Social Science BA
Total Units Required: 120
The Bachelor of Arts in Social Science is designed for students with a broad interest in the behavioral and social sciences and those interested in pursuing a California secondary school teaching credential. This interdisciplinary program has courses from disciplines in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences and the History Department. Students can choose from two options depending on their career goals: multidisciplinary studies is a broad approach for those who want to become teachers, and specialization studies allows students to choose a more focused area within the social sciences.
The option in multidisciplinary studies. This option provides a solid liberal arts grounding in the social sciences with courses in anthropology, economics, geography, political science, and history. This option also provides a waiver for the California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET) and California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) examinations, which are required for those pursuing secondary teacher preparation programs.
Information for prerequisites and other admission requirements to teaching credential programs is available through the School of Education.
The option in specialization studies. This is a 43-unit major, which consists of 21 units from a selected area of concentration. The 20 different areas of concentration (AoC) include all the disciplines within the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, plus history. The AoCs also include area studies and topics such as career and life planning, environmental studies, and family relations.
Advising Requirement
Advising is mandatory for this program. Consult your department advisor or program coordinator for information.
E-advising Tools
Use the interactive e-advising tools designed to help students graduate within four years. These tools can be accessed through the Student Center in the Portal.
Grading Requirement
All courses taken to fulfill program course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as credit/no credit grading only.
Course Requirements for the Major: 43 units
Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree. Courses in this program may complete more than one graduation requirement.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Major Core | ||
| SOSC 210 | Data Interpretation and Communication for the Social Sciences | 3 |
| SOSC 300 | Great Books and Ideas in the Social Sciences | 3 |
| SOSC 301 | Spatial Concepts: Geographical Patterns and Processes | 3 |
| SOSC 302 | Temporal Concepts: California Ethnic History | 3 |
| SOSC 303W | Cultural Concepts: Human Social Evolution (W) | 3 |
| SOSC 333 | Research and Inquiry in Social Science | 4 |
| SOSC 495W | Capstone Seminar: Social Science (W) | 3 |
| Major Option | ||
| Select one of the following options: | 21 | |
| Total Units | 43 | |
Major Option Course Requirements
Students must select at least one of the following options for completion of the major course requirements.
The Option in Multidisciplinary Studies: 21 units
Available online to off-campus students.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 102 | Principles of Macroeconomic Analysis | 3 |
| ECON 103 | Principles of Microeconomic Analysis | 3 |
| GEOG 352 | The United States | 3 |
| HIST 101 | World History to 1400 | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| World History since 1400 | ||
| Early Modern History | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Twentieth-Century US History | ||
| Topics in Contemporary US History | ||
| Twentieth-Century War in American Society | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Constitutional Law: Powers and Restraints | ||
| Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties | ||
| State and Local Government | ||
| Interest Groups and Lobbying | ||
| The Presidency | ||
| Congress | ||
| Total Units | 21 | |
The Option in Specialization Studies: 21 units
Areas of Concentration: 21 units
Select an area of concentration for 21 units (12 units minimum at the upper-division level).
Alternative Dispute Resolution: 21 units
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| LEGL 365W | Theories, Practices, and Administration of Justice (W) | 3 |
| LEGL 452 | Alternative Dispute Resolution | 3 |
| LEGL 490 | Legal Clinic Practicum | 3 |
| Select four of the following: | 12 | |
| Employment Law | ||
| Labor Law and Collective Bargaining | ||
| International Organizations and NGOs | ||
| Legal Research and Writing (W) | ||
| Administrative Law | ||
| Law and Disadvantaged Persons | ||
| Organizational Theory | ||
| Jurisprudence: Philosophy of Law | ||
| Total Units | 21 | |
Anthropology: 21 units
Available online to off-campus students.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Human Cultural Diversity | ||
| Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion | ||
| Peoples and Cultures of Native North America | ||
| Myths, Frauds, and Misconceptions | ||
| Select five of the following: | 15 | |
| Archaeology | ||
| Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Cataclysmic Events in Human Prehistory | ||
| Nature, Culture, Environment | ||
| Anthropology of Food (W) | ||
| California Indians (W) | ||
| Globalization and Human Rights | ||
| Applied Anthropology | ||
| Total Units | 21 | |
Asia: 21 units
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ASST/AAST 110W | Introduction to Asian Studies (W) | 3 |
| ASST/ANTH 200 | Asia Today and Tomorrow | 3 |
| Select five of the following: | 15 | |
| Premodern East Asia | ||
| Modern East Asia | ||
| Modern China | ||
| Politics of Asia | ||
| Introduction to Spiritual Traditions of Asia | ||
| Religions of East Asia (W) | ||
| Religions of South Asia | ||
| Total Units | 21 | |
California: People, Places, and Cultures: 21 units
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| GEOG 106 | American West Decolonized | 3 |
| Culture | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| American Ethnic and Regional Writers (W) | ||
| Science, Technology and the Literature of Cultural Change (W) | ||
| California Cultural Landscapes | ||
| Introduction to Spirituality and Religion in California | ||
| People | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| California Indians (W) | ||
| Latinx in Contemporary Society and Social Justice | ||
| Access and Equity in Education | ||
| History of California | ||
| Latino Politics | ||
| Queer and Trans California | ||
| Places | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Geology of California | ||
| Socio-Economic Innovation in Far-Northern California (W) | ||
| State and Local Government | ||
| Introduction to Wines | ||
| Total Units | 21 | |
Career and Life Planning: 21 units
Available online to off-campus students.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| SOCI 465 | Sociology of Work and Occupations | 3 |
| SOSC 509 | Principles and Techniques of Career Counseling and Guidance | 3 |
| SOSC 510 | Testing and Measurements for Career Assessment and Guidance | 3 |
| SOSC 560 | Seminar on Theory and Practice of Career and Life Planning | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Psychology of Personality | ||
| Social Psychology | ||
| Women, Work, and Family | ||
| Self and Society | ||
| Diversity and Social Justice | ||
| Human Behavior Across the Lifespan | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Survey of Management | ||
| Human Resource Management | ||
| Introduction to Public Administration | ||
| Internship Social Science (see internship policy below) | ||
| Mental Health Wellness and Recovery | ||
| Total Units | 21 | |
Child Development: 21 units
Available online to off-campus students.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation | ||
| CHLD 251 | Observational Techniques | 3 |
| CHLD 252 | Child Development | 3 |
| Family | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Marriage and Family Relationships | ||
| Seminar in Family Relations | ||
| Family Relations Capstone Seminar | ||
| Developmental Periods | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Prenatal-Infant Development: Advanced | ||
| Toddler-Early Childhood Development: Advanced | ||
| The School-Aged Child | ||
| Adolescent Development | ||
| Developmental Topics and Concepts | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Biology of Childhood | ||
| Children in a Changing World | ||
| Children's Gender and Sexuality Development (W) | ||
| Social-Emotional Intelligence: Development and Learning | ||
| Child Nutrition | ||
| Learning in the Young Child | ||
| Survey of Child and Adolescent Psychology | ||
| Overview of Special Education | ||
| Social Policy | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Working with Families in Diverse Communities: Advanced | ||
| Administration of Child Development Programs: Advanced | ||
| Adult Supervision in Child Development Programs: Advanced | ||
| Juvenile Justice Process | ||
| Child Welfare | ||
| Total Units | 21 | |
Community Organizing for Social Change: 21 units
Available online to off-campus students.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| LEGL/MCGS 451B | Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties | 3 |
| MCGS/CHLX/WMST 458 | Leading Social Change | 3 |
| SOCI 447 | Social Movements | 3 |
| SWRK 405 | Community and Organizational Change | 3 |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Issues in Racial and Ethnic Equity | ||
| Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Issues and Identities | ||
or QTST 310W | Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Issues and Identities (W) | |
