Applied Social and Cultural Studies

Contact

Dr. Alex Campbell
acampbell@une.edu

Degree name
Bachelor of Arts with a major in Applied Social and Cultural Studies
Sections

Mission

The mission of the Department of Society, Culture and Languages is to offer a broad-based liberal arts education with an emphasis on cultural, global, and political dynamics. The department provides a combination of theoretical, scientific, and practical approaches to understanding and solving human problems. Issues of gender, race, class, and culture as well as hands on learning are emphasized throughout the curriculum. Our goal is to graduate students with marketable skills that prepare them for entry-level positions in social services or for graduate study in related areas.

Degree Description

The Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social and Cultural Studies is an interdisciplinary degree which allows students to integrate coursework from sociology, anthropology, political science, psychology, communications and other related fields of study. The major core emphasizes social science methods and ways of knowing while introducing students to a variety of social science disciplines. Within the Applied Social and Cultural Studies degree, students will also pursue a concentration in one of the three particular content areas.

Transfer Credit

Curricular Requirements

  Credits

CAS Core Requirements

42-43
  Credits
Program Required Courses  
Three of the following four courses:   9
ANT 102 - Cultural Anthropology  
PSC 105 - Introduction to Political Science  
PSY 105 - Introduction to Psychology  
SOC 150 - Introduction to Sociology  
And  
SOC 268 - Statistics and Methods for Social Sciences 3
SOC 270 - Classical Sociological Theory or
SOC 280 - Contemporary Social Theory
3
SOC 300 - Sociology Internship 3
SOC/ANT 370 - Applied Field Methods 3
SOC 491,493, 494 - Applied Capstone Experience 9-15
Total Credits in Core of Major 30-36
Concentration Credits (see below for course options for each concentration)  12
Total Credits in Major   42-48
Open elective credits (needed to reach 120 credits) variable
Minimum Total Required Credits   120

Applied Concentrations

After taking the course required by the major the student will select one of the three areas of concentration. A minimum of four (4) courses must be taken in the student's selected concentration for a total of twelve credits. At least two of these courses must be at the 300 or 400 level. A maximum of one humanities course (ENG, REL, HIS, PHI) can be counted toward the concentration.

Health, Medicine and Society

This concentration is for students interested in pursuing a career in public health, health administration, mental health and related fields, as well as students interested in pursuing graduate work in public health, medical sociology, medical anthropology and more. Courses examine the phenomenon of health, illness, disability and mental health issues; the organization and delivery of healthcare; the production of medical knowledge and alternative health systems. Students in this concentration are well prepared to advance to graduate study in public health, community services and a variety of other health and service related fields.

Sample Electives
ANT 211 Medical Anthropology
ANT 224 Forensic Anthropology and Human Rights
SOC 224 Family, Health and Social Change
SOC 226 Environmental Sociology
SOC 228 The Sociology of Aging
SOC 275 The Sociology of Food and Health
SOC 355 Medical Sociology
SOC 425 Sex, Gender, Sexuality: Critical Perspectives
PSY 205 Abnormal Psychology
PSY 235 Health Psychology
PSY 250 Theories of Personality
PSY 295 Listening/Communication Skills
PSY 310 Children and Stress
PSY 370 Drugs, Society and Behavior
PSY 325 Politics and Public Health
COD 405 Health Communication

Society, Human Services and Society

This concentration is for students interested in careers in business, social work, social policy, human services administration, community development, education and more. Courses focus on helping students to understand the communities, institutions and constituents that are involved in community service and development. Concentration courses focus on content, process and application in the community. Students are thus well prepared to advance to graduate study in social work and community studies.

Sample Electives
SOC 210 Displaced Cultures and Society
SOC 215 Poverty
SOC 226 Environmental Sociology
SOC 228 The Sociology of Aging
SOC 240 Race, Class and Gender
SOC 320 Community Organization
SOC 413 Societies of the Future
SOC 425 Sex, Gender, Sexuality: Critical Perspectives
SOC 460 Social Policy and Planning
SOC 480 The Family
PSY 205 Abnormal Psychology
PSY 215 Psychology of Gender
PSY 318 Community Psychology
PSY 236 Mental Health and Society
PSY 255 Social Psychology
PSY 295 Listening and Communication Skills
PSY 370 Drugs, Society and Behavior
PSC 110 Politics-Culture/Inven/Trad
PSC 203 The Politics of Law
COD 320 Intercultural Communication
PSY 410 Theory, Research and Practice in Counseling Psychology

Law, Crime and Society

This concentration is for students interested in pursuing a career in the criminal justice system, social services and related fields, or for students interested in pursuing graduate work in criminology and related fields or who are planning on attending law school. Course work introduces students to criminological justice system. Courses explore how society defines and responds to crime as they also examine the relevance of social class, race, gender and age. As a result, students are well prepared to advance to graduate study, law school or other professions within the legal field.

Sample Electives
ANT 224 Forensic Anthropology and Human Rights
SOC 170 Deviance and Crime
SOC 226 Environmental Sociology
SOC 333 Sociology of Law
SOC 350 Deviance
SOC 345 Crime, Media and Culture
PSY 205 Abnormal Psychology
PSY 236 Mental Health and Society
PSY 252 Forensic Psychology
PSY 255 Social Psychology
PSY 370 Drugs, Society and Behavior
PSC 125 Understanding Law: An Introduction
PSC 203 The Politics of Law
PSC 210 Constitutional Law
PSC 415 Trial Advocacy
COD 411 Communication, Law and Regulation

Financial Information

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include books and housing. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog.

Learning Outcomes

  1. The Social Sciences Perspective
    Students will be able to:
    • describe the differences between different perspectives in the social sciences as they are applied to social phenomena.
  2. Social Science Theory
    ​Students should be able to:
    • describe the role of theory in building knowledge.
    • compare and contrast different theoretical perspectives.
    • apply these theories to social conditions.
  3. The Nature of Evidence in the Social Sciences
    Students should be able to:
    • identify the basic methodological approaches in building knowledge grounded in the social sciences.
    • compare and contrast various research methodologies.
    • design and complete a written research project.
    • critically assess published research.
  4. Data analysis.
    ​Students should be able to:
    • understand the role of data analysis in building knowledge and testing theory.
    • use computer software for statistical analysis.
    • understand appropriate statistical techniques.
    • draw valid conclusions from the data analysis.
  5. How cultural and social structures operate.
    ​Students should be able to:
    • describe different social institutions and their various influences on the individual.
    • explain how the aforementioned institutions are interrelated.
    • evaluate them using social science theory.
  6. The diversity of human societies.
    ​Students should be able to:
    • describe the significance of variation by race, class, gender, religion and age.
    • explain patterns and variations using social science theory theory.
    • justify policy recommendations to address social inequalities.
  7. Communicate effectively.
    Students should be able to:
    • produce well written papers that clearly express knowledge grounded in the social sciences.
    • clearly express such knowledge in verbal presentations.
    • demonstrate critical thinking.