Course Descriptions

Social and Behavioral Sciences

SBS 3013 Research Methods I: Research Designs

An introduction to major research methods used in the social sciences (especially history, political science, psychology,and sociology). Students will become familiar with qualitative and quantitative research methods, and explore key issues in research design.

SBS 3023 Research Methods II: Analysis and Application

Appropriate social science research methods are applied to a problem or topic of the student’s choice. Students may conduct original research, formulate research proposals, or synthesize existing research for the benefit of a non-specialist audience.

SBS 3033 Perspectives on Human Behavior

A study of the differing conceptions of human behavior prevalent in the contemporary social sciences.

SBS 3043 Field Placement

Students volunteer in one or more community service agencies or charities to acquire personal knowledge of human problems and organized efforts to respond to them. Weekly meetings and journals provide for reflection on this experience.

SBS 3053 Social Systems and Problems

An inquiry into the origin and development of current social problems with specific reference to social action taken to address these problems. Students will investigate one major problem using the resources from more than one social science discipline.

SBS 3063 Social and Behavioral Statistics

An introductory course that will focus on both descriptive and inferential statistics. Topics include measures of central tendency and variability, sampling distributions, the normal distribution, z-scores, correlation, regression, hypotheses testing, t-tests, ANOVA, and chi-square tests. SPSS will be utilized for all statistical analyses. Prerequisite: Math 1503 or Math 1513.

SBS 4033 Internship I

Students work under the dual supervision of a faculty member and a site supervisor in a government office, museum or historical society, mental health or human welfare agency, law enforcement or judicial organization, or a charitable agency.

SBS 4043 Internship II

Students work under the supervision of a faculty member and a site supervisor in a government office, museum or historical society, mental health or human welfare agency, law enforcement or judicial organization, or a charitable agency.

SBS 4513 Senior Seminar: Capstone Experience

All graduating seniors are required to take a semester-long, three-credit seminar in which they conduct research on some issue of social consequence from several different and sometimes conflicting perspectives. This experience is designed to help them learn how to investigate, analyze, and synthesize information about practical, behavioral, and societal issues using skills developed through their program. Developing written and oral presentations about their research enhances students’ability to communicate and enter into dialogue with others about such issues.