Explore these tabs to learn more about UMA’s Social Science program.

UMA Social Science Mission and Vision Statements

Mission Statement

UMA’s Social Science program provides students with a curriculum and academic supports to increase their knowledge and skills in the social sciences. The program offers courses supporting UMA’s General Education requirements as well as in-depth training for social science majors. Because the Social Science program values community development & engagement, our learning community is committed to supporting institution-wide research literacy and engaging in applied social science research projects.

Vision Statement

The Social Science Program is society-centered.  We believe a better world is possible through empirical observation and action.  We help students build their capacity for action in the world through mastery of theoretical frames, the development of research skills, and the practices of community intervention.  We aim to graduate students who are self-directed lifelong learners and professionals, who critically reflect on the world around them and who engage in the local and global communities in which they live.

UMA degrees are flexible. Here is an example of how you could complete your Social Science degree.

Sample 4-Year Graduation Plan: 30 credits each year

Fall

  • SSC 100 Introduction to Social Sciences (program requirement)
  • PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology (program option, choose 12 credit/4 courses)
  • ENG 101 College Writing (gen-ed requirement)
  • AME XXX or other Humanities Elective (gen-ed, choose 6 credits/2 courses)
  • CIS 100 Introduction to Computing or CIS 101 Introduction to Computer Science (gen-ed)

Spring

  • MAT 115 Elementary Statistics I (program)
  • SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology (program option, choose 12 credit/4 courses)
  • ENG 102W Introduction to Literature (gen-ed)
  • Fine Arts Elective – choose one (gen-ed)
  • COM 101 Public Speaking, or other COM 1XX (gen-ed)

Fall

  • PSY 308 Developmental Psychology (program requirement)
  • ANT 102 Cultural Anthropology (program option, choose 12 credit/4 courses)
  • HTY 103 US History I or HTY 105 World Civilizations I (program requirement)
  • Language Sequence I (gen-ed)
  • 100-level laboratory science course (4 credits; gen-ed)

Spring

  • HTY 104 US History II or HTY 106 World Civilizations II (program requirement)
  • Language Sequence II (gen-ed)
  • ECO 100 Introduction to Economics (program option, choose 12 credit/4 courses)
  • SOC 201 Social Problems (program requirement)
  • SSC 220 Basic Research Methods (program requirement)

Fall

  • SSC 320 Research Methods in Social Science (program requirement, only offered in fall)
  • SOC 375 Social Networks (program credit, choose 15 credits/5 courses)
  • ENG 317W Professional Writing (program requirement)
  • Descriptive or laboratory science course (3-4 credits; gen-ed)
  • JUS 316 Criminology (gen-ed, upper division)

Spring

  • SSC 334 Cultivating Community (check with instructor, alternating campuses; program credit, choose 15 credits/5 courses)
  • HUS 264 Human Rights Violation: Torture and Trauma (gen-ed, upper division)
  • AME 305 Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality in American Culture (gen-ed, upper division)
  • WGS XXX or other Humanities Elective (gen-ed, choose 6 credits/2 courses)
  • EDU 331 Sociology of Education (gen-ed, upper division)

Fall

  • SSC 360 Qualitative Research Methods (program credit, choose 15 credits/5 courses)
  • SOC 315 Sociology of Deviance (program credit, choose 15 credits/5 courses)
  • JUS 450 Conflict Resolution (gen-ed, upper division)
  • WGS 389 Topics in Women’s Studies (gen-ed, upper division)
  • ENG 351W Creative Writing (gen-ed, upper division)

Spring

  • SSC 420 Social Science Senior Project (program requirement, only offered in spring)
  • PSY 400 Abnormal Psychology (program credit, choose 15 credits/5 courses)
  • DRA 389 Topics in Film and Theatre (gen-ed, upper division)
  • EDU 401 Educational Psychology (gen-ed, upper division)
  • HUS 332 Addiction and the Family (gen-ed, upper division)

Courses are subject to change. View the official UMA Catalog here.

Learning Outcomes

(revised Spring 2018)

THEORY

Graduating social science majors will be able to articulate and apply social science theories by:

  1. Identifying conceptual elements;
  2. Identifying theories’ scopes and their limitations;
  3. Articulating the historical and ongoing development of social science theories;
  4. Comparing, contrasting and critiquing these theories;
  5. Identifying the ethical implications of these theories;
  6. Employing theories in scholarship and action; and
  7. Developing new theories.

 

RESEARCH

Graduating social science majors will…

  1. Interpret, evaluate, and synthesize previous research findings located in scholarly literature, data tables, and typologies.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of and capability with research methods, terminology, and ethics.
  3. Design and carry out research.
  4. Write research products with attention to elements of academic style, including citation and data reporting guidelines.
  5. Connect research activities and research projects to social and individual life outside academic contexts.

 

PRACTICE

Graduating social science majors will…

  1. Construct and apply social science knowledge, skills, and values in pursuit of a meaningful and fulfilling life.
    • Knowledge: Ability to construct and apply concepts, theory, and research
    • Skills: Deploy processes of observation and analysis to enable meaningful social action
    • Values: Empiricism, social justice, ethics
  2. Possess the knowledge, skills, and values of civic engagement in the social sciences
  3. Understand the extent to which personal troubles are community or social problems, amenable to individual-, group-, community- and society-level intervention
  4. Act in service for change
  5. “Assess their own ethical values and the social context of problems, recognize ethical issues in a variety of settings, think about how different ethical perspectives might be applied to ethical dilemmas, and consider the ramifications of alternative actions in civil society.” (language adopted from Association of American Colleges & Universities. 2009. “Ethical Reasoning VALUE rubric.” https://www.aacu.org/ethical-reasoning-value-rubric)

 

PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY & DEVELOPMENT

Graduating social science majors will…

  1. Articulate what “professionalism” means:
    • to them
    • according to professional standards of their chosen field(s)
  2. Demonstrate facility with:
    • professional standards
    • identities and roles
    • civic and ethical responsibilities or obligations
    • career options
    • potential life course paths
  3. Develop an actionable 5-year plan
  4. Apply what they know about social science history, theory, ethics, and research to their professional, personal, and civic lives.

 

DIVERSITY

As they critique theory, develop their professional identity, conduct research, and act in the world, social science students will engage with diversity in human and social…

  1. experiences,
  2. perspectives,
  3. cultures,
  4. epistemologies,
  5. resources, and
  6. power.