Undergraduate Programs

The College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies provides a curriculum that focuses on the study of human society in all its aspects. Central themes include relationships among individuals and groups, the functioning of the political system and economy, the nature and influence of culture, relationships among nations, and the relation of human society to the natural environment.

The college offers Bachelor's degree programs in Anthropology, Asian Studies, Economics, Environmental Studies, Family and Consumer Sciences, Gerontology, Government, Liberal Studies, Psychology, Social Sciences, and Sociology; minors in the above programs as well as California Studies, Labor Studies, Public Policy and Administration, and Women's Studies.

All of the programs in the college use and teach skills in critical thinking and problem solving; finding and using information; oral and written communication; policy analysis; adaptation to a variety of situations; and sensitivity to and understanding of other peoples and their customs, problems, values, and aspirations. The college is further dedicated to developing a sense of responsibility to participate in and contribute to the human community and a healthy natural environment.

The knowledge and skills developed by the programs are applicable to a wide variety of careers. Students should consult with individual departments for further career and graduate and professional school opportunities for graduates of those departments.

Unique strengths of programs within the college include:

Anthropology: Research opportunities are available in cultural anthropology, archaeology and physical anthropology. CSUS has a Museum of Anthropology.

Asian Studies: At a time when Pacific Rim developments are highly important to U.S. interests, the Asian Studies major offers students a coherent introduction to the cultures of selected Asian societies. The major emphasizes Japanese, Chinese, and General Pacific Asian Studies, but also supports the examination of other Asian cultures.

Economics: The Economics major provides students with the skills to be competitive in a dynamic economy while preparing them to be informed, knowledgeable citizens.

Environmental Studies: A nationwide study of environmental studies programs showed the CSUS program to be number one in internship participation and number two in overall career satisfaction among graduates.

Ethnic Studies: Students gain knowledge, skills and perspectives from an interdisciplinary examination of the cultural, historical and social experience of ethnic groups in this nation and diaspora.

Family and Consumer Sciences: In addition to preparing students for teaching careers, the department offers several concentrations, including nutrition and food, family studies, and apparel studies.

Gerontology: Gerontology is an interdisciplinary application-focused program where students study all aspects of the aging process, along the life continuum. Focusing particularly on the years after 65, students gain knowledge, skills, and perspectives regarding older individuals, their families, and surrounding communities; helping them to develop ways to facilitate responses to commonly occuring life transitions.

Government: Ideally located in the state capital, the department offers students unique opportunities to integrate their studies of politics and theory through an extensive range of internships in state and local government.

Liberal Studies: Students enjoy a wide-ranging selection of courses in different disciplines as they prepare for careers in K-12 education.
Peace and Conflict Resolution Program: The PCR Program is an interdisciplinary minor with most of its courses drawn from the Social Sciences. The courses introduces students to the processes of understanding and changing social conditions in order to lead to a more peaceful, just and conflict-free society and world.

Psychology: Psychology is both a natural and a social science in which people study human and animal behavior.

Social Science: The Social Science Program provides a major and concurrent subject matter preparation for the Single Subject Teaching Credential in Social Science.

Sociology: Students have an opportunity to do original research and to learn to analyze social data through computer processing.

Women's Studies: This program offers a minor and an interdisciplinary special major which examines women's contribution to culture, knowledge, and society.