archaeology, geography/GIS, social history, Native American studies, political economy, or sociology.

MLO 4 Application

Apply appropriate theories and methods to the study of social issues and problems.