Class Schedules and Catalog Background Image

Liberal Arts with an Area of Emphasis in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Liberal Arts with an Area of Emphasis in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Contact Information

Chair: Joanne Benschop

Office: Building OCT550, 760.795.6881

Full-Time Faculty

Joanne Benschop

Academic and Career Pathway 

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Associate in Arts Degree

Liberal Arts with an Area of Emphasis in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Courses in this category emphasize the connection between human behavior and social, political, and economic institutions, and they promote an understanding of how societies and social subgroups operate. Students are encouraged to apply critical thinking techniques as they evaluate the way individuals act and have acted in response to their societies. The courses ensure opportunities for students to develop and communicate an understanding of the perspectives and methods of inquiry used in the social and behavioral sciences.

This area of emphasis provides students with lower-division major preparation for many disciplines within the social sciences, including criminal justice, economics, political science, psychology, sociology, and history.

Graduation Requirements

  • Complete a minimum of 60 degree-applicable units of credit (including major and general education courses).
  • Complete all courses required in the major with a “C” or “P” or better.
  • Complete a general education pattern of courses (see Associate Degrees).
  • Obtain a minimum GPA of 2.0.
  • Complete a minimum of 12 units in residence at MiraCosta College.

Program Student Learning Outcome

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to develop communication, critical thinking, and intellectual skills that effectively prepare him/her for lifelong learning and for advanced study in a wide range of majors at the university level.

Course Requirements

Select a minimum of 18 units from the following:

ADM 100Introduction to the Administration of Justice3
ADM 200Concepts of Criminal Law3
ANTH 102Cultural Anthropology3
or ANTH 102H Cultural Anthropology (Honors)
ANTH 103Introduction to Archaeology3
ANTH 104Native American Cultures3
ANTH 105Evolution of Human Behavior3
or ANTH 105H Evolution of Human Behavior (Honors)
ANTH 107Gender, Sex, and Sexuality3
ANTH 120Global Health3
ANTH 190Primate Behavior and Ecology3
AUTO 111Car Culture3
BLST 100Introduction to Black Studies3
CCS 100Introduction to Chicana/o Studies3
CCS 232Critical Issues in Chicana and Latina Studies3
CHLD 112Child Growth and Development3
CHLD 113Child and Adolescent Growth and Development3
CHLD 210Child, Family, and Community3
CHLD 235Children in a Diverse Society3
COMM 101Public Speaking3
COMM 106Group Communication3
COMM 120Principles of Human Communication3
COMM 135Gender Studies in Communication3
COMM 144Race and Ethnicity in Communication3
COMM 207Interpersonal Communication3
COMM 212Argumentation3
COMM 220Introduction to Mass Communication3
CSIT 160Technology, the Individual, and Society3
CSIT 165Living in an Online World3
ECON 100Survey of Economics3
ECON 101Principles of Economics: MACRO3
ECON 102Principles of Economics: MICRO3
ENGL 100Composition and Reading4
or ENGL 100H Composition and Reading (Honors)
ENGL 201Critical Thinking, Composition, and Literature4
or ENGL 201H Critical Thinking, Composition, and Literature (Honors)
ENGL 202Critical Thinking and Composition4
or ENGL 202H Critical Thinking and Composition (Honors)
GEOG 102People, Place, and Time: Introduction to Human Geography3
GEOG 104World Geography3
GEOG 108Environmental Sustainability and Society3
GERO 101Introduction to Aging3
GERO 250Intergenerational Issues3
HIST 100World History to 15003
or HIST 100H World History to 1500 (Honors)
HIST 101World History Since 15003
or HIST 101H World History Since 1500 (Honors)
HIST 102History of the Modern Middle East3
or HIST 102H History of the Modern Middle East (Honors)
HIST 104Modern European History and Culture3
or HIST 104H Modern European History and Culture (Honors)
HIST 105History of England3
or HIST 105H History of England (Honors)
HIST 107East Asian Societies3
HIST 110United States History to 18773
or HIST 110H United States History to 1877 (Honors)
HIST 111United States History Since 18773
or HIST 111H United States History Since 1877 (Honors)
HIST 113American Military History3
or HIST 113H American Military History (Honors)
HIST 115Women in American History3
or HIST 115H Women in American History (Honors)
HIST 116History of the Americas to 18303
or HIST 116H History of the Americas to 1830 (Honors)
HIST 117History of the Americas Since 18303
or HIST 117H History of the Americas Since 1830 (Honors)
HIST 141Mexican American History Through 18773
or HIST 141H Mexican American History Through 1877 (Honors)
HIST 142Mexican American History Since 18773
or HIST 142H Mexican American History Since 1877 (Honors)
HIST 145African American History to 18773
or HIST 145H African American History to 1877 (Honors)
HIST 146African American History Since 18773
or HIST 146H African American History Since 1877 (Honors)
HIST 165California History3
NUTR 108Cultural Aspects of Foods and Nutrition3
PHIL 100Critical Thinking and Writing3
PLSC 101Introduction to Political Science3
or PLSC 101H Introduction to Political Science (Honors)
PLSC 102American Institutions and History4
PLSC 103Comparative Government3
PLSC 150Introduction to International Relations3
PSYC 100Psychology of Personal Growth3
PSYC 101General Psychology3
or PSYC 101H General Psychology (Honors)
PSYC/SOC 103Social Psychology3
PSYC 104Statistics for Behavioral Science4
or PSYC 104H Statistics for Behavioral Science (Honors)
PSYC 114Abnormal Psychology3
PSYC 115Human Sexuality3
PSYC 121Human Development3
or PSYC 121H Human Development (Honors)
PSYC 125Psychology of Women3
PSYC/SOC 145Psychology/Sociology of the Family3
PSYC 170Psychology of Aging: Adult Development and Aging3
PSYC 205Research Methods in Psychology3
PSYC 211Learning and Behavior Modification3
PSYC 260Physiological Psychology3
READ 100Critical Reading and Thinking3
SOC 101Introduction to Sociology3
or SOC 101H Introduction to Sociology (Honors)
SOC 102Contemporary Social Problems3
SOC 105Introduction to Justice Studies3
SOC 120Introduction to Women's Studies3
SOC 125Introduction to Statistics in Sociology4
SOC 130Introduction to Gender Studies3
SOC 140Introduction to LGBT Studies3
SOC 205Introduction to Research Methods in Sociology3
SOC/ETHN 207Race and Ethnic Relations3
SOC 232Critical Issues in Chicana and Latina Studies3
SOC 250Introduction to Pacific Studies3

Campus Locations

MiraCosta Community Learning Center

1831 Mission Avenue
Oceanside, CA 92058
760.795.8710
888.201.8480
View Map

View Campus Map
MiraCosta Oceanside Campus Building

1 Barnard Drive
Oceanside, CA 92056
760.757.2121
888.201.8480
View Map

View Campus Map
MiraCosta San Elijo Campus

3333 Manchester Avenue
Cardiff, CA 92007
760.944.4449
888.201.8480
View Map

View Campus Map
MiraCosta Technology Career Institute Building

2075 Las Palmas Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92011
760.795.6820
888.201.8480
View Map

Visit Career Institute