| Sociology of Gender | ||
| Sociology of Wealth, Class, and Inequality | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Environmental Thought in Action | ||
| Law and Disadvantaged Persons | ||
| Informed Activism and Internship | ||
| Psychology of Prejudice, Hate, and Violence | ||
| Social Psychology | ||
| Political Sociology | ||
| Grantwriting for Sociology | ||
| Total Units | 21 | |
Economics: 21 units
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 102 | Principles of Macroeconomic Analysis | 3 |
| ECON 103 | Principles of Microeconomic Analysis | 3 |
| Select 15 units from the following: | 15 | |
Any other Economics (ECON) course offerings | ||
| Total Units | 21 | |
Environmental Planning: 21 units
Available online to off-campus students.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| GEOG 111 | Introduction to Geographic Methods | 3 |
| GEOG 320 | Introduction to Land Use Planning | 3 |
| Select four of the following: | 12 | |
| Sustainability and Resilience | ||
| Planning for Sustainable Communities and Regions | ||
| Sustainable Water Systems | ||
| Environmental Impact Analysis | ||
| Sustainable Transportation Planning | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Environmental Politics and Policy | ||
| Planning Law | ||
| Total Units | 21 | |
Environmental Studies: 21 units
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Social Policy | ||
| ECON 365 | Environmental Economics | 3 |
| GEOG 304 | Sustainability and Resilience | 3 |
| GEOG 440 | Environmental Thought in Action | 3 |
| LEGL 461 | Environmental Politics and Policy | 3 |
| Science | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Conservation Ecology | ||
| Environmental Science | ||
| Earth System Science (W) | ||
| Applications | ||
| Select two courses from one of the following categories: | 6 | |
Natural Resources: | ||
| Energy in the Human Environment (W) | ||
| Water Resources Management | ||
| Climatology | ||
| Sustainable Water Systems | ||
| Pyrogeography | ||
| Food Forever: Comparisons of Sustainable Food Production Systems | ||
Nature, Society, and Human Values: | ||
| Nature, Culture, Environment | ||
| Science and Human Values (W) | ||
| Geographies of Disaster | ||
| Conservation, Restoration, and Stewardship | ||
| American Environment (W) | ||
| Environmental Education | ||
Law, Policy, and the Environment: | ||
| The Economics of Government Regulations | ||
| Planning for Sustainable Communities and Regions | ||
| Sustainable Transportation Planning | ||
| Community Service Practice in Sustainability | ||
| Planning Law | ||
| Environmental Health | ||
| Environmental Sociology | ||
| Total Units | 21 | |
Family Relations: 21 units
Available online to off-campus students.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CHLD 455 | Seminar in Family Relations | 3 |
| SOSC 430 | Family Relations Capstone Seminar | 3 |
| Aging | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Health in the Later Years | ||
| Social Gerontology | ||
| Psychology of Adulthood and Aging | ||
| Policy and Programs for Older Adults | ||
| Human Development | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Child Development | ||
| Survey of Child and Adolescent Psychology | ||
| Human Behavior Across the Lifespan | ||
| Marriage and Family | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Marriage and Family Relationships | ||
| Working with Families in Diverse Communities: Advanced | ||
| Psychology of Romantic Relationships | ||
| Personality | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Social-Emotional Intelligence: Development and Learning | ||
| Psychology of Personality | ||
| Self and Society | ||
| Gender and Sexuality | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Children's Gender and Sexuality Development (W) | ||
| Sexual Minorities Law/Politics (W) | ||
| Human Sexuality | ||
| Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Issues and Identities | ||
or QTST 310W | Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Issues and Identities (W) | |
| Sociology of Sexuality | ||
| Women in Contemporary Societies | ||
| Women, Work, and Family | ||
| Total Units | 21 | |
Geography: 21 units
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| GEOG 101 | Earth Systems and Physical Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 102 | Peoples, Places, and Environments | 3 |
| GEOG 301W | Global Economic Geography (W) | 3 |
| GEOG 304 | Sustainability and Resilience | 3 |
| GEOG 417 | Field Techniques | 3 |
| Select six units from the following: | 6 | |
Any Geography (GEOG) course offering | ||
| Total Units | 21 | |
Gerontology: 21 units
Students wishing to be awarded the Gerontology Certificate must complete SOSC 489 as part of their nine units of electives, and have an overall grade point average of 2.5 in their certificate classes.
Available online to off-campus students.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| PHHA 328 | Health Equity | 3 |
| PHHA 541 | Health in the Later Years | 3 |
| PSYC 354 | Psychology of Adulthood and Aging | 3 |
| RHPM 360 | Recreation Therapy for Older Adults | 3 |
| SWRK 474 | Policy and Programs for Older Adults | 3 |
| Select six units from the following: | 6 | |
| Physical Activity and Wellness: A Way of Life | ||
| Nutrition Throughout the Life Cycle | ||
| Nutrition and Aging | ||
| Social Gerontology | ||
| Dying, Death, and Afterlife | ||
or RELS 264W | Dying, Death, and Afterlife (W) | |
| Internship Social Science (See internship policy below.) | ||
| Total Units | 21 | |
Health Science: 21 units
For students in the credential program, EDTE 451, PHHA 265, PHHA 370, and NFSC 303 satisfy the requirements for a supplemental authorization in health.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| NFSC 303 | Nutrition and Physical Fitness | 3 |
| PHHA 201 | Introduction to Public Health | 3 |
| PHHA 265 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| PHHA 362 | Environmental Health | 3 |
| PHHA 370 | Drugs in Our Society | 3 |
| Select six units of the following: | 6 | |
| Social-Emotional Intelligence: Development and Learning | ||
| Health Education for Elementary School Teachers | ||
| Health Education for Secondary School Teachers | ||
| Chronic and Communicable Diseases | ||
| International Health | ||
| Health Equity | ||
| Women's Health | ||
| Health in the Later Years | ||
| Total Units | 21 | |
History: 21 units
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Complete nine units in one area and six units in each of the other two areas. | 21 | |
Select six to nine units from the following: | ||
European History course offerings. | ||
Select six to nine units from the following: | ||
American History course offerings. | ||
Select six to nine units from the following: | ||
African, Asian, Latin American, Middle Eastern, or World History course offerings. | ||
| Total Units | 21 | |
International Relations: 21 units
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| INTR 141 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| INTR 142 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
| Select 12 units from the following: | 12 | |
| Politics of the Developing World | ||
| Model United Nations 1 | ||
| Model United Nations 1 | ||
| U.S. Foreign Policy | ||
| War, Conflict, and Security | ||
| International Organizations and NGOs | ||
| Comparative Political Behavior | ||
| International Law | ||
| Political Economy | ||
| Politics of Terrorism | ||
| Capstone in Comparative Politics and International Relations (W) | ||
| Politics of Europe | ||
| Politics of Asia | ||
| Politics of the Middle East | ||
| Politics of Africa | ||
| Issues in Comparative Politics and International Relations | ||
| Internship in International Relations | ||
| Select three units from the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Asian Studies (W) | ||
| Lands and Peoples of Latin America | ||
| Politics of Europe | ||
| Latin America Today | ||
| Seminar in Latin American Studies (W) | ||
| Total Units | 21 | |
Multicultural and Gender Studies: 21 units
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Ethnic Studies | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to the Asian American Experience | ||
| Introduction to Black/African American Studies | ||
| Introduction to American Indian/US Native American Studies | ||
| Introduction to Latinx | ||
| Introduction to Intersectional Ethnic Studies | ||
| Advanced Ethnic Studies | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Critical HMoob Studies | ||
| Hip Hop Culture | ||
| Contemporary Issues in Black/African American Studies | ||
| American Indian Storytelling/Oral Narrative | ||
| Contemporary North American Indian Issues and Identities | ||
| American Indian Sovereignty and U.S. Federal Law | ||
| Latinx in Contemporary Society and Social Justice | ||
| Latinx and Immigration | ||
| Latinx in the Labor Market | ||
| Queer and Trans Studies | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Latinx Gender and Sexualities | ||
| Gender, Race, Sexuality, Science, and Society (W) | ||
| Sex Work, Queer Desire, and Transfeminism | ||
| Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Issues and Identities (W) | ||
or QTST 310W | Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Issues and Identities (W) | |
| Queer and Trans California | ||
| Coloring Queer: Imagining Communities | ||
| Women's Studies | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Latina & Chicana Power | ||
| Introduction to Women's Studies | ||
| Women Internationally | ||
| Feminist Theory (W) | ||
| Cultural Images of Women | ||
| Current Issues and Theories in Women's Studies | ||
| Internship or Electives | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Informed Activism and Internship | ||
| Leading Social Change | ||
Any other African American Studies (AFAM), American Indian Studies (AIST), Asian American Studies (AAST), Chicanx/Latinx Studies (CHLX), Multicultural and Gender Studies (MCGS), Queer and Trans Studies (QTST), or Women's Studies (WMST) course offerings selected in consultation with the program advisor | ||
| Total Units | 21 | |
Political Science: 21 units
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| POLS 402 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| POLS 472 | The Presidency | 3 |
| POLS 473 | Congress | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| American Political Thought | ||
| Origins of Western Political Thought | ||
| Black Political Thought | ||
| Contemporary Political Thought | ||
| Jurisprudence: Philosophy of Law | ||
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Politics of the Developing World | ||
| Introduction to International Relations | ||
| Introduction to Comparative Politics | ||
| U.S. Foreign Policy | ||
| Comparative Political Institutions | ||
| Law, Politics, and Justice | ||
| Theories, Practices, and Administration of Justice (W) | ||
| Sexual Minorities Law/Politics (W) | ||
| Constitutional Law: Powers and Restraints | ||
| Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties | ||
| Introduction to Public Administration | ||
| Vital Political Problems | ||
| Women and Politics (W) | ||
| The Politics of Race and Ethnicity in the United States | ||
| Latino Politics | ||
| Interest Groups and Lobbying | ||
| U.S. Campaigns and Elections | ||
| Total Units | 21 | |
Psychology: 21 units
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| PSYC 101 | Principles of Psychology | 3 |
| Personal Process | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Developmental Wellness | ||
| Abnormal Psychology | ||
| Mind and Brain | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Brain, Mind, and Behavior | ||
| Health Psychology | ||
| Human Perception | ||
| Internship in Applied Psy | ||
| Development | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Learning in the Young Child | ||
| Psychology of Adulthood and Aging | ||
| Survey of Child and Adolescent Psychology | ||
| Social Processes | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Cross-Cultural Psychology | ||
| Psychology of Women | ||
| Psychology of Personality | ||
| Psychology of Prejudice, Hate, and Violence | ||
| Psychology of Romantic Relationships | ||
| Total Units | 21 | |
Public Administration: 21 units
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| PADM 260 | Introduction to Public Administration | 3 |
| PADM 462 | Organizational Theory | 3 |
| POLS 402 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| Select four of the following: | 12 | |
| Introduction to Criminal Justice | ||
| Police Administration and Management | ||
| U.S. Foreign Policy | ||
| International Organizations and NGOs | ||
| Comparative Political Institutions | ||
| Theories, Practices, and Administration of Justice (W) | ||
| Constitutional Law: Powers and Restraints | ||
| Alternative Dispute Resolution | ||
| Environmental Politics and Policy | ||
| Administrative Law | ||
| Planning Law | ||
| Health Care Policy and Politics | ||
| Public Policy Formation | ||
| Public Personnel Administration | ||
| Public Budgeting and Finance | ||
| Policy Analysis Capstone Seminar (W) | ||
| Internship in Public Administration (See Internship Policy below.) | ||
| The Presidency | ||
| Congress | ||
| Total Units | 21 | |
Internship Policy
With approval from the appropriate academic advisor, students may enroll in an internship course for academic credit. Internships are permitted or required in about half of the social science depth fields, all minors, and the social science MA program. In some cases, internships may be repeated for credit.
General guidelines for undergraduate and graduate Social Science and Special Program internships:
- Must be at appropriate class standing.
- Complete the required coursework before starting the internship.
- Work approximately 135 hours for every three units of credit.
- Submit a written proposal to the faculty supervisor that includes:
- Job duties and educational objectives of the internship.
- Demonstration that the host agency/location accepts the intern and that the duties are acceptable.
- An evaluation of the intern's work by the agency/location supervisor.
- Submit a paper of adequate length to the faculty supervisor describing the internship and its relevance to the student’s academic program.
Graduate internships require graduate standing and demonstration that the quality of experience merits graduate-level credit and fits into the overall graduate program.
Electives Requirement
To complete the total units required for the bachelor's degree, select additional elective courses from the total University offerings. You should consult with an advisor regarding the selection of courses which will provide breadth to your University experience and possibly apply to a supportive second major or minor.
Honors in the Major
Honors in the Major is a program of independent work in your major. It requires six units of honors coursework completed over two semesters.
The Honors in the Major program allows you to work closely with a faculty mentor in your area of interest on an original performance or research project. This year-long collaboration allows you to work in your field at a professional level and culminates in a public presentation of your work. Students sometimes take their projects beyond the University for submission in professional journals, presentation at conferences, or academic competition. Such experience is valuable for graduate school and professional life. Your honors work will be recognized at your graduation, on your permanent transcripts, and on your diploma. It is often accompanied by letters of commendation from your mentor in the department or the department chair.
Some common features of Honors in the Major program are:
- You must take six units of Honors in the Major coursework. All six units are honors courses (marked by a suffix of H), and at least three of these units are independent study (399H, 499H, 599H) as specified by your department. You must complete each course with a minimum grade of B.
- You must have completed 9 units of upper-division coursework or 21 overall units in your major before you can be admitted to Honors in the Major. Check the requirements for your major carefully, as there may be specific courses that must be included in these units.
- Your cumulative GPA should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
- Your GPA in your major should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
- Most students apply for or are invited to participate in Honors in the Major during the second semester of their junior year. Then they complete the six units of coursework over the two semesters of their senior year.
- Your honors work culminates with a public presentation of your honors project.
Honors in the Major is not part of the Honors Program. Each department administers its own program. Please contact your major department or major advisor to apply.
See Bachelor's Degree Requirements for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 39 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.
General Education Requirements: 43 units
See General Education and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education requirements and course offerings.
American Institutions Course Requirements: 6 units
The American Institutions graduation requirement, as mandated in Title 5, Section 40404, requires that students satisfactorily complete courses in United States history, the US Constitution, and government and American ideals (including California state and local government). At Chico State, HIST 130 meets the US history requirement (US-1), and POLS 155 meets the US Constitution and government requirement (US-2) and the California state and local government requirement (US-3). POLS 155 also fulfills three units of GE Area 4, Social and Behavioral Sciences. See Bachelor’s Degree Requirements for more information.
Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units
You must complete a minimum of two courses that focus primarily on cultural diversity. At least one course must be in US Diversity (USD) and at least one in Global Cultures (GC). See Diversity Requirements for a full list of courses. Many courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education.
Upper-Division Writing Requirement
Writing Across the Curriculum (EM 17-009) is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of four Writing (W) courses, two of which are designated by the major department. See Writing and Math Requirements for more details on the four courses. The first of the major designated Writing (W) courses is listed below.
- SOSC 303W Cultural Concepts: Human Social Evolution (W)
The second major-designated Writing course is the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GW) (EO 665). Students must earn a C- or higher to receive GW credit. The GE English Composition (1A) requirement must be completed before a student is permitted to register for a GW course.
Definition of Blended Programs
A blended bachelor's and master's degree program combines an existing Chico State bachelor's degree with an existing Chico State master's degree; the blended program allows up to 12 units of the graduate program units to be double-counted at the undergraduate level, for a minimum of 138 units to receive both degrees. Students who complete a blended program will receive both a bachelor’s and master’s degree. Upon completion of 120 semester units and with the completion of all requirements for the bachelor's degree, students in blended programs will be awarded the bachelor's degree. Upon completion of the requirements for the master's degree, students will be awarded the master's degree.
Students interested in applying to a blended program must be enrolled in a bachelor's degree program at Chico State and must meet and maintain the minimum GPA of the existing master's degree entrance requirements for all bachelor's coursework completed at the time of the application to the blended program, or show promise to reach this level as determined by the program. Once admitted to the blended program, students shall not be required to apply for admission to the master's program.
Blended BA + MA in Social Science
Eligibility
The blended BA + MA in Social Science is for highly motivated, well-qualified students. The program allows a student to apply after completing a minimum of 60 units toward their bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 2.5.
Application Procedure
Application deadlines: April 1 for fall start, November 1 for spring start.
Students who meet the eligibility criteria may submit an application for admission to the blended program. Formal application through Cal State Apply is not necessary and the student is not required to pay an application fee. GRE scores are not required. Students must meet the requirements outlined below to change to blended graduate status and continue toward the master's degree.
The blended BA + MA in social science application requires
- Statement of purpose: This statement should address 1) the area of study on which you wish to specialize and why; 2) the disciplines within the social sciences that are relevant to your area of study; 3) the way in which the MA in social science will help you achieve your career goals and future plans; 4) any special preparation relevant to your proposed area of study; and 5) any specific skills and background not already mentioned that prepare you to pursue a master's degree.
- Email addresses of two people who will provide letters of recommendation that speak to your ability for graduate school in social science.
Grading Requirement
Once in the blended program, students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA during their remaining undergraduate and graduate semesters.
Transition to Graduate Status
Students can transition to the graduate program after completing all undergraduate degree requirements with a minimum 2.5 GPA in all coursework. The Office of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Coordinator will verify graduate program eligibility at the end of the semester in which the bachelor's degree is completed. Qualified students change to graduate status effective the following semester.
Requirements for Blended BA + MA in Social Science
The blended program allows the courses below to count toward both degrees. This course sequence is offered within the Career and Life Planning (CLP) area of concentration (AoC) in the BA in Social Science and Minor in Career and Life Planning. Students who take these three courses earn the National Career Development Association certified Career and Life Planning professional certificate. This certificate is required for professionals to pursue the NCDA's Global Career Development Facilitator and the Certified Career Services Provider (CCSP) certification, which allows them to work in a variety of career development settings.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| SOSC 509 | Principles and Techniques of Career Counseling and Guidance | 3 |
| SOSC 510 | Testing and Measurements for Career Assessment and Guidance | 3 |
| SOSC 560 | Seminar on Theory and Practice of Career and Life Planning | 3 |