Liberal Arts Social and Behavioral Sciences Emphasis
A.A. Degree Liberal Arts · Santa Ana College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Program Code: SAC.LASBS.AA
Program Control Number: 18584
This is a diversified degree designed for students desiring a broad knowledge of liberal arts and sciences plus additional coursework in an “Area of Emphasis”. The degree allows students to develop an appreciation and understanding of the beauty and values that have shaped and enriched our culture. The program of study also enables students to develop intellectual maturity, and a deeper understanding of themselves and the American heritage.
This program provides excellent preparation for a variety of personal and professional goals. Please consult a counselor for educational planning and information regarding specific goals.
I. Requirements:
- Complete general education Plan 1 (associate degree AA/AS only, nontransfer) or Plan 2 (Cal-GETC, CSU or UC transfer) as related to your educational goal. The CSU GE or IGETC pattern may be used in some cases; please see a counselor for details.
- Complete a minimum of 18 units from a single Area of Emphasis listed below. For depth of study, students are strongly encouraged to complete two or more courses in a single discipline as part of their 18 units. (Note: Courses in the chosen "Area of Emphasis" may also be applied toward general education areas on Plans 1 and 2.) Note: Although a course may be listed in more than one area of emphasis of the Liberal Arts degree, it may only be used to meet a requirement for a single emphasis.
- Complete all other associate degree requirements for Santa Ana College.
II. Areas of Emphasis: 1. American Studies Emphasis 2. Arts, Humanities and Communications Emphasis 3. Business and Technology Emphasis 4. Kinesiology and Wellness Emphasis 5. Mathematics and Science Emphasis 6. Social And Behavioral Sciences Emphasis
6. Social and Behavioral Sciences (sac.lasbs.aa)
These courses emphasize the perspective, concepts, theories and methodologies of the disciplines typically found in the vast variety of disciplines that comprise study in the Social and Behavioral Sciences. Students will study about themselves and others as members of a larger society. Topics and discussion to stimulate critical thinking about ways people have acted in response to their societies will allow students to evaluate how societies and social subgroups operate. This emphasis may be of interest to those planning to pursue careers in anthropology, child development, criminal justice, ethnic studies, government service, law, history, marriage and family therapy, political science, psychology, social work, sociology, teaching, and urban planning.
Note: Although a course may be listed in more than one area of emphasis of the Liberal Arts degree, it may only be used to meet a requirement for a single emphasis.
Learning Outcome(s):
- Students will evaluate how individuals, socities, and social subgroups operate.
- Students will apply the principles, methodologies, value systems, ethics, and thought processes employed by human inquiry.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Units | 18 | |
| ANTH 100 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| orANTH 100H | Honors Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH 103 | Introduction to Archaeology | 3 |
| ANTH 104 | Language and Culture | 3 |
| orANTH 104H | Honors Language and Culture | 3 |
| orENGL 104 | Language and Culture | 3 |
| orENGL 104H | Honors Language and Culture | 3 |
| ANTH 105 | Ancient Mesoamerican Civilization | 3 |
| ANTH 125 | Native Americans in the U.S. | 3 |
| APCD 107 | Apprenticeship Child Growth and Development (DS1) | 3 |
| APCD 110 | Apprenticeship Child, Family and Community (DS2) | 3 |
| APCD 221 | Apprenticeship Teaching in a Diverse Society | 3 |
| ASIA 150 | Introduction to Asian American Studies | 3 |
| BIOL 200 | Human Ecology | 3 |
| BLST 150 | Introduction to African/Black American Studies | 3 |
| CHST 150 | Introduction to Chicana/Chicano Studies | 3 |
| CDEV 110 | Child, Family, and Community (DS2) | 3 |
| CDEV 221 | Teaching in a Diverse Society | 3 |
| CDEV C1000 | Child Growth and Development | 3 |
| CMST 103 | Introduction to Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| orCMST 103H | Honors Introduction to Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| CMST 150 | Organizational Communication | 3 |
| CMST 206 | Gender Communication | 3 |
| orCMST 206H | Honors Gender Communication | 3 |
| COMM C1004 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| orCOMM C1004H | Interpersonal Communication - Honors | 3 |
