Students of Social Science will explore the interaction and history of social, political and economic structures, and how they affect human beings in complex society.

Students explore theories, methods and problems addressed by anthropologists, political scientists and sociologists in their examination of critical concerns for modern society, both to understand them in a historical context and to consider policies to address those issues. Students also will develop valuable research, analytical and communications skills as, together with a faculty mentor, create a program to meet your specific needs and goals.

Degree programs in Social Science offer students the opportunity to develop individualized degree plans based on their intellectual, professional, and personal interests. General program guidelines can be found on the “Program Details” tab, and students will work with an academic mentor to choose courses that meet the guidelines and address each student’s individual interests. Students can also work with their academic mentors to identify applicable transfer credit, prior college-level learning, and possible course equivalencies. Working with a mentor and using SUNY Empire’s educational planning process, students can develop a specialized concentration in Social Science by following the general program guidelines as well as any applicable concentration guidelines. Students may also develop their own concentrations.

For more information about general undergraduate degree requirements, please visit Earning an Undergraduate Degree.

For sample degree programs and other degree planning resources, please visit the Department of Social Science and Public Affairs Degree Planning Resources web page. 

Program Details

The Social Science area of study includes a variety of academic disciplines and approaches. Social science traditions explore a range of social, political and economic issues. Students who develop programs in Social Science examine theories, methods, problems and solutions in their chosen concentrations. Students who develop degrees in Social Science develop the capacity to think critically about the social world and act as informed citizens and community members.

 Associate degree programs are required to meet three foundations:

1. Broad Social Perspective
2. Historical and Comparative Perspectives
3. Perspectives on Power and Privileges

These foundations may be met through transcript credit; college-level knowledge demonstrated through individual prior learning assessment (iPLA), professional learning evaluations (PLE), or credit by examination; or individual courses, a series of courses, or components within individual courses with Empire State University. The student’s Degree Program Rationale Essay should clearly explain how the degree plan meets each of the foundations in the concentration, what will be learned, and how the student will build on these foundations to meet personal, academic, or career goals.

Foundation #1: Broad Social Science Perspective

Courses that meet this guideline include (but are not limited to):

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
ANTH 1010	Introduction to Cultural Anthropology	4
SOCI 1005	Exploring Society: An Introduction to Sociology	4
SOCI 2010	Introduction to Race Class & Gender	4
SOCI 3100	Sociology of Law	4
POLI 1005	Introduction to Political Science	4
POLI 2010	The U.S. Political System	4

Foundation #2: Historical and Comparative Perspectives

Courses that meet this guideline include (but are not limited to):

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
ANTH 3015	Environmental Anthropology	4
ANTH 3020	Families in Global Perspective	4
ANTH 3025	Health & Illness in Global Perspective	4
ANTH 3035	Latin American & Caribbean Societies	4
CRJS 2005	Introduction to Criminology: Theorizing Crime	4
GSST 1005	Introduction to Women’s Gender & Sexuality Studies	4
POLI 3005	America's Founding Ideas	4
POLI 3020	Comparative Politics	4
POLI 3105	The American Presidency	4
POLI 3115	The United States Constitution	4
SOSC 2005	Schooling in America	4
SOCI 2020	Social Problems in US Society	4
SOCI 3020	Memory & Society	4
SOCI 3025	Contemporary Global Social Issues	4
SOCI 3055	Family & Society	4
SOCI 4035	Privacy Security & Freedom: Social Concerns for the 21st Century	4

Foundation #3: Perspectives on Power and Privilege

Courses that meet this guideline include (but are not limited to):

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
ANTH 3122	Sex & Gender in Global Perspective	4
CRJS 4030	Women Crime & Criminology	4
GSST 2005	Introduction to LGBTQ+ Studies	4
GSST 3008	LGBTQ+ Youth & Education	4
GSST 3152	Queering American Culture	4
POLI 2013	Race in United States Politics	4
POLI 4015	Race Law & Politics	4
SOCI 3010	Aging & Society	4
SOCI 4030	Power & Privilege	4

Learning Outcomes

• Foundation 1: Broad Social Science Perspective, Students will be able to define Social Science vocabulary, questions and topics.
• Foundation 1: Broad Social Science Perspective, Students will be able to examine relationships among different elements of social life (e.g., institutions, systems of belief, cultural patterns, or political and economic structures of society).
• Foundation 2: Historical and Comparative Perspectives, Students will be able to describe how key elements of social life vary across time, place and culture.
• Foundation 3: Perspectives on Power and Privilege, Students will be able to examine the dynamics of power and privilege in relation to race, class, gender, age, sexuality, etc.

CONCENTRATION GUIDELINES

Specific guidelines have been developed for concentrations in the following areas:

• Cultural Anthropology
• Sociology

If you are interested in an area not listed here, please contact your mentor about designing your own concentration.

CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY

Cultural anthropology is a discipline that is devoted to the study of how people organize and create cultural systems, and in turn are shaped by those beliefs, ideas, and physical environments.  Students who develop programs in Social Science with a concentration in Cultural Anthropology are often curious about how and why people live the way they do, and they are interested in learning more about people in different parts of the world. 

Associate degree programs in Social Science with a concentration in Cultural Anthropology must meet the three foundations listed below. It is suggested that one course not be used to fulfill more than one foundation. Students will explain how they meet each relevant learning outcome in their rationale essay.  Knowledge of each outcome can be demonstrated through transcript credit; individual prior learning assessment (iPLA), prior learning evaluation (PLE), or credit by examination; or specific courses at Empire State University. 

FOUNDATION #1: BROAD SOCIAL SCIENCE PERSPECTIVE 

• Learning Outcome: Students will be able to define Social Science vocabulary, questions and topics. 
• Learning Outcome: Students will be able to examine relationships among different elements of social life (e.g., institutions, systems of belief, cultural patterns, or political and economic structures of society). 

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required Course
ANTH 1010	Introduction to Cultural Anthropology	4

FOUNDATION #2: HISTORICAL AND COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVES 

• Learning Outcome: Students will be able to describe how key elements of social life vary across time, place and culture. 

Choose two courses that focus on geographic areas such as: 

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Choose two courses that focus on geographic areas
ANTH 3035	Latin American & Caribbean Societies	4
HIST 1055	East Asia	4
HIST 2010	Mexico: History & Culture	4
HIST 2015	Native American Histories & Cultures: Introduction	4
HIST 3010	African History & Culture	4
HIST 3140	Caribbean: Cruises Carnival & Colonization	4
HIST 3330	Latin America in the Contemporary World	4
HIST 3340	Middle East	4

FOUNDATION #3: PERSPECTIVES ON POWER AND PRIVILEGE  

• Learning Outcome: Students will be able to examine the dynamics of power and privilege in relation to race, class, gender, age, sexuality, etc. 

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Choose at least one of the following courses
ANTH 3030	Immigration Today: Gender & Family	4
ANTH 3122	Sex & Gender in Global Perspective	4
SOCI 2010	Introduction to Race Class & Gender	4
SOCI 4030	Power & Privilege	4
Any GSST course		4

SOCIOLOGY CONCENTRATION

Sociology is the study of social life and social change, as well as the social structures and institutions that shape our lives.  Sociologists use different empirical methods to analyze social problems. Students who develop degrees in social science with a concentration in sociology are curious about how societies function and change, why social injustice and inequalities occur, and explore the forces that unite and divide us.

Associate degree programs in Social Science with a concentration in Sociology must meet the three foundations listed below. Students will explain how they meet each relevant learning outcome in their rationale essay.  Knowledge of each outcome can be demonstrated through transcript credit; individualized prior learning assessment (iPLA), professional learning evaluation (PLE); credit by examination; or specific courses at Empire State University. 

FOUNDATION #1: BROAD SOCIAL SCIENCE PERSPECTIVE

• Learning Outcome: Students will be able to define Social Science vocabulary, questions, and topics.
• Learning Outcome: Students will be able to examine relationships among different elements of social life (e.g., institutions, systems of belief, cultural patterns, or political and economic structures of society).

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required Course
SOCI 1005	Exploring Society: An Introduction to Sociology	4

FOUNDATION #2: HISTORICAL AND COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVES

• Learning Outcome: Students will be able to describe how key elements of social life vary across time, place, and culture.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Choose at least 2 courses
ANTH 1010	Introduction to Cultural Anthropology	4
CRJS 2005	Introduction to Criminology: Theorizing Crime	4
CRJS 4010	Comparative Criminal Justice Systems	4
GSST 2005	Introduction to LGBTQ+ Studies	4
GSST/EDST 3008	LGBTQ+ Youth & Education	4
SOCI 2020	Social Problems in US Society	4
SOCI 3020	Memory & Society	4
SOCI 3025	Contemporary Global Social Issues	4
SOCI 3045	Disaster & Society	4
SOCI 3055	Family & Society	4
SOCI 3065	Perspectives on Terrorism	4
SOCI 3095	Sociology of Education	4
SOCI 4035	Privacy Security & Freedom: Social Concerns for the 21st Century	4
SOSC 2005	Schooling in America	4

FOUNDATION #3: PERSPECTIVES ON POWER AND PRIVILEGE

• Learning Outcome: Students will be able to examine the dynamics of power and privilege in relation to race, class, gender, age, sexuality, etc.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Choose one course
SOCI 2010	Introduction to Race Class & Gender	4
or SOCI 4030	Power & Privilege
Additional optional courses
GSST 2005/EDST 3008	Introduction to LGBTQ+ Studies	4
GSST 3008	LGBTQ+ Youth & Education	4
POLI 2013	Race in United States Politics	4
POLI 4015	Race Law & Politics	4
SOCI 3010	Aging & Society	4