Social Behavioral Sciences BA Cal State Monterey Bay

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.

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 (3 units)
  • SBS 300: SBS Major ProSeminar: Theory (3 units)
  • SBS 300L: Professional Skills for the Social Sciences (1 units)
  • SBS 328: Social Science Theory Module (3 units)
  • SBS 400: Senior Capstone Seminar I (3 units)
  • SBS 402: Senior Capstone Seminar II (3 units) OR SBS 404S: Service Learning Capstone (4 units)
  • SBS 405: Assessment Lab/Grad/Srs (1 units)

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:

Complete ALL of the following courses:

  • SBS 101: Introduction to Anthropology (3-4 units)
  • SBS 335: Digital Ethnographies (4 units)
  • SBS 345: Cultural Anthropology (4 units)
  • SBS 362: Research Methods: Qualitative Emphasis (3 units)
  • SBS 362L: Research Methods: Qualitative Emphasis Lab (1 units)

Complete ONE of the following course combinations:

  • SBS 360S: Mission Archaeology (3 units) AND SBS 360L: Archaeology Lab (1 units)
  • SBS 361: Introduction to GIS (3 units) AND SBS 361L: Introduction to GIS Lab (1 units)
  • SBS 363: Historical Methods (4 units)
  • SBS 366: Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis (3 units) AND SBS 366L: Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis Lab (1 units)

Complete THREE of the following courses:

  • SBS 304: California Indian Societies (4 units)
  • SBS 325: Art of the Aztec Empire (4 units)
  • SBS 333: Forensic Anthropology (1-4 units)
  • SBS 336: Advan/Topics/Cult/Anthro (4 units)
  • SBS 348: Maya Civilization (4 units)
  • SBS 355: Archaeological Theory (2-4 units)
  • SBS 356: People, Places, & Environment: An Introduction to Geography (2-4 units)
  • SBS 379: Tattoos, Makeup and Burkas (4 units)
  • SBS 383: African Civilizations (3-4 units)
  • SBS 384S: Anthropology of Education: Cultural Contexts of Bilingual Education (6 units)
  • SBS 388: Crisis and Development in Mexican Society (4 units)
  • SBS 480
  • SBS 485S: Global Citizenship: Applied Research and International Service Learning in Rural Communities (4-6 units)
  • GS 317: Global Migrant Workers (4 units)
  • GS 320: Global Issues & 3rd World (4 units)
  • GS 322: Dilemmas in Humanitarianism (4 units)
  • GS 325: International Development (4 units)
  • GS 350: Global Gender Issues (4 units)
  • SPAN 306: Cultur/Civ Span Ltn Amer (4 units)
  • SPAN 308: Hist/Cultr Aztlan:SW US (4 units)
  • SPAN 325: Hispanic Cinema (2-6 units)
  • SPAN 328
  • SPAN 329
  • SPAN 370: The Chicano Community (4 units)

Complete ALL of the following courses:

Complete ONE of the following course combinations:

  • SBS 361: Introduction to GIS (3 units) AND SBS 361L: Introduction to GIS Lab (1 units)
  • SBS 362: Research Methods: Qualitative Emphasis (3 units) AND SBS 362L: Research Methods: Qualitative Emphasis Lab (1 units)
  • SBS 363: Historical Methods (4 units)
  • SBS 366: Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis (3 units) AND SBS 366L: Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis Lab (1 units)

Complete THREE of the following courses:

  • ENVS 436: Rmt Sns/Image Process (4 units)
  • SBS 325: Art of the Aztec Empire (4 units)
  • SBS 332: The Rise & Fall of Civilizations (4 units)
  • SBS 348: Maya Civilization (4 units)
  • SBS 383: African Civilizations (3-4 units)
  • SBS 475
  • VPA 320S: Museum Studies (5 units)

Complete ALL of the following courses:

  • SBS 361: Introduction to GIS (3 units)
  • SBS 361L: Introduction to GIS Lab (1 units)
  • SBS 366: Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis (3 units)
  • SBS 366L: Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis Lab (1 units)
  • SBS 371: GIS Applications for the Social Sciences and Business (4 units)

Complete ONE of the following course / course combinations:

  • SBS 360S: Mission Archaeology (3 units) AND SBS 360L: Archaeology Lab (1 units)
  • SBS 362: Research Methods: Qualitative Emphasis (3 units) AND SBS 362L: Research Methods: Qualitative Emphasis Lab (1 units)
  • SBS 363: Historical Methods (4 units)

Complete THREE of the following courses:

  • GS 351: Global Econ: Theory & Ethics (4 units)
  • SBS 356: People, Places, & Environment: An Introduction to Geography (2-4 units)
  • ENVS 332: Intro to GIS/GPS (4 units)
  • ENVS 436: Rmt Sns/Image Process (4 units)
  • BUS 437: Applied Logistics for Vegetables and Fruit (4 units)
  • BUS 469: Database Management (4 units) OR CST 363: Introduction to Database Systems (4 units)

Complete ALL of the following courses:

  • SBS 366: Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis (3 units)
  • SBS 366L: Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis Lab (1 units)
  • GS 342: Economic Thought: History and Contemporary Interpretations (4 units)
  • GS 351: Global Econ: Theory & Ethics (4 units)

Complete ONE of the following course combinations:

  • SBS 360S: Mission Archaeology (3 units) AND SBS 360L: Archaeology Lab (1 units)
  • SBS 361: Introduction to GIS (3 units) AND SBS 361L: Introduction to GIS Lab (1 units)
  • SBS 362: Research Methods: Qualitative Emphasis (3 units) AND SBS 362L: Research Methods: Qualitative Emphasis Lab (1 units)
  • SBS 363: Historical Methods (4 units)

Complete THREE of the following courses:

  • GS 317: Global Migrant Workers (4 units)
  • GS 325: International Development (4 units)
  • GS 326: US Foreign Policy (4 units)
  • GS 339: Sweat/Service/Solidarity (4 units)
  • GS 339S: Sweat/Service/Solidarity SL (6 units)
  • GS 350: Global Gender Issues (4 units)
  • GS 360: Relig'n/Violence/Peacemaking (4 units)
  • SBS 350: Domination and Resistance: US since 1880 (4 units)
  • SBS 356: People, Places, & Environment: An Introduction to Geography (2-4 units)
  • SBS 379: Tattoos, Makeup and Burkas (4 units)
  • SBS 381: US in Vietnam and Asia-Pacific: Peoples, Colonization, Conflicts, Resources (4 units)

Complete ALL of the following courses:

  • Any approved 100- or 200-level GE Area D2 course
  • GS 214: Global History I: Ancient Times to 1500 (4 units)
  • GS 215: Global History II - World History Since 1500 (4 units)
  • SBS 315: Growth and Conflict in the United States to 1920 (4 units)
  • SBS 350: Domination and Resistance: US since 1880 (4 units)
  • SBS 363: Historical Methods (4 units)

Complete ONE of the following course combinations:

  • SBS 360S: Mission Archaeology (3 units) AND SBS 360L: Archaeology Lab (1 units)
  • SBS 361: Introduction to GIS (3 units) AND SBS 361L: Introduction to GIS Lab (1 units)
  • SBS 362: Research Methods: Qualitative Emphasis (3 units) AND SBS 362L: Research Methods: Qualitative Emphasis Lab (1 units)
  • SBS 366: Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis (3 units) AND SBS 366L: Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis Lab (1 units)

Complete THREE of the following courses:

  • SBS 304: California Indian Societies (4 units)
  • SBS 306
  • SBS 325: Art of the Aztec Empire (4 units)
  • SBS 332: The Rise & Fall of Civilizations (4 units)
  • SBS 348: Maya Civilization (4 units)
  • SBS 355: Archaeological Theory (2-4 units)
  • SBS 378: Revolution and People Power in the Modern World (4 units)
  • SBS 381: US in Vietnam and Asia-Pacific: Peoples, Colonization, Conflicts, Resources (4 units)
  • SBS 382: History of Modern Africa (4 units)
  • SBS 383: African Civilizations (3-4 units)
  • SBS 385: Environmental History of California (3-4 units)
  • SBS 386: Social/Pol/Hist/CA (4 units)
  • SBS 388: Crisis and Development in Mexican Society (4 units)
  • SBS 475
  • GS 316: Approaches/ Global Histories (4 units)
  • GS 320: Global Issues & 3rd World (4 units)
  • GS 326: US Foreign Policy (4 units)
  • GS 339: Sweat/Service/Solidarity (4 units)
  • GS 339S: Sweat/Service/Solidarity SL (6 units)
  • GS 342: Economic Thought: History and Contemporary Interpretations (4 units)
  • HCOM 324: African American Narratives (4 units)
  • HCOM 325: 20th Cent Narr Amer Immgr (4 units)
  • HCOM 345: Chicanx Life & Culture (4 units)
  • HCOM 346: African American Life/History (4 units)
  • HCOM 350: Oral History and Community Memory (4 units)
  • HCOM 352: History According To Movies (4 units)
  • HCOM 353: California At Crossroads (4 units)
  • HCOM 354: Critical Public Histories (4 units)
  • HCOM 356: Digital Multicultural U.S. Histories (4 units)
  • HCOM 357: Constitutional Law (4 units)
  • HCOM 358: Critical Perspective on Law in Society (4 units)
  • HCOM 359: Sexuality, Law and History (4 units)
  • HCOM 365: Chicanx Latinx History (4 units)
  • HCOM 426: Travel Narratives (4 units)
  • HCOM 445: Slavery & Race in the Americas (4 units)
  • JAPN 302: History of Japan (4 units)
  • JAPN 307: Japan-American Experience (4 units)
  • SPAN 307: History&Politics Of Mex (4 units)
  • SPAN 308: Hist/Cultr Aztlan:SW US (4 units)
  • SPAN 309: Hist & Polit Of Latn Amer (4 units)
  • SPAN 311

Complete ONE of the following courses:

  • SOC 100: Introduction to Sociology (3-4 units)
  • SOC 215: Introduction to Social Problems (4 units)

Complete ALL of the following courses:

  • SBS 366: Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis (3 units)
  • SBS 366L: Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis Lab (1 units)
  • SOC 333: Sociology of Deviance (4 units)
  • SOC 365: Technology and Society (4 units)

Complete ONE of the following course / course combinations:

  • SBS 360S: Mission Archaeology (3 units) AND SBS 360L: Archaeology Lab (1 units)
  • SBS 361: Introduction to GIS (3 units) AND SBS 361L: Introduction to GIS Lab (1 units)
  • SBS 362: Research Methods: Qualitative Emphasis (3 units) AND SBS 362L: Research Methods: Qualitative Emphasis Lab (1 units)
  • SBS 363: Historical Methods (4 units)

Complete THREE of the following courses:

  • GS 320: Global Issues & 3rd World (4 units)
  • HDEV 353: Cross-Cultural Human Development (3 units)
  • HDEV 355: Behavioral and Emotional Disorders of Childhood and Adolesence (3 units)
  • HDEV 360: Child Development (4 units)
  • HDEV 365: Adolescence (3 units)
  • HDEV 371: Adulthood & Aging (3 units)
  • SBS 306
  • SBS 330: Crime and Violence (4 units)
  • SBS 338: Social Psychology (4 units)
  • SBS 345: Cultural Anthropology (4 units)
  • SBS 379: Tattoos, Makeup and Burkas (4 units)
  • SBS 381: US in Vietnam and Asia-Pacific: Peoples, Colonization, Conflicts, Resources (4 units)
  • SBS 384S: Anthropology of Education: Cultural Contexts of Bilingual Education (6 units)
  • SOC 315: Marriage and Family (4 units)
  • SOC 345: Wealth, Status and Power (4 units)
  • SOC 360: Population and Contemporary Issues (4 units)

Complete ALL the following courseS:

Complete ONE of the following course combinations:

  • SBS 360S: Mission Archaeology (3 units) AND SBS 360L: Archaeology Lab (1 units)
  • SBS 361: Introduction to GIS (3 units) AND SBS 361L: Introduction to GIS Lab (1 units)
  • SBS 362: Research Methods: Qualitative Emphasis (3 units) AND SBS 362L: Research Methods: Qualitative Emphasis Lab (1 units)
  • SBS 366: Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis (3 units) AND SBS 366L: Research Methods for SBS: Quantitative Emphasis Lab (1 units)

Complete THREE of the following courses:

  • SBS 315: Growth and Conflict in the United States to 1920 (4 units)
  • SBS 325: Art of the Aztec Empire (4 units)
  • SBS 348: Maya Civilization (4 units)
  • SBS 350: Domination and Resistance: US since 1880 (4 units)
  • SBS 385: Environmental History of California (3-4 units)
  • SBS 386: Social/Pol/Hist/CA (4 units)

MLO 1  Social Theory

Understand the concepts and principles of both classical and contemporary social theories.

MLO 2  Research Methodology

Collect, manage, and analyze both qualitative and quantitative data.

MLO 3  Specialized Competency

Develop a strong knowledge base of at least one of the core disciplines in the Social & Behavioral Sciences: anthropology, archaeology, geography/GIS, social history, Native American studies, political economy, or sociology.

MLO 4  Application

Apply appropriate theories and methods to the study of social issues and problems.

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