College of Behavioral and Social Sciences

College Administrative Offices Office Extension*
Dean of the College Joel J. Kassiola HSS 359 2409
Associate Dean and College Graduate Coordinator Genie Stowers HSS 359 1846
College Directory
Department/Program Chair/Director Office Extension*
African Area Studies Jacques Hymans
Aguibou Yansane
SCI 276
HUM 224
1604
2495
American Studies Stanley Bailis HSS 336 2055
Anthropology Gary Pahl SCI 377 2046
Asian Area Studies DeVere Pentony HSS 381 7495
California Studies Lee Davis HSS 336 2046/2055
Criminal Justice John Curtin HSS 336 2055
Critical Social Thought Richard Busacca HSS 336 2055
Economics Michael Potepan HSS 140 1839
European Area Studies Anthony D'Agostino SCI 276 1604
Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Studies Gilbert Herdt PSY 502 1137
Geography and Human Environmental Studies Nancy Wilkinson HSS 279 2049
History Jerald Combs SCI 276 1604
Human Sexuality Studies Gilbert Herdt HSS 336 2055
International Relations DeVere Pentony HSS 336 2055
Labor Studies Brenda Cochrane HSS 336 2055
Latin American Area Studies Joann Aviel HSS 336 2055
Political Science Richard DeLeon HSS 261 1178
Psychology Caran Colvin PSY 301 1390
Public Administration Genie Stowers HSS 379 2985
Social Science Richard Busacca HSS 336 2055
Sociology Rachel Kahn-Hut HSS 370 1466
Urban Studies Raquel Pinderhughes HSS 261 1178
World Development Studies Raymond Miller HSS 336 2055

* For on-campus calls, dial 8 and then the extension. For calls from off-campus, dial the prefix 338, then the four-digit extension number.

College of Behavioral and Social Sciences

Mission/Purpose

The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences provides a framework in which the faculty and students can cooperatively investigate human behavior in both individual and social contexts. The fundamental approach of the college is that of the liberal arts, but several of the programs have professional or pre-professional aspects. Interdisciplinary, multicultural, and international perspectives are emphasized in the curricula, as are methodological approaches appropriate to each discipline.

Undergraduate Studies

Encompassing a number of traditional and modern disciplines of the behavioral and social sciences, the college offers the following undergraduate degrees.1

Bachelor of Arts

Anthropology 22021
Economics 22041
Geography 22061
History 22051
  Concentration in: Honors Program
International Relations 22101
Labor Studies 22993
Psychology 20011
Political Science 22071
Social Science (Interdisciplinary Studies) 22011
  Concentration in: Criminal Justice
Sociology 22081
Urban Studies 22141

The college also provides an area of emphasis in the Liberal Studies Program (Area III) and jointly offers the B.A. in American Studies with the College of Humanities.

In addition, the college offers the following minors which may be taken in conjunction with any major.

African Area Studies
Asian Area Studies
California Studies
Criminal Justice
Critical Social Thought
European Area Studies
Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Studies
Human Sexuality Studies
Latin American Area Studies
World Development Studies

The Center for Interdisciplinary Programs in the Behavioral and Social Sciences

The center has administrative responsibility for coordinating and supporting interdisciplinary efforts within the college, including programs in Criminal Justice, Critical Social Thought, Labor Studies, and Social Science.

Pre-MBA Program

The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, in cooperation with the College of Business, offers a special program designed to prepare students for graduate study in business. The program gives students strong advising support in selecting courses that provide a foundation for MBA study. Structured around four Pre-MBA theme areas, the program also provides rigorous academic training in the liberal arts. Special attention is given to the selection of general education courses and the construction of individualized programs to help students meet the admissions requirements of graduate schools of business.

In order to complete the Pre-MBA program, a student must:

  • Complete a major in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences;
  • Complete the General Business minor in the School of Business;
  • Be a participant in the Pre-MBA program before completing 90 units of course work and meet with a Pre-MBA adviser at least once a semester.

Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, International Relations, Political Science, Psychology, Social Science, Sociology, and Urban Studies participate in the Pre-MBA program. Advising materials can be obtained from the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (HSS 359).

Computer Facilities

The BSS Computer Laboratory (HSS 383) and the Psychology Annex (PSY 329) provide computer access for individual and class use, as well as software of particular relevance to the behavioral and social sciences.

Specialized computer laboratories include the Multidisciplinary GIS Center (HSS 272), the BSS All-College Instructional Computing Laboratory (HSS 380), the Geography Instructional Laboratory (HSS 290), the Economics Instructional Laboratory (HSS 147), the PSIRUS (Political Science, International Relations, Urban Studies) Computer Media Laboratory (HSS 360), and the Psychology Experimental Laboratory (PSY 304a), and provide hands-on experience in spatial analysis, simulations, experimentation, forecasting, and data analysis related to specific disciplines.

Specialized Resources and Facilities

Many other specialized resources and facilities are contained in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, including:

Center for Urban Anthropology coordinates research and teaching related to the study of urban areas.

Multidisciplinary Geographic Information Systems Center, Geography and Human Environmental Studies, allows students and faculty to explore applications of GIS through the processing and analysis of imagery from satellite photography. A separate Cartography Laboratory also produces both manual and computer maps, charts, and diagrams.

Overseas Orientation and Training Program, International Relations, provides training and orientation programs for professionals working in educational, business, and governmental settings in the U.S. and Asia.

Graduate Studies

Graduate programs in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences cover a broad range of professional and academic interests. There are literally thousands of potential career applications available to graduates. Each program will provide information on the admissions policies and career opportunities for its graduates, including the experience of those working in the field, on request.

Applicants and candidates should realize the necessity of frequent contact with the graduate major adviser and students should not undertake a program of study without the express approval of a graduate major adviser. Because several graduate programs in the college have application procedures which supplement those of the university, applicants should contact the office of the program directly for information.

The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences offers the following graduate degrees:1

Master of Arts

Anthropology 22021
Economics 22041
Geography 22061
  Concentration in: Resource Management and Environmental Planning
History 22051
International Relations 22101
Political Science 22071
Psychology
  Concentrations in:
  College Teaching 20012
  Developmental Psychology 20091
  Educational Psychology 08221
  Physiological Psychology 20101
  Psychological Research 20992
  Social Psychology 20051
Social Science: Interdisciplinary Studies 22011

Master of Public Administration 21021

Master of Science

Psychology
  Concentrations in:
  Clinical Psychology 20031
  Industrial-Organizational Psychology 20081
  School Psychology 20013

Special Resources and Facilities

A broad variety of special resources and facilities are available within the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. These include major university centers described elsewhere in this Bulletin, such as the Treganza Anthropology Museum, the BSS-Geography Map Library, the Psychology Clinic, and the U.S.-Korea Institute, as well as more specialized facilities, as described below.

The Pre-Law Center, Political Science, provides advising and resource materials to students interested in careers in law.

The Cognitive Psychology Laboratory, Intercultural and Emotion Laboratory, Physiological Psychology Laboratory, and Social Psychology Laboratory are among the specialized facilities in the Psychology Department which provide instructional and research support for students and faculty.

In addition, several departments in the college provide opportunities for research, professional experience, career development, and student-faculty exchanges through their sponsorship of student organizations; e.g., the History Students Association, International Relations Student Association, La Raza Students in Psychology, and the Sociology Club, and a number of journals are produced by students and faculty in the college, including Urban Perspectives (Urban Studies), the Treganza Anthropology Papers (Anthropology), Ex Post Facto (History), and the Journal of Homosexuality (Human Sexuality Studies).

1 The numbers following the degrees and minors are used by this university to identify the programs indicated. These numbers must be used on the application for admission, registration forms, application for graduation, etc.