| CMPR 100 | The Computer and Society | 3 |
| CNSL 150 | Introduction to Social Work and Human Services | 3 |
| CJ 101 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| orCJ 101H | Honors Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| ECON C2001 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECON C2002 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ENGL 245 | The Image of African Americans in Literature and Films | 3 |
| ENGL 278 | Survey of Literature by Women | 3 |
| ENVR 200 | Human Ecology | 3 |
| ETHN 102 | The Borderlands: Cultural Context and Intercultural Relations | 3 |
| orETHN 102H | Honors the Borderlands: Cultural Context and Intercultural Relations | 3 |
| ETHN 150 | Introduction to Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| orETHN 150H | Honors Introduction to Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| GEOG 100 | World Regional Geography | 3 |
| orGEOG 100H | Honors World Regional Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 102 | Cultural Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 140 | California Geography | 3 |
| Courses | 0 | |
| HIST 101 | World Civilizations to the 16th Century | 3 |
| orHIST 101H | Honors World Civilizations to the 16th Century | 3 |
| HIST 102 | World Civilizations Since the 16th Century | 3 |
| orHIST 102H | Honors World Civilizations Since the 16th Century | 3 |
| HIST 105 | Ancient Mesoamerican Civilization | 3 |
| HIST 118 | Social and Cultural History of the United States | 3 |
| HIST 123 | African American History to 1865 | 3 |
| HIST 124 | Mexican American History in the United States | 3 |
| orHIST 124H | Honors Mexican American History in the United States | 3 |
| HIST 125 | Native Americans in the U.S. | 3 |
| HIST 127 | Women in U.S. History | 3 |
| HIST 129 | LGBTQ+ History in the U.S. | 3 |
| HIST 146 | African American History from 1863 to the Present | 3 |
| HIST 150 | Latin American Civilization to Independence | 3 |
| HIST 151 | Modern Latin American Civilization | 3 |
| HIST 153 | History of Mexico | 3 |
| HIST 181 | Survey of Chicana/Latina Women's History | 3 |
| HIST C1001 | United States History to 1877 | 3 |
| HIST C1001H | United States History to 1877 - Honors | 3 |
| HIST C1002 | United States History since 1865 | 3 |
| HIST C1002H | United States History since 1865 - Honors | 3 |
| IDS 155 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| JAMS 105 | Mass Media and Society | 3 |
| JAMS 111 | Media, Race and Gender | 3 |
| KNHE 112 | Health and Social Justice | 3 |
| KNPR 150 | Sport and Society | 3 |
| LAW 100 | Law and Society | 3 |
| orPARA 100 | Law and Society | 3 |
| NUTR 120 | Food and Culture | 3 |
| POLS C1000 | American Government and Politics | 3 |
| orPOLS C1000H | American Government and Politics - Honors | 3 |
| POLT 200 | American Political Thought | 3 |
| orPOLT 200H | Honors American Political Thought | 3 |
| POLT 201 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
| POLT 205 | Introduction to Global Studies | 3 |
| POLT 206 | Global Issues | 3 |
| POLT 220 | International Politics | 3 |
| POLT 235 | Identity Politics | 3 |
| PSYC 140 | Introduction to Psychology of Adulthood and Aging | 3 |
| PSYC 157 | Introduction to Child Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 160 | Introduction to Lifespan Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 170 | Multicultural Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 190 | Psychology of Human Sexuality | 3 |
| PSYC 201 | Introduction to Biological Psychology | 4 |
| PSYC 219 | Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 230 | Psychology of Adjustment | 3 |
| PSYC 240 | Introduction to Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 250 | Introduction to Psychopathology | 3 |
| PSYC 260 | Psychopharmacology | 3 |
| PSYC 270 | Introduction to Cognitive Science | 3 |
| PSYC C1000 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| orPSYC C1000H | Introduction to Psychology - Honors | 3 |
| SOC 100 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| orSOC 100H | Honors Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 112 | Relationships, Marriages, and Family Dynamics | 3 |
| SOC 140 | Social Problems | 3 |
| orSOC 140H | Honors Social Problems | 3 |
| SOC 150 | Intro to Race and Ethnicity | 3 |
| SOC 240 | Introduction to Social Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 286 | Introduction to LGBTQ+ Studies | 3 |
| WMNS 101 | Introduction to Women's Studies | 3 |
| WMNS 102 | Money, Sex, and Power | 3 |
| WMNS 286 | Introduction to LGBTQ+ Studies | 3 |
| Total | 18 | |