Montgomery County Community College

Social Sciences AA

Purpose

The Social Sciences Program is designed for students who plan to transfer to a four year college or university in majors such as Psychology, History, Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology, and Geography. Graduates often go on to pursue careers in fields such as law, government service, behavioral health, counseling, social science research, social work, and teaching. The types of possible careers for graduates are so varied that it is recommended that students consult their academic advisors, faculty and others frequently to explore opportunities. The Program is specific enough to help students begin to define themselves within a chosen major yet provides enough flexibility to permit them to meet transfer requirements of the colleges and universities to which they plan to transfer. Students should always check current transfer guidelines available in the Student Success Center when selecting courses.

Learning Outcomes

A graduate should be able to:

• explain research methods used in the Social Sciences and evaluate conclusions derived from that research.
• articulate how the principles of Disciplines within Social Sciences can be used to explain social issues, to promote civic engagement, to inform public policy, and to delineate a global perspective on human events.
• apply knowledge (concepts, theories and research) of the Social Sciences to self assessment, to defining and solving problems in everyday life, and to formulating career goals.
• describe similarities and differences in the experience of humans in diverse cultures and civilizations over time including the impact of major historical events, political and social structures, and geography.
• summarize the ideas that are interdisciplinary (common to the Disciplines within the Social Sciences) and those which distinguish one Discipline from another.

Curriculum

First Semester

Second Semester

Third Semester

Fourth Semester

TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS CREDIT: 61

Students planning to major in Geography, History or Psychology may select a concentration.

Geography: Urban and Regional Planning Concentration

• First Semester—GEO 130 in place of HIS Elective
• Second Semester—SOC 103 in place of SOC 101; GEO 135 in place of Elective; HIS 102 instead of History Elective; HIS 160 in place of Foreign Language Elective
• Third Semester—POL 125 in place of POL 101 or 124; GLG 115 for Core Goal 8 Elective; GEO 137 in place of Speech Elective; GEO 210 in place of other Elective
• Fourth Semester—GEO 220 in place of Core Goal 7 Elective; GEO 238 in place of Computer Fluency Elective; Speech Elective in place of free Elective

History Concentration

• Second Semester Elective in History—HIS 203 or HIS 205 (U.S. History I or II)
• Third Semester Elective—choose from among: HIS 218, HIS 234, HIS 235, HIS 240, HIS 250, HIS 121, HIS 122 (or say non-Western, Latin American, or World History)
• Fourth Semester—choose any History course for one of the two free Electives

Psychology Concentration

• Second Semester PSY 206 or PSY 215
• Third Semester PSY 206 or PSY 215; choose any Psychology course for the remaioning Elective