Dec 11, 2024

2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Behavioral Science, BA

Behavioral Science majors develop an interdisciplinary perspective on human behavior and an understanding of psychological, social and cultural dimensions to being human in a complex society. Offered cooperatively by the Departments of Anthropology, Psychology and Sociology, the Behavioral Science Program is housed in the Department of Anthropology , which oversees academic advising. The program prepares graduates for a variety of jobs that require working with social science data and with people. Many of our alumni have pursued careers in human resources, social work, counseling, sales and marketing and law enforcement.

Program Learning Outcomes

Summary of Degree Units

University Graduation Requirements	50
Major Requirements	48
University Electives	22
Total	120

Program Roadmaps

The 4-Year Roadmap is available online. Roadmaps should be used in consultation with the catalog and your advisor to identify additional requirements for completing the major (for example, course grade minimums). Associate Degrees (ADT) Pathways are also available online.

University Requirements

Students must satisfy all of the major and Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements , which includes unit, GPA, and residency requirements as well as the below identified General Education , American Institutions, Graduation Writing Assessment, and Physical Education requirements. Courses that meet Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements are noted with an area designation (see Course Note Abbreviations ).

Core Lower Division General Education (30 units)

Of the 39 units required by the university, 9 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Courses that meet GE Areas A1, A2, A3, B4, or F must be passed with a “C-” or better to meet the requirement. Consult with a major advisor for details.

Note: Students who have completed the ADT Transfer degree (under SB 1440) for this major will have completed all lower division GE requirements and should follow the 60 unit guarantee roadmap. Meet with an advisor prior to registering for your first semester for the 60 unit roadmap or specific questions.

Upper Division General Education (9 units)

Of the 9 units required by the university, 0 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Consult with major advisor for details.

American Institutions (6 units)

Complete one 6-unit sequence of American Institutions (US123) courses, which also satisfies GE Area D. Students may also satisfy the American Institutions Requirement with other courses, but these may not satisfy other GE areas.

The American Studies sequence (AMS 10 /AMS 11 ; 6 units) satisfies the American Institutions Requirement and additional GE Areas (see course descriptions for details).

Consult with a major advisor to select the appropriate sequence.

U.S. History and Government (6 units)

Complete One US1: US History Course

AMS 10 - Stories that Make America 3 unit(s) (C2+US1)
HIST 15 - Essentials of U.S. History 3 unit(s) (D+US1)
HIST 170S - Topics in American History: American Identities and Institutions 3 unit(s) (S+US1)

Complete One US23: US Constitution and California Government Course

AMS 11 - Visions of Democracy 3 unit(s) (D+US23)
POLS 15 - Essentials of U.S. & California Government 3 unit(s) (D+US23)
POLS 16 - Power and Ideas in American Politics 3 unit(s) (C2+US23)
POLS 170V - American Politics in Global Perspective 3 unit(s) (V+US23)

Physical Education (2 units)

All SJSU undergraduate students, regardless of major, have an opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills in physical activities. To accommodate students’ needs and interests, the university offers a diverse selection of activity courses .

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (3 units)

At SJSU, students must pass a Writing in the Disciplines (100W) course with a grade of C or better (C- not accepted) is required to meet graduation requirements. Exceptions to the GWAR may be found in the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) section.

Major Requirements (48 units)

Core Courses (15 units)

ANTH 11 - Cultural Anthropology 3 unit(s) (D)
ANTH 193 - Behavioral Science in Practice 3 unit(s) (ANTH 193 can also be taken as PSYC 193 and SOCI 193 )
PSYC 1 - Introduction to Psychology 3 unit(s) (D)
SOCI 1 - Introduction to Sociology 3 unit(s) (D)

Statistics Course

Complete one course:

STAT 95 - Elementary Statistics 3 unit(s) (B4) (UNVS 15 may be used in lieu of the statistics course required by this major.)
SOCI 15 - Statistical Applications in the Social Sciences 3 unit(s) