Social Science
Associate in Arts Political Science · Allan Hancock College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Award Type: Associate in Arts
The social sciences are concerned with the study of human behavior and the human condition. The various disciplines within social science are united in their quest to understand the “whys,” “causes,” and “consequences” of human experience and action. The social science major is designed to provide the student with an integrated liberal arts background that focuses on social science and fulfills the lower-division requirements for specific upper-division majors. Occupational choices for social scientists are numerous and varied in both the private and public sectors. Depending on the individual's specialization, career opportunities may be found most frequently in the areas of human services, education, law and criminal justice, government, and business administration.
The graduate of the Associate in Arts in Social Science will:
- Synthesize and apply social science concepts.
- Use information/data from multiple sources and demonstrate knowledge of research methodologies and multiple theoretical perspectives.
- Have the ability to use social science methods to identify, formulate, and study social problems.
- Understand the interdisciplinary nature of knowledge and view issues from a holistic perspective.
- Have college-level knowledge and skills in critical thinking, analysis, and written communication.
- Understand the global society and processes of globalization from non-Western, Western, and indigenous perspectives.
- Make informed, reasoned, and ethical personal and public choices.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| A major of 18 units is required for the degree. | ||
| Required core courses (18 units): | 18 | |
| ANTH 102 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| GEOG 102 | Human Geography | 3 |
| HIST 105 | Western Civilization Since 1650 | 3 |
| PSYC C1000 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| SOCI C1000 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| POLS 101 | Introduction to Political Science | 3 |
| POLS 104 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| Recommended electives: | 9 | |
| GBST 141 | Global Economics | 3 |
| ECON C2001 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| SOC 122 | Sociology of the Hispanic Culture | 3 |
| General Education | ||
| In addition to completing the program requirements, students are also required to complete general education courses. Students may follow the AHC GE or the Cal-GETC pathways to meet these requirements. Students intending to transfer to a four-year university should use the Cal-GETC GE pathway. To see what major courses and general education requirements you need to fulfill, visit your myHancock account and select the DegreeWorks button in the Academic Profile widget. For more information and guidance, and to receive a detailed education plan, make an appointment with an academic counselor. | ||
| Total | 18 | |