Liberal Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences
A.A. Degree Major History · Santiago Canyon College · 2025-2026 Catalog
The integrated curriculum of the Liberal Arts degree provides a broad exposure to the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences, while offering the opportunity for depth of knowledge within an area of emphasis. The program will enable students to develop an appreciation and understanding of the logic, aesthetic, and ethical values that have shaped and enriched our culture and to develop intellectual maturity, a deeper understanding of themselves, others, and the world. The curriculum provides a basic framework for lifelong individual study as well as preparation for university study. Courses in this category emphasize the connection between human behavior and social, political and economic institutions and promote an understanding of how societies and social subgroups operate. Students will be encouraged to apply critical thinking techniques as they evaluate the way individuals act and have acted in response to their societies. The courses will ensure opportunities for students to develop an understanding of the perspectives and methods of inquiry used in the social and behavioral sciences. This area of emphasis will provide students with lower-division major preparation for many disciplines within the social sciences including Criminal Justice, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and History. Complete general education Plan A (associate degree only, non-transfer), Plan B (CSU-GE Breadth, CSU transfer) or Plan C (IGETC, UC or CSU transfer). Students are advised to meet with a counselor to select a general education pattern most appropriate to their educational goals. Units used to satisfy an area of emphasis may be used to satisfy general education requirements.
Program Courses & Requirements
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences, AA | 18 | |
| ANTH 100 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH 100H | Honors Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH 103 | Introduction to Archaeology | 3 |
| ANTH 104 | Language and Culture | 3 |
| CDEV 107 | Child Growth and Development (DS1) | 3 |
| CDEV 110 | Child, Family and Community (DS2) | 3 |
| CDEV 202 | Introduction to Children from Special Populations | 3 |
| CDEV 203 | Curriculum and Intervention Strategies for Special Populations | 3 |
| CDEV 221 | Living and Teaching in a Diverse Society | 3 |
| CINE 105 | Mass Media and Society | 3 |
| CJ 101 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CMPR 100 | The Computer and Society | 3 |
| CNSL 150 | Introduction to Human Services | 3 |
| COMM 120 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| COMM 120H | Honors Introduction to Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| COMM 225 | Gender Communication | 3 |
| COMM 225H | Honors Gender Communication | 3 |
| ECON 101 | Principles/Micro | 3 |
| ECON 102 | Principles/Macro | 3 |
| ENGL 278 | Survey of Literature by Women | 3 |
| ETHN 101 | Introduction to Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| ETHN 110 | Introduction to Asian Pacific American Studies | 3 |
| ETHN 120 | Introduction to African American Studies | 3 |
| ETHN 130 | Introduction to Chicano Studies | 3 |
| ETHN 140 | Introduction to Native American Studies | 3 |
| GEOG 100 | World Regional Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 100H | Honors World Regional Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 102 | Cultural Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 102H | Honors Cultural Geography | 3 |
| GSWS 101 | Introduction to Women's Studies | 3 |
| GSWS 102 | Money, Sex, and Power | 3 |
| GSWS 103 | Men and Masculinities | 3 |
| HIST 101 | World Civilizations to the 16th Century | 3 |
| HIST 101H | Honors World Civilizations to the 16th Century | 3 |
| HIST 102 | World Civilizations Since the 16th Century | 3 |
| HIST 102H | Honors World Civilizations Since the 16th Century | 3 |
| HIST 115 | African American History | 3 |
| HIST 118 | Social and Cultural History of the United States | 3 |
| HIST 120 | The United States to 1877 | 3 |
| HIST 120H | Honors The United States to 1877 | 3 |
| HIST 121 | The United States Since 1865 | 3 |
| HIST 121H | Honors the United States Since 1865 | 3 |
| HIST 124 | Mexican American History in the United States | 3 |
| HIST 126 | United States since 1945 | 3 |
| HIST 127 | Women in U.S. History | 3 |
| HIST 132 | Modern African History | 3 |
| HIST 133 | History of California | 3 |
| HIST 142 | History of the Modern Middle East | 3 |
| HIST 152 | Latin American History | 3 |
| HIST 162 | Asian Civilizations | 3 |
| HIST 240 | Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies | 3 |
| IDS 155 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| KIN 109 | Sport in US Society | 3 |
| MATH 219 | Statistics and Probability | 4 |
| MATH 219H | Honors Statistics and Probability | 4 |
| MATH 219S | Statistics and Probability with Support | 4 |
| POLT 101 | American Government and Politics | 3 |
| POLT 101H | Honors American Government and Politics | 3 |
| POLT 110 | Introduction to Political Science | 3 |
| POLT 201 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
| POLT 220 | International Politics | 3 |
| POLT 221 | Women in American Politics | 3 |
| POLT 230 | Political Theory | 3 |
| PSYC 100 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 100H | Honors Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 157 | Introduction to Child Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 160 | Introduction to Lifespan Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 170 | Multicultural Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 180 | Psychology of Gender | 3 |
| PSYC 190 | Psychology of Human Sexuality | 3 |
| PSYC 220 | Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology | 4 |
| PSYC 230 | Psychology of Adjustment | 3 |
| PSYC 240 | Introduction to Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 250 | Introduction to Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 100 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 100H | Honors Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| SOC 115 | Death and Dying | 3 |
| SOC 116 | Social Problems | 3 |
| SOC 120 | Introduction to Sociological Research Methods | 3 |
| SOC 125 | Introduction to Statistics in Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 125H | Honors Introduction to Statistics in Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 130 | Relationships, Marriages, and Family Dynamics | 3 |
| SOC 220 | Introduction to Gender and Sexualities | 3 |
| SOC 240 | Introduction to Social Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 240H | Honors Introduction to Social Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 286 | Introduction to LGBTQ Studies | 3 |
Learning Outcomes
- Think critically about how individuals are influenced by political, economic, cultural and family institutions in various cultural settings.
- Experience using social science methods of data collection and analysis in order to draw logical conclusions about individuals and society.
- Discuss, compare and contrast, and analyze U.S. and world political systems in various historical periods.