Social Sciences
A.A. Degree Social Science · Laney College · 2026-2027 Catalog
These courses emphasize a multidisciplinary approach to the understanding and study of human behavior and social organization. Students study and analyze human societies; the institutions, organizations and groups that comprise them; and the way individuals and groups relate to one another. Students develop an understanding of the various theories and methodologies of the disciplines, as well as skills in applying their knowledge in critical and useful ways as they navigate their own lives within a constantly changing and complex social world.
For the Associate of Social Sciences, students must complete the General Education pattern and elective courses for an additional 42 units. Students must complete 18 units in the area of emphasis courses with a grade of “C” or better, 19 units of general education requirements, and an additional 23 units of elective courses for a total 60 units. As this degree alone may not be complete preparation for transfer, students wishing to continue at the UC or CSU system should meet with a counselor to develop a transfer plan which addresses all general education and lower-division transfer requirements.
Career Opportunities
Rather than career preparation, this curriculum is intended to prepare students for transfer to four year institutions with the benefit of introductory diverse course work.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this program a student will be able to:
- Apply and communicate discipline-appropriate approaches to critically analyze and evaluate social processes and structures.
- Apply and communicate social science methodologies in the analysis and evaluation of the consequences of social actions or forces and their impact upon individuals and social structures.
- Apply and communicate analyses and evaluation of the foundations, opportunities, and challenges of diversity within the human experience.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Select 18 units from at least TWO discipline areas (18 units): | 18 | |
| AFRAM | 3 | |
| AFRAM 1 | Introduction to African American Studies | 3 |
| AFRAM 2 | Black Economics | 3 |
| AFRAM 5 | The African American Family in the United States | 3 |
| AFRAM 8 | African-American Politics | 3 |
| AFRAM 11 | Perceptions of the African American Male in America | 3 |
| AFRAM 12 | Psychology of African Americans | 3 |
| AFRAM 14A | Social Psychology of African American Male/Female Relationships | 3 |
| AFRAM 16 | The Prison Industrial Complex: African American Incarceration | 3 |
| AFRAM 18 | African Heritage of Latin America | 3 |
| AFRAM 23 | Perceptions of African American Women | 3 |
| AFRAM 30 | African American History: Africa to 1865 | 3 |
| AFRAM 31 | African American History: 1865-1945 | 3 |
| AFRAM 32 | African American History: 1945 to the Present | 3 |
| AFRAM 35 | Women of Color | 3 |
| AFRAM 38 | Environmental Racism and Justice | 3 |
| AFRAM 45 | Religion and the African American Church in America | 3 |
| ANTHR | 6 | |
| ANTHR 2 | Introduction to Archaeology and Prehistory | 3 |
| ANTHR 3 | Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTHR 7 | Magic, Religion and Witchcraft | 3 |
| ANTHR 14 | Introduction to the Anthropology of Race, Class, Ethnicity, and Society | 3 |
| ANTHR 19 | Anthropology of Sex and Gender | 3 |
| ANTHR 20 | Introduction to Visual Anthropology of Film | 3 |
| ASAME | 9 | |
| ASAME 2 | Introduction to the Pacific Islander Experience from 1850 to the Present | 3 |
| ASAME 20 | Asian American History | 3 |
| ASAME 21 | Asian American Communities | 3 |
| ASAME 26 | Politics in Modern Asia | 3 |
| ASAME 30 | Asians and Asian Americans Through Films | 3 |
| ASAME 32 | Asian American Psychology | 3 |
| ASAME 35 | Women of Color | 3 |
| ASAME 42 | South and Southeast Asians in the United States | 3 |
| BIOL | ||
| BIOL 27 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| BUS | ||
| BUS 5 | Human Relations in Business | 3 |
