Social Ecology, B.A.
The major in Social Ecology embraces the unique and interdisciplinary spirit of the School of Social Ecology. Students take courses from all three of the school's departments: Criminology, Law & Society, Psychological Science, and Urban Planning and Public Policy. Students graduate with a well-rounded understanding of how these disciplines intersect and inform an understanding of social, psychological, environmental, and legal problems. Students also learn how research can address these problems with the intent of finding solutions.
Learning objectives for this major include:
1. Develop an understanding, both theoretical and empirical, of social, psychological, environmental, and legal problems and the settings in which they occur, ranging from the interpersonal to the societal/global.
2. Develop the ability to examine these problems through the application of social scientific and naturalistic research methods.
3. Develop an awareness of the challenges inherent in translating research findings to inform policies and practices to mitigate these problems.
4. Develop skills and knowledge in preparation for the needs of today’s workplace.
Requirements for the B.A. in Social Ecology
All students must meet the University Requirements.
All students must meet the School Requirements.
Ten 4-unit upper-division courses (40 units) as specified below:
| A. Three courses (12 units)—one course (numbered 100–193) selected from each of the three departments—Criminology, Law and Society; Urban Planning and Public Policy; and Psychological Science | |
| B. Seven additional courses (28 units - numbered 100-193) selected from Social Ecology or the departments of Criminology, Law and Society; Urban Planning and Public Policy; and Psychological Science. Course prerequisites established by the individual departments must be satisfied. |
Students may petition to have two SOCECOL 199 courses (total of 8 units) count toward upper-division major credit, provided that the courses (1) were taken for a letter grade; (2) required a written term paper or research presentation at an academic conference; and (3) were taught by a Social Ecology faculty member whose name appears on a list maintained in the Social Ecology Student Services Office. Students may also petition graduate courses (numbered 200–209) to fulfill upper-division major requirements. A maximum of one PSCI 196 course may be counted toward the major. A maximum of one CRM/LAW C196 course may be counted toward the major.