Social Cues: A Guide to the Social

Theory AOS

Dee BrittonCatherine Combs

Joyce ElliottCDL Conference April 27, 2012

Why this Session?

Some concentrations can fit under more than one AOS, depending on the design and rationale.

Social Theory, Social Structure and Change (STSSC) is often overlooked, even when it might be a great fit.

It is especially important for the student to address the guidelines for the selected AOS in the rationale, when more than one is possible.

The mentor needs to be ready to clarify for the Assessment Committee how the guidelines for the selected AOS apply to the program.

What is the “Social Theory, Social Structure and Change” (STSSC) AOS?

It’s an umbrella for degrees in the social sciences. Social science disciplines generally expect

students to understand research and theory in the field. Beyond that, they usually provide a good deal of leeway for other studies in the “major.”

STSSC does not specify concentration guidelines. Students research and design programs in their fields.

Possible Concentrations in STSSC

Anthropology Applied Social Science Archeology Criminology Economics Geography Political Science Social Science Sociology Social Psychology

Family Studies Ethnic Studies Area/Regional Studies (e.g.,

Southeast Asian Studies) Linguistics Organizational Behavior/

Development Peace & Conflict Studies Women’s Studies Other?

What can you do with a STSSC degree?

Grad school, law school Human services Business Research firms Institutional research Government service Not-for-profits

Roles can include policy analysis, research, data analysis, administration, program design, program evaluation, etc.

Career Opportunities in the Social Sciences

Social service/social work/counseling

Government service Politics/campaign

management Policy analysis Management/administration Sales/marketing Market research Banking/financial

Institutions

Education Police officer/parole

officer/forensics/criminal justice

Health care Museums International development Not-for-profit management Publishing Journalism

Graduate Degree Fields That Build on the Social Sciences

(statistics and research methods generally expected for admission)

Law Education Sociology Criminology Anthropology Political Science Public Policy Public Affairs

Medicine Counseling Economics Applied Social Research Public Health Urban/Regional Planning

Career Preparation

Social science research skills & experience & excellent writing skills are key career skills.

Graduate degrees are often important. Social sciences are the primary pathway to law

school (especially political science). National professional organization websites

provide great career information. Mentees can join the national professional

organization that is relevant to them, as student members.

Relevant Professional Associations(most have student memberships available)

American Sociological Association American Anthropological Association American Political Science Association American Criminal Justice Association National Social Science Association Archeological Institute of America National Women’s Studies Association National Association of Social Workers

STSSC Guidelines The STSSC guidelines ask the student to develop the

following: Broad social perspective Historical perspective Comparative perspective Theoretical perspective Critical ability

The AOS has voted to add knowledge of research methods, pending further approvals.

Appropriate study choices depend on the concentration.

Related AOS’s

Usually More Professional/Applied Business, Management

and Economics Community and

Human Services Public Affairs

Usually More Arts & Sciences Cultural Studies Human Development Interdisciplinary

Studies STSSC

Guideline Comparison: STSSC and CHS

STSSCBroad social perspectiveHistorical perspectiveComparative

perspectiveTheoretical perspectiveCritical Ability

CHSKnowledge Skills Attitudes and valuesExperience, application,

and practice

STSSC/CHS Example 1

STSSC: Criminology (usually B.A.)

Introduction to Criminal Justice*Introduction to Law*Contemporary American Social Issues *Understanding Crime and Justice*+Courts and the Administration of Justice*+Juvenile Justice and Delinquency*+Family Violence and Abuse*+Criminal Law*+Deviant Behavior*+American Corrections: Theory/Policy/ Practice*+Power and Privilege*+Women, Crime and Criminology*+Comparative Criminal Justice Systems *+Research methods (choose one)*+

CHS: Criminal Justice (usually B.S.)

Introduction to Criminal Justice*Police Organization/SupervisionCriminal Evidence and ProcedurePrinciples of InvestigationJuvenile Justice and Delinquency*Alternatives to Incarceration*+CorrectionsCorrectional AdministrationUnderstanding Crime and Justice*+Courts and Administration of Justice*+Crime and Intelligence Analysis*+Criminal Law*+Ethical Dilemmas in Crim. Justice*+Protecting America: Cases/Controversies*+Criminal Justice Management and Policy *+Constitutional Criminal Procedure* + 2 cr.Comparative Criminal Justice Systems*+Research methods (choose one)*+

STSSC/CHS Example 2STSSC: Family Studies (usually B.A.)

