The social sciences examine how individuals, groups, institutions, and societies behave and influence one another and the natural environment. Courses in this group enable students to analyze and understand interactions of the numerous social factors that influence behavior at the individual, cultural, societal, national, or international level. They use the methods and theories of social science inquiry to develop critical thought about current social issues and problems.

Criteria

Courses appropriate to this category must meet all of the following criteria:

• Introduce students to theories and concepts of the social sciences
• Introduce students to methods used in the social sciences, including consideration of the ethical problems social scientists face
• Introduce students to ways in which individuals, groups, institutions, or societies behave and influence one another and the natural environment
• Provide students with tools to analyze social, political, or economic groups/organizations (such as families, communities, or governments), and to examine social issues and problems at the individual, cultural, societal, national, or international level. Social issues that might be addressed include gender, race, social class, political power, economic power, and cross-cultural interaction.

CA2 Criteria, Learning Goals, and Learning Objectives

Criterion 1.  Introduce students to  theories and concepts of the social sciences (UConn Senate, 5/12/03).

Learning goal 1. Students should be familiar with a selection of social scientific theories and  concepts.

Learning objective 1a:  Identify strengths and weaknesses of at least  two social science theories from different fields as appropriate to completed  course work in CA2. (It will be necessary for individual departments or  programs to provide relevant lists of theories.)

Learning objective 1b: Identify and explain at least three fundamental social science concepts as  appropriate to completed course work in CA2. (It will be necessary for  individual departments or programs to provide relevant lists of concepts.)

Criterion 2. Introduce students to  methods used in the social sciences, including consideration of the ethical  problems social scientists face (UConn  Senate, 5/12/03).

Learning goal 2.  Students should be familiar with some methods used in the social sciences  including the ethical considerations of their use.

Learning objective 2:  Identify and explain a method commonly used  in social science research, including the ethical considerations of its use, as  appropriate to completed course work in CA2. (It will be necessary for  individual departments or programs to provide relevant lists of methods.)

Criterion 3. Introduce students to  ways in which individuals, groups, institutions, or societies behave and  influence one another and the natural environment (UConn Senate, 5/12/03). Learning goal 3.  Students should be aware of some of the types of interactions that occur among  individuals, groups, institutions, societies, and/or the natural environment.

Learning objective 3:  Apply a theory and selected concepts from social science to such interaction as  appropriate to completed course work in CA2. (It will be necessary for  individual departments or programs to provide relevant lists of interactions.)

Criterion 4. Provide students with  tools to analyze social, political, or economic groups/organizations (such as  families, communities, or governments), and to examine social issues and  problems at the individual, cultural, societal, national, or international  level.  Social issues that might be  addressed include gender, race, social class, political power, economic power,  and cross-cultural interaction (UConn  Senate, 5/12/03).

Learning goal 4a.  Students should be able to analyze the general structure and operations of  groups or organizations in the context of social science.

Learning goal 4b.  Students should be able to analyze social issues and problems in the context of  social science.

Learning objective 4a: Describe the role of a selected group’s or organization’s impact on an  important social issue or problem, as appropriate to completed course work in  CA2. (It will be necessary for individual departments or programs to provide  relevant lists of groups and organizations.)

Learning objective 4b:  Discuss an important social issue or problem,  as appropriate to completed course work in CA2. (It will be necessary for  individual departments or programs to provide expectations with respect to  discussions.)