Mission and Goals

The Social Science Program provides a multidisciplinary learning environment that teaches students how to think critically and globally about human interactions in society and to apply this expanded world view to their professions. The program promotes an understanding of cultures, the value of research and service to the community, and the importance of social responsibility and active participation in civic life.

The Program has two options or patterns to best meet the needs of the students:  breadth and depth.   The breadth pattern is often selected by students planning to enter a credential program for teaching grades 6-12.  It is also chosen by students desiring a general social science background with some students deciding to continue graduate work in one of the many disciplines in the social sciences. 

The depth pattern appeals to students who wish to concentrate in two of the 22 disciplines or areas of focus offered by the social sciences.  Many of these students plan to apply these concentrations in specialized fields like social and vocational services.  Many students are working, or have worked, for various federal, state, local or non-profit agencies or organizations. 

Goals

Graduates will be equipped with the knowledge, skills, values, and ethics that are required to meet the challenges faced by diverse individuals, groups, organizations and communities in a changing global environment.

Graduates will learn to communicate clearly, intelligently, and effectively, in both writing and speaking, in their academic as well as professional careers.

Graduates will possess skills and perspectives to solve complex social problems, to engage in communication and collaboration across the social science disciplines, and to utilize a shared infrastructure for social science research.

Graduates will develop a sense of social responsibility and commitment to equity in a multicultural and multiracial society and apply these values in working with individuals and families, creating learning environments, and collaborating with community members and agencies.

Graduates will possess knowledge and skills to become informed and participating citizens.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students know fundamental concepts, theories and values in social science

2. Students synthesize information from multiple sources and disciplines

3. Students apply knowledge from multiple disciplines to  real-world situations

4. Students organize and deliver effective presentations using appropriate academic discourse and technologies.

5. Students serve the community in settings where a variety of populations in California are represented.

6. Students collaborate and communicate with and show respect for individuals with different perspectives and/or cultural backgrounds

7.  Students can apply critical thinking skills to social problems

8. Students can express complex ideas in concise, coherent and grammatically correct prose

 

MATRIX

 

Student Learning Outcomes

SOSC 110

SOSC 160

SOSC 301

SOSC 302

SOSC
303

SOSC 489

SOSC 490

SOSC 495

SOSC
510

SOSC
511

SOSC 560

1. Students know fundamental concepts, theories and values in social science

I

I

I

P

P

 

P

 

M

 

M

 

M

 

M

 

M

2. Students synthesize information from multiple sources and disciplines

I

 

P

I/P

P

 

 

M

 

M

 

M

 

M

 

M

3. Students apply knowledge from multiple disciplines to real-world situations

 

I

P

I/P

P

 

P/M

 

M

 

M

 

M

 

M

 

M

4. Students organize and deliver effective presentations using appropriate academic discourse and technologies

P

 

P

P

P

 

 

M

 

M

 

M

 

M

 

M

5. Students serve the community in settings where a variety of populations in California are represented

 

 

I

I

 

 

P/M

 

P

 

 

 

 

6. Students collaborate and communicate with and show respect for individuals with different perspectives and/or cultural backgrounds

 

 

I/P

I/P

P

 

P/M

 

M

 

P

 

M

 

M

 

M

7.  Students can apply critical thinking skills to social problems.

P

 

P

I/P

P

 

P/M

 

M

 

P

 

M

 

M

 

M

8. Students can express complex ideas in concise, coherent and grammatically correct prose

P

 

P

P

P

 

 

M

 

M

 

 

 

“I” -   Introductory – Students are encountering instruction on the SLO.  For example, generally, we could say that students in ENGL 130 (Academic Writing), a freshman course, would have initial instruction in writing at the university level.  

“P” -   Practice – The course offers opportunities for students to “practice” the skill or to apply the skill/knowledge.  There may not be direct instruction in the skill at this level.  The student is still developing the skill and working toward a desired level of performance at the time of graduation.

“M” -   Mastery – Does not imply that the student is an expert.  It would be used to identify when it would be expected that the student performance is at the desired level we would like to see in a college graduate.  

Assessment Plans

There are three courses required of all majors:  SOSC 110 Computer Applications, SOSC 490 Portfolio Assessment and SOSC 495 Capstone Seminar.  The first course, majors often substitutes a comparable course from another discipline or a community college so the focus of the Social Science Assessment Plan is on the two required upper division courses.

In the 2007-2009 Catalog, the Social Science major increases from 45 to 46 units.  The additional unit is the required course entitled “Portfolio Assessment for SOSC,” designed by the previous coordinator based on her experiences with portfolio assessment in Child Development.  The course requires a student portfolio of previous papers and reflective essays, an interview with appropriate faculty and an exit survey.  The course will be offered for the first time in fall 2006 by the Coordinator.  The first semester’s portfolios will provide the base data for monitoring improvements throughout the curriculum.

The other upper division required course for all majors is the Capstone Seminar where a majority of the Student Learning Outcomes can be assessed.  The intention is to develop an oral presentation and writing rubric to be utilized by the instructors of this course.