Family and Society*+

Families: A Global Perspective *+

Introduction to Cultural Anthropology*

Women’s and Family History in America: Colonial Period to Present*+

Human Sexuality*+

Sexuality and the Law*+

Gays and Lesbians in American Culture*

Sex and Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective * (+ or –)

Women, Girls and the Media*+

Adolescence and Identity: Home, School, Community*+

Aging and Society*+

Family Violence and Abuse*+

Power and Privilege*+

Thinking About Race, Class and Gender*+

Great Conversations in Social Thought (forthcoming)*+

Research Methods (choose one)*+

CHS: Family Services (usually B.S.)

Family and Society*+

Families: A Global Perspective *+

Human Development*

Introduction to Human Services*

Interviewing Skills and Techniques

Analyzing Behavioral Choices*+

Group Work Practices+*

Family Intervention*+

Family Violence and Abuse*+

Alcohol and Substance Abuse*+

Community Health+

Sexuality and the Law*+

Thinking About Race, Class and Gender*+

Psycho-Social Impacts of Mass disasters *+

Human Service Ethics*+

Practicum in Human Services+

Research Methods (choose one)*+

Guideline Comparison: STSSC and Public Affairs

STSSC Broad social

perspective Historical perspective Comparative

perspective Theoretical perspective Critical ability

PA Theoretical and philosophical

concepts Historical and comparative

perspectives Social context Legal or policy environment Economic, financial or budgetary

issues Ethics, values and diversity Communication skills Research skills and info analysis Technical and Scientific

knowledge

STSSC/PA ExampleSTSSC: Criminology (usually B.A.)

Introduction to Criminal Justice*Introduction to Law*Contemporary American Social Issues *Understanding Crime and Justice*+Courts and the Administration of Justice*+Juvenile Justice and Delinquency*+Family Violence and Abuse*+Criminal Law*+Deviant Behavior*+American Corrections: Theory/Policy/

Practice*+Power and Privilege*+Women, Crime and Criminology*+Comparative Criminal Justice Systems *+Research methods (choose one)*+

PA: Criminal Justice (usually B.S.)

Introduction to Criminal Justice*Police Organization/SupervisionCriminal Evidence and ProcedurePrinciples of InvestigationJuvenile Justice and Delinquency*Alternatives to Incarceration*+CorrectionsCorrectional AdministrationUnderstanding Crime and Justice*+Courts and Administration of Justice*+Crime and Intelligence Analysis*+Criminal Law*+Ethical Dilemmas in Crim. Justice*+Protecting America: Cases/Controversies*+Criminal Justice Management and Policy *+Constitutional Criminal Procedure* + 2 cr.Comparative Criminal Justice Systems*+Public Finance and Budgeting*+ Proposal Writing *+ (2 cr.)Research methods (choose one)*+

Guideline Comparison: STSSC and BME

STSSC Broad social perspective Historical perspective Comparative perspective Theoretical perspective Critical ability

BME Communication Info management Economics Ethics/social responsibility Quantitative Understanding people in

org. context Understanding orgs. In

broader context

STSSC/BME Example 1STSSC: Economics (usually B.A.)

Intro Microeconomics*Intro Macroeconomics*Money and Banking*+History of Economic Thought*+Business Enterprise in American

History*+International Economics*+International Political Economy*+Microeconomic Theory*+ (ind study)Macroeconomic Theory*+ (ind

study)Economics of Gender/Race/Family*+

(ind study)Statistics*Calculus*Other economics elective(s)

BME: Economics (usually B.S.)

Intro Microeconomics*Intro Macroeconomics*Money and Banking*+History of Econ Thought*+International Economics*+International Political Economy*+Microeconomic Theory*+ (ind study)Macroeconomic Theory*+ (ind study)MIS or CISStatistics*Communications courseBusiness Ethics Management PrinciplesOrganizational Behavior

STSSC/BME Example 2

STSSC: Organizational Behavior (usually B.A.)

Introduction to Psychology*

Exploring Society*

Interpersonal and Small Group

Communication 2 cr.

The Learning Organization*+

Organizational Behavior*+

Analyzing Behavioral Choices*+

Power and Privilege*+

Social Change: Individual and Society*+

Social Change: Paradoxes and Progress*+

Human Resource Management and Development*+

Global Perspectives on Political Theory or

Great Conversations in Social Thought

(forthcoming)*+

Social research methods (choose one)*+

BME: Organizational Behavior (usually B.S.)

Social Psychology*+

Macroeconomics*

Microeconomics*

Business Ethics*+

Statistics*

Quantitative Methods for Management*+

Legal Environment of Business*

Organizational Behavior*+

Learning Organization*+

Organizational Communication*+ (ind study)

Power and Privilege*+

Diversity in the Workplace*+

Human Resource Management+

MIS+ or CIS-

Guideline Comparison: STSSC and Human

Development

STSSC Broad social perspective Historical perspective Comparative perspective Theoretical perspective Critical ability

HD Biopsychosocial

development Individual differences Contexts for development Methodologies for inquiry

STSSC/HD Example

STSSC: Social Psychology (usually B.A.)

Introduction to Psychology*Exploring Society*Social Psychology*+Family and Society*+Aging and Society*+Families: A Global PerspectiveInterpersonal and Small Group Communication

2 cr.Child Development*Adolescence and Identity*Health Psychology*+Educational Psychology*Cultural Psychology*+Thinking About Race Class and Gender*+Analyzing Behavioral Choices*+Great Conversations in Social Thought

(forthcoming)*+History and Systems of Psychology*+Social research methods (choose one)*+

HD: Social Psychology (usually B.A.)

Introduction to Psychology*Social Psychology*+Abnormal Psychology*+Theories of Personality*+Attachment and Continuity*+Human development studies (choose one

or more)Brain and Behavior*Behavioral Neuroscience*+Evolutionary Psychology*Cultural Psychology*+Statistics*Quantitative Research: Methods and

Design*+Experimental Psychology*+

Guideline Comparison: STSSC and Cultural Studies

STSSC Broad social

perspective Historical perspective Comparative

perspective Theoretical perspective Critical ability

CS Explore how human beings

understand and articulate their world

Examine the relationship between culture as lived experience and creative and philosophical expression

Explore aesthetic and cognitive forms and values within social and historical contexts

Include cross-cultural and historical perspectives re gender, class and race

Develop skill in critical reading, interpretation, writing and speaking

STSSC/CS Example(see commons.esc.edu/studywomen)

STSSC: Women’s Studies

Introduction to Women’s Studies*

Sex and Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective* + or –

U.S. Women’s History: Lives and Voices*+

Human Sexuality*+

Families: A Global Perspective *+

Thinking About Race, Class and Gender*+

Gays and Lesbians in American Culture*

Images of Women in Western Civ*+

Women, Girls and the Media*+

Power and Privilege*+

Family Violence and Abuse*+

Women, Crime and Criminology*+

Women in Business: Managing &

Leading*+

Women Activists: The Voice of Human

Rights in Latin American*

Feminist Theory (ind study) or

Great Conversations in Social Thought

(forthcoming) or Global Perspectives on

Political Theory *+

Social research methods (choose one) *+

CS: Women’s StudiesIntroduction to Women’s Studies*

Sex & Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective *

(+ or –)

U.S. Women’s History: Lives and Voices*+

Images of Women in Western Civilization*+

Artistic Expression in a Multicultural America*

Art History: A Study of Cultures*+

Thinking About Race, Class and Gender*+

U.S. Women’s Multicultural Life Writings*+

Women, Girls and the Media*+

Additional studies tailored to student interests in images of women, major women figures, women’s experience and/or women’s perspectives on the visual or performing arts, literature, communications, etc. See annual Women’s Studies Residency.

Sample STTSC Concentration: Peace and Conflict Studies

Cultural Anthropology*

Ethnic Conflict in Global Perspective *+

The Middle East*+

Vietnam: A Cross-National Interdisciplinary Perspective*+

Latin America: History, Politics and United States Policy*+

Women Activists: The Voice of Human Rights in Latin America*

Ideal Worlds: Utopian Literature*+

Family Violence and Abuse*+

Thinking About Race, Class and Gender*+

Perspectives on Terrorism

Disaster and Society*+

Water Talks: Rights and Cultures*+

International Politics and Relations*+

Peace and Justice: Contemporary Cases*+ (ind study)

Global Perspectives on Political Theory *+ or Great Conversations in Social Thought

(forthcoming)*+

Social research methods (choose one)*+

Sample STSSC Concentration: Sociology

Exploring Society *Contemporary American Social Issues *Introduction to Cultural Anthropology*Social Psychology*+Thinking About Race, Class & Gender*American Ethnic History*+Schooling in America*Power and Privilege*+Social Change: Paradox of Progress*+Family and Society*+Families: A Global Perspective*+Aging and Society*+

Deviant Behavior*+Disaster and Society*+Urban Studies*+Families: A Global Perspective*+Sex and Gender in Cross-cultural Perspective* + or -Health, Illness and Society*+Great Conversations in Social Thought (forthcoming) or alternative study of social theory *+Statistics*Social research methods (choose one or more)*+

References Spalter-Roth, Roberta and Nicole Van

Vooren. 2008. “What are they Doing with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology?: Data Brief on Current Jobs”. American Sociological Association.. Retrieved April 12, 2012.

“What Can You Do With a Degree in Anthropology?”, American Anthropological Association. Retrieved April 12, 2012

“Jobs in the Social Science Fields”, The Riley Guide.

SocialScienceJobs.com