| COMM | ||
| COMM 19 | Survey of Mass Media | 3 |
| COUN | ||
| COUN 30 | Personal Growth and Development | 3 |
| COUN 230 | Strategies for Personal Development | 3 |
| CULIN | 3 | |
| CULIN 88 | Introduction to Food and Culture | 3 |
| CULIN 90 | American Food and Culture | 3 |
| ECON | ||
| ECON C2001 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECON C2002 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ENGIN | ||
| ENGIN 100 | Earth Systems: Sustainability, Ecology & Environmental Justice for Technicians & Engineers | 3 |
| ETHST | 3 | |
| ETHST 1 | Introduction to Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| ETHST 3 | Race, Gender and Sports | 3 |
| ETHST 14 | Community Building and Transformation in Urban America | 3 |
| ETHST 20 | Arab and Muslim Experiences in the United States | 3 |
| ETHST 30 | Introduction to Race, Gender and Health | 3 |
| ETHST 50 | Introduction to Race, Class and Schools | 3 |
| GEOG | ||
| GEOG 2 | Cultural Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 3 | World Regional Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 18 | California Geography | 3 |
| HLTED | 6 | |
| HLTED 1 | Exploring Health Issues | 3 |
| HLTED 5 | Weight Management and Fitness | 3 |
| HLTED 6 | Stress and Healthy Adaptation | 3 |
| HIST | ||
| HIST 2A | History of Europe to 1500 | 3 |
| HIST 2B | History of Europe Since 1500 | 3 |
| HIST 3A | World History to 1500 | 3 |
| HIST 3B | World History Since 1500 | 3 |
| HIST C1001 | United States History to 1877 | 3 |
| HIST C1002 | United States History since 1865 | 3 |
| HIST 19 | History of California | 3 |
| JOURN | ||
| JOURN 62 | Survey of Mass Media | 3 |
| LABST | ||
| LABST 10 | American Labor Movement | 3 |
| LABST 13 | Economics for Labor and Community Leadership | 3 |
| LABST 21 | Workplace Organizing | 3 |
| M/LAT | 3 | |
| M/LAT 12 | United States Relations with Mexico and Latin America | 3 |
| M/LAT 19 | History of the Mexican American | 3 |
| M/LAT 23 | Psychology of Latinas and Latinos | 3 |
| M/LAT 31 | Survey of Chicana/Latina Women | 3 |
| M/LAT 32 | African Heritage of Latin America | 3 |
| M/LAT 33 | Introduction to Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies | 3 |
| M/LAT 34 | History of Latinos in the United States: 1800 to Present | 3 |
| M/LAT 35 | Women of Color | 3 |
| M/LAT 38 | Introduction to Curanderismo: Sacred Healing Traditions and Practices of Mexico and the Southwest United States | 3 |
| NATAM | ||
| NATAM 1 | History of Native American Indians | 3 |
| NATAM 2 | Native American Indians in Contemporary Society | 3 |
| NATAM 35 | Women of Color | 3 |
| POSCI | 9 | |
| POLS C1000 | American Government and Politics | 3 |
| POSCI 2 | Comparative Government | 3 |
| POSCI 3 | International Relations | 3 |
| POSCI 4 | Political Theory | 3 |
| POSCI 6 | The U.S. Constitution and Criminal Due Process | 3 |
| POSCI 16 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| POSCI 21 | Overview of the California Court System and State Law | 3 |
| PSYCH | 6 | |
| PSYC C1000 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSYCH 6 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSYCH 7A | Psychology of Childhood | 3 |
| PSYCH 12 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| PSYCH 21 | Lifespan Human Development | 3 |
| PSYCH 24 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| PSYCH 26 | Culture and Psychology | 3 |
| PSYCH 28 | Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology | 3 |
| SOCSC | ||
| SOCSC 19 | Introduction to Global Studies | 3 |
| SOCSC 20 | Global Issues | 3 |
| SOC | ||
| SOC 1 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 2 | Social Problems | 3 |
| SOC 5 | Minority Groups | 3 |
| SOC 8 | Crime and Deviance | 3 |
| SOC 13 | Sociology of the Family | 3 |
| SOC 120 | Introduction to Research Methods | 3 |
| Total Major Units: | 18 | |
| General Education Requirements: | 21 | |
| Electives to meet 60 units: | ||
| Total Units: | 60 | |