Liberal Arts - Area of Emphasis for Social and Behavioral Science

Liberal Arts - Area of Emphasis for Social and Behavioral Science AA Degree

The Social and Behavioral Science area of emphasis allows students to take courses that prepare them for possible majors within the fields of criminology, business, economics, geography, psychology, history, sociology, political science, and related disciplines. The student is provided the opportunity to learn a variety of theories and perspectives, behavioral and sociological concepts, historical context with respect to particular times, places, events and significant figures, production and distribution analysis, and American and comparative government. This area of emphasis prepares students for baccalaureate majors including but not limited to: Chicano studies, child development, criminology, economics, geography, history, mass communication and journalism, political science, psychology, and sociology and social work.

Program student learning outcomes:

  1. Students will identify and explain the global significance of past political, cultural, geographic, and economic issues and how they have impacted contemporary events.
  2. Students will identify and explain different theories on human development.
  3. Students will identify and explain different theories of societal development.
  4. Students will identify and explain how physical systems affect human systems and how human actions affect physical systems.
  5. Students will identify and explain how culture affects individuals or groups. 
  6. Students will analyze the legitimacy and validity of the various sources used within the social science discipline, including discerning facts from opinions, biases, the validity of data collection, and public opinion polls. 

Students must fulfill the following requirements to qualify for an Associate Degree:

  • Complete the Local General Education, CSU General Education (CSUGE) or Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) requirements,
  • Complete a minimum of 18 additional units from the major list below,
  • Complete electives to reach a total of 60-degree applicable units,
  • Earn a grade of C or better in each major course,
  • Maintain a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 2.00, and
  • Complete the English and math proficiency requirements with a C or better
Course # Title Units
Required Core Courses (18 Units). Courses must be selected from two or more disciplines.
AGBUS 040 Introductory Agricultural Economics 3
AOJ 001 Introduction to Criminal Justice 3
AOJ 029 Criminology 3
BUS 020 Introduction to Business 3
CD 002 Teaching in a Diverse Society 3
CD 005 Child Development 3
CD 006 Child and Adolescent Development 3
CD 010 Child, Family and Society 3
CD 021 Infant and Toddler Caregiving 3
CD 024 School-Age Development 3
COM 005 Interpersonal Communication 3
COM 006 Intercultural Communication 3
CRPSCI 019 California Water 3
ECON 001A Macroeconomics 3
ECON 001B Microeconomics 3
GEOG 002 World Regional Geography 3
GEOG 003 Cultural Geography 3
GEOG 018 Geography of California 3
HIST 004A Western Civilization to 1700 3
HIST 004B Western Civilization From 1700 3
HIST 017A History of the United States 1492-1877 3
HIST 017B History of the United States 1865-PRESENT 3
HIST 020 World History I 3
HIST 021 World History II 3
HIST 032 Cultural History of the Chicano 3
HIST 044 Women's Roles in United States History 3
KINES 002 Introduction to Sport and Exercise Psychology 3
LING 011 Introduction to Linguistics 3
POLSCI 001 American Government 3
POLSCI 002 Comparative Government 3
POLSCI 004 Introduction to International Relations 3
POLSCI 005 Introduction to Political Theory 3
POLSCI 010 Modern Politics 3
POLSCI 020 Legal and Judicial Reasoning 3
PSYCH 001 Introductory Psychology 3
PSYCH 002 Abnormal Psychology 3
PSYCH 003 Developmental Psychology 3
PSYCH 004 Personal Psychology 3
PSYCH 005 Biological Psychology 3
PSYCH 006 Research Methods in Psychology 3
SOC 001 Introduction to Sociology 3
SOC 002 Critical Thinking and Social Problems 3
SOC 003 Marriage and Family Relations 3
SOC 005 Cultural Sociology 3
SW 020 Introduction to Social Work and Human Services 3
Total Major Units 18
Total Units that may be double-counted towards GE Units
General Education (GE) Units
Elective Units (As needed to reach 60 units)
Total Degree Units 60