Social Sciences Competency
Courses in the social sciences introduce students to the study of the psychological, social and cultural dimensions of individuals and groups. Students learn to seek knowledge for its own sake as well as for its application. Courses provide students with the knowledge necessary to solve problems in the social sciences and in scholarly fields that apply the methods used in the social sciences. They introduce students to the theoretical, analytical, and methodological techniques and perspectives of social sciences that advance the understanding of individual and group behavior. Scholarly study in the social sciences provides students with the foundation for understanding real-world problems necessary for meaningful participation in society. Courses in the social sciences develop the intellectual abilities, knowledge and skills that students need to become broadly informed, to participate in interdisciplinary scholarship, and to be successful in their professional specialization.
The following program learning outcomes define the social sciences competency. Students who have completed the general education social sciences requirements can:
Apply discipline specific knowledge in the social sciences to explain the key factors that shape social institutions, structures, and processes that shape human behavior and social interaction.
Explain how cultural and historical contexts influence individual behavior, society or culture.
Apply discipline specific theories and modes of inquiry in the social sciences to analyze social contemporary behavioral or cultural issues.