Social and Behavioral Sciences - Associate of Arts (Major Code - SBS)

The Social and Behavioral Sciences Associate of Arts degree prepares students for transfer to a university program in anthropology, history, political science, psychology, sociology, or related areas of study. To ensure seamless transfer, students must develop their specific program in close coordination with a Cochise College advisor and in cooperation with department faculty.

Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this program will be able to do the following:

  • Analyze and articulate the major topics in the social and behavioral sciences including anthropology, history, political science, psychology, and sociology.

Anthropology Concentration 
  • Critically examine humans as a species, including past and modern human cultures and physical adaptations through the study of the forms and functions of human diversity in the present and the past.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of aspects of human development and culture through time using the four-field approach of linguistic anthropology, archaeology, sociocultural anthropology, and biological anthropology.
  • Analyze the effects of environment and geography on human evolution and cultural development and on the human physical and cultural development process.

    Degree Map Anthropology Concentration 

    History Concentration

    • Analyze the evolution of the United States' political, economic, social, cultural, and geographic development from colonization to the present, and evaluate the causes and consequences of historical events.
    • Evaluate the breadth and depth of the human experience by comparative study of past and contemporary societies and cultures.
    • Conduct research, analyze and assess evidence, and articulate sound conclusions.

    Degree Map History Concentration

    Political Science Concentration

    • Critically analyze political events, persons, processes and principles, institutions, forces, theories, and practices.
    • Analyze and assess the ideas, motives, and strategies that give reasons for, and form the basis of, both the United States and Arizona Constitutions.
    • Evaluate power and politics both critically and historically, craft and defend evidence-based arguments and communicate effectively with attention to and appreciation of diverse cultural contexts.

    Degree Map Political Science Concentration


    Psychology Concentration

    • Differentiate among, and describe each of, the key concepts, principles, and perspectives in psychology.
    • Discuss basic psychological terminology, concepts, and theories in psychology to explain behavior and mental processes.
    • Analyze, articulate, and identify appropriate statistical analyses and their application to research.
    • Employ American Psychological Association (APA) standards to create and write an APA formatted research report.

    Degree Map Psychology Concentration

    Sociology Concentration

    • Describe the major sociological concepts.
    • Compare and contrast the fundamental sociological frameworks of functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism as well as the social construction of reality and intersectionality.
    • Apply sociological concepts and theories to real-world situations.

    Degree Map Sociology Concentration

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS (AGEC-A) 35 -37 CREDITS

Composition 6 credits

ENG 101Composition**

3

OR

ENG 101LComposition with Support Lab*

3

ENG 102English Composition**

3

Mathematics 3-5 credits

MAT 142College Mathematics***

3

OR

MAT 142LCollege Mathematics with Support Lab*

3

or higher (3-5 credits)

Laboratory Sciences 8 credits

 
ANT 101Bones, Stones, and Human Evolution**

4

*For the Anthropology Concentration, students must take ANT 101 as one of their required Laboratory Science courses (strongly recommend 1st semester).

Arts 3 credits

Humanities 3 credits

Social and Behavioral Sciences 6 credits

HIS 110History of the United States 1607-1877***

3

OR

HIS 111History of the United States Since 1877***

3

AND

SOC 101Introduction to Sociology**

3

General Education Electives 4-6 credits

General education electives must be chosen from the general education list. See www.cochise.edu/AGEC.

Six credits of arts, humanities, social and behavioral sciences, or general education electives must be chosen from the current listing of intensive writing courses. See www.cochise.edu/AGEC.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT 0-16 CREDITS

Non-English language second- or fourth-semester proficiency.

University non-English language requirements vary. Check with an advisor.

CORE CURRICULUM 18-22 CREDITS

ANT 110Buried Cities and Lost Civilizations**

3

HIS 110History of the United States 1607-1877***

3

OR

HIS 111History of the United States Since 1877***

3

 

POS 110American National Government**

3

PSY 101Introduction to Psychology**

3

SELECT AN AREA OF CONCENTRATION BELOW

Anthropology Concentration (6-7 credits)

 
Note: Anthropology students are strongly recommended to take ANT 101 as their laboratory science in the first semester.

Take the following (6-7 credits):

ANT 102Exploring Cultural Diversity*

3

Select one of the following (3-4 credits):

ANT 214Magic, Witchcraft, and Healing**

3

OR

ANT 223Aztecs, Incas, and Maya

3

OR

ANT 253Death and Dying Across Cultures**

3

OR

ANT 275Forensic Anthropology*

4

OR

ANT 286Historic Native Peoples of North America*

3

OR

ANT 287Ancient North American Civilizations***

3

History Concentration (9 credits)

Take the following (6 credits):

HIS 243Western Civilization I**

3

HIS 244Western Civilization II**

3

Select one of the following:

HIS 229History of Mexico I**

3

OR

HIS 230History of Mexico II**

3

Political Science Concentration (9 credits)

Take the following (9 credits):

POS 220Federal and Arizona Constitutions**

3

POS 230World Politics***

3

POS 240Comparative Politics**

3

Psychology Concentration (10 credits)

Take the following (7 credits):

PSY 250Introduction to Statistics***

4

PSY 290Research Methods***

3

Select one of the following (3 credits):

PSY 210Social Psychology**

3

OR

PSY 231Human Sexuality*

3

OR

PSY 240Developmental Psychology**

3

OR

PSY 270Psychological Disorders**

3

Sociology Concentration (9 credits)

Take the following (9 credits):

SOC 202Social Problems***

3

SOC 215Race and Ethnicity***

3

SOC 212Sociology of Gender**

3

ELECTIVES (AS NEEDED TO COMPLETE 60 CREDITS)

Elective courses must be transferable to the university or universities to which the student plans to transfer. See www.aztransfer.com.

For the Psychology Concentration, the department recommends that students satisfy elective credits by taking math courses through MAT 151 College Algebra.

TOTAL DEGREE REQUIREMENTS 60 CREDITS