In the Social and Behavioral Sciences major you will gain knowledge and skills that are necessary to solving many of the world's most pressing social problems. The 21st century global society presents a complex picture of human conditions that can be examined politically, economically, culturally, historically, socially, technologically and behaviorally.

We integrate six essential social sciences to help you understand the full range of tools social scientists may use to develop innovative solutions. You will also specialize in one of the social sciences in order to acquire a deeper understanding of some of those tools. We have a special preparation track for those who wish to become high school teachers. In addition, you have the opportunity to take courses in related majors such as Psychology and Global Studies.

Social scientists work in education, business, law, government, non-governmental organizations and civil society at local, national and global levels, helping to shape the discussions and effect positive changes through teaching, research and service.

To learn more about the major, visit the Division of Social, Behavioral & Global Studies website.

Required Courses

Special Requirements

AA-T certified students can earn a Social & Behavioral Sciences B.A. by completing the special requirements in the following programs:

All other SBS majors, see below.

standard Requirements

In order to graduate, you will also need to complete your general education and university requirements.

Complete ALL of the following courses to meet MLO I and MLO IV:

  • STAT 100: Introduction to Statistics
  • SBS 300: SBS Major ProSeminar: Theory
  • SBS 300L: Professional Skills for the Social Sciences
  • SBS 328: Social Science Theory Module
  • SBS 400: Senior Capstone Seminar I
  • SBS 402: Senior Capstone Seminar II OR SBS 404S: Service Learning Capstone
  • SBS 405: Assessment Lab/Grad/Srs

To complete the requirements of the SBS degree students have two options to meet MLO II and MLO III:

  1. Select and complete one of the concentrations listed below, or
  2. Select and complete an associated minor from the list below, consisting of 12-16 units plus 8 additional units chosen from upper-division SBS concentration courses approved by faculty advisors. Minor options include:

Anthropology Concentration

Complete ALL of the following courses:

  • GS 316: Approaches/ Global Histories
  • SBS 101: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
  • SBS 345: Cultural Anthropology
  • SBS 362: Rsrch Mthd for SBS: Qual Emph
  • SBS 362L: Rsrch Mthd SBS: Qual Emph Lab
  • SBS 379: Tattoos, Makeup and Burkas
  • SBS 384S: Anthropology of Education: Cultural Contexts of Bilingual Education
  • SBS 388: Crisis and Development in Mexican Society

Complete ONE of the following course combinations:

  • SBS 360S: Mission Archaeology AND SBS 360L: Archaeology Lab
  • SBS 361: Introduction to GIS AND SBS 361L: Introduction to GIS Lab
  • SBS 365: Black/Civil/Rights:1954-1968 AND SBS 365L: Black/Civil/Rights Lab
  • SBS 366: Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis AND SBS 366L: Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis Lab
  • GS 316: Approaches/ Global Histories
  • PSY 302: Psychology Research Methods and Data Analysis AND PSY 302L: Psychology Research Lab

Complete ONE of the following courses:

Archaeology Concentration

Complete ALL of the following courses:

Complete ONE of the following course combinations:

  • SBS 361: Introduction to GIS AND SBS 361L: Introduction to GIS Lab
  • SBS 362: Rsrch Mthd for SBS: Qual Emph AND SBS 362L: Rsrch Mthd SBS: Qual Emph Lab
  • SBS 365: Black/Civil/Rights:1954-1968 AND SBS 365L: Black/Civil/Rights Lab
  • SBS 366: Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis AND SBS 366L: Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis Lab
  • GS 316: Approaches/ Global Histories
  • PSY 302: Psychology Research Methods and Data Analysis AND PSY 302L: Psychology Research Lab

Complete ONE of the following courses:

Complete ONE of the following courses:

Geographic Information Systems Concentration

Complete ALL of the following courses:

  • SBS 361: Introduction to GIS
  • SBS 361L: Introduction to GIS Lab
  • SBS 356: People, Places, & Environment: An Introduction to Geography
  • SBS 371: Applications/GIS/Soc/Scie/Busi

Complete ONE of the following course combinations:

  • SBS 360S: Mission Archaeology AND SBS 360L: Archaeology Lab
  • SBS 362: Rsrch Mthd for SBS: Qual Emph AND SBS 362L: Rsrch Mthd SBS: Qual Emph Lab
  • GS 316: Approaches/ Global Histories
  • SBS 365: Black/Civil/Rights:1954-1968 AND SBS 365L: Black/Civil/Rights Lab
  • SBS 366: Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis AND SBS 366L: Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis Lab
  • PSY 302: Psychology Research Methods and Data Analysis AND PSY 302L: Psychology Research Lab

Complete THREE of the following courses:

Political Economy Concentration

Complete ALL of the following courses:

  • SBS 366: Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis
  • SBS 366L: Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis Lab
  • GS 342: Economic Thought: History and Contemporary Interpretations
  • GS 351: Global Econ: Theory & Ethics

Complete ONE of the following course combinations:

  • SBS 360S: Mission Archaeology AND SBS 360L: Archaeology Lab
  • SBS 361: Introduction to GIS AND SBS 361L: Introduction to GIS Lab
  • SBS 362: Rsrch Mthd for SBS: Qual Emph AND SBS 362L: Rsrch Mthd SBS: Qual Emph Lab
  • GS 316: Approaches/ Global Histories
  • SBS 365: Black/Civil/Rights:1954-1968 AND SBS 365L: Black/Civil/Rights Lab
  • PSY 302: Psychology Research Methods and Data Analysis AND PSY 302L: Psychology Research Lab

Complete TWO of the following courses:

  • GS 317: Global Migrant Workers
  • GS 339: Sweat/Service/Solidarity
  • GS 339S: Sweat/Service/Solidarity SL
  • GS 379: Ethics of Corporate Social Responsibility
  • SBS 381: US in Vietnam and Asia-Pacific: Peoples, Colonization, Conflicts, Resources
  • SBS 356: People, Places, & Environment: An Introduction to Geography
  • SBS 379: Tattoos, Makeup and Burkas
  • SBS 350: Domination and Resistance: US since 1880

Complete ONE of the following courses:

Social History Concentration

Complete ALL of the following courses:

  • GS 214: Global History I: Ancient Times to 1500
  • GS 215: Global History II - World History Since 1500
  • GS 316: Approaches/ Global Histories
  • SBS 315: Growth and Conflict in the United States to 1920
  • SBS 350: Domination and Resistance: US since 1880

Complete ONE of the following course combinations:

  • SBS 360S: Mission Archaeology AND SBS 360L: Archaeology Lab
  • SBS 361: Introduction to GIS AND SBS 361L: Introduction to GIS Lab
  • SBS 362: Rsrch Mthd for SBS: Qual Emph AND SBS 362L: Rsrch Mthd SBS: Qual Emph Lab
  • SBS 365: Black/Civil/Rights:1954-1968 AND SBS 365L: Black/Civil/Rights Lab
  • SBS 366: Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis AND SBS 366L: Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis Lab

Complete ONE of the following courses:

Complete THREE of the following courses:

History & Social Science Subject Matter Preparation Program Coursework in conjunction with the Social History Concentration

If you choose the Social History Concentration and are seeking a History and Social Science Subject Matter Preparation Program, then you must complete the following teaching-track pathway:

Complete ALL of the following courses:

  • GS 214: Global History I: Ancient Times to 1500 OR one comparable C-ID transfer course in Ancient-to-Early Modern World History
  • GS 215: Global History II - World History Since 1500 OR one comparable C-ID transfer course in Modern World History
  • GS 316: Approaches/ Global Histories
  • SBS 315: Growth and Conflict in the United States to 1920
  • SBS 350: Domination and Resistance: US since 1880

Complete ONE of the following courses or one comparable C-ID transfer course in US History:

  • SBS 111: Reading and Writing US History
  • SBS 212: US Social Histories and Politics

Complete ONE of the following courses or one comparable C-ID transfer course in US/CA Government:

Complete ONE of the following courses:

Complete ONE of the following courses or one comparable C-ID transfer course in Cultural World Geography:

  • SBS 252: Wrl/Reg/Geo/Cul/Soc/Sp:On-line
  • SBS 356: People, Places, & Environment: An Introduction to Geography

Complete ONE of the following course combinations or comparable transfer course in Macro AND Micro Economics:

Complete the following course or one comparable transfer course in Tech Skills:

Complete ONE of the following courses or one comparable transfer course in Ethnic Studies:

  • SBS 245: Native American Societies
  • SBS 304: California Indian Societies
  • SBS 306: Contemp American Indian Policy
  • HCOM 245: Introduction to Chicana/o Studies
  • HCOM 322: Asian American Literature
  • HCOM 324: African American Narratives
  • HCOM 326: Jewish Holocaust Literature
  • HCOM 345: Chicano Life & Culture
  • HCOM 346: African American Life/History
  • LS 391: Diversity in Educational Settings

Complete ONE of the following courses or one comparable transfer course in Non-Western History/Culture:

  • SBS 325: Art of the Aztec Empire
  • SBS 348: Maya Civilization
  • SBS 378: Revolution and People Power in the Modern World
  • SBS 381: US in Vietnam and Asia-Pacific: Peoples, Colonization, Conflicts, Resources
  • SBS 383: African Civilizations
  • SBS 388: Crisis and Development in Mexican Society
  • GS 320: Global Issues & 3rd World
  • GS 350: Global Gender Issues
  • GS 360: Relig'n/Violence/Peacemaking
  • HCOM 247: African Legacy Worldwide

Sociology Concentration

Complete ALL of the following courses:

  • SBS 366: Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis
  • SBS 366L: Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis Lab
  • SOC 100: Introduction to Sociology
  • SBS 330: Crime and Violence
  • SBS 338: Social Psychology

Complete ONE of the following course combinations:

Complete EIGHT (8) UNITS from the following course list:

  • CHHS 330: Collaborative Leadership & Community Building
  • CHHS 340: Collaborative Negotiation
  • CHHS 350: Ethics for Health & Human Services
  • CHHS 385: Applied Statistics/Research Methods
  • HDEV 353: Cross-Cultural Human Development
  • HDEV 355: Behavioral and Emotional Disorders of Childhood and Adolesence
  • HDEV 360: Child Development
  • HDEV 365: Adolescence
  • HDEV 371: Adulthood & Aging
  • PSY 322: Theories and Methods of Counseling
  • PSY 332: Decsn Making & Prblm Solving
  • PSY 355: Social Psychology and Social Justice
  • SBS 306: Contemp American Indian Policy
  • SBS 331: Crime and Violence Self Defense
  • SBS 340: Cross/Cult/Human/Develop
  • SBS 345: Cultural Anthropology
  • SBS 379: Tattoos, Makeup and Burkas
  • SBS 381: US in Vietnam and Asia-Pacific: Peoples, Colonization, Conflicts, Resources
  • SBS 384S: Anthropology of Education: Cultural Contexts of Bilingual Education
  • SW 310: Introduction to Social Work
  • GS 317: Global Migrant Workers
  • GS 320: Global Issues & 3rd World
  • GS 339: Sweat/Service/Solidarity
  • GS 339S: Sweat/Service/Solidarity SL
  • GS 350: Global Gender Issues
  • GS 360: Relig'n/Violence/Peacemaking

Native American Studies Concentration

Complete the following course:

  • SBS 245: Native American Societies
  • SBS 304: California Indian Societies
  • GS 316: Approaches/ Global Histories

Complete ONE of the following course combinations:

  • SBS 360S: Mission Archaeology AND SBS 360L: Archaeology Lab
  • SBS 361: Introduction to GIS AND SBS 361L: Introduction to GIS Lab
  • SBS 362: Rsrch Mthd for SBS: Qual Emph AND SBS 362L: Rsrch Mthd SBS: Qual Emph Lab
  • SBS 365: Black/Civil/Rights:1954-1968 AND SBS 365L: Black/Civil/Rights Lab
  • SBS 366: Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis AND SBS 366L: Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis Lab
  • PSY 302: Psychology Research Methods and Data Analysis AND PSY 302L: Psychology Research Lab

Complete FOUR of the following courses:

  • SBS 306: Contemp American Indian Policy
  • SBS 315: Growth and Conflict in the United States to 1920
  • SBS 325: Art of the Aztec Empire
  • SBS 348: Maya Civilization
  • SBS 350: Domination and Resistance: US since 1880
  • SBS 385: Environmental History of California
  • SBS 386: Social/Pol/Hist/CA

Learning Outcomes

MLO 1: Social theory

The SBS major requires successful completion of two courses in social theory: the Major Proseminar, with a co-requisite lab; and an advanced social theory module of at least 2 units.

MLO 2: Research methods

The SBS major requires two courses in research methods.

MLO 3: Specialized Disciplinary and Area Studies Competency

The SBS major requires students to demonstrate competency in a specific field or discipline of the social or behavioral sciences.

MLO 4: Application of social science principles and practices in real world contexts

Students complete the B.A. in SBS by producing a senior capstone project that demonstrates their ability to apply the skills and knowledge acquired in the SBS curriculum to real world social problems or issues.

Course Pathways

Anthropology Concentration Pathway
Archaeology Concentration Pathway
Geographic Information Systems Concentration Pathway
Native American Studies Concentration Pathway
Political Economy Concentration Pathway
Social History Concentration Pathway
Sociology Concentration Pathway
Teaching Track: Subject Preparation in History/Social Science Freshmen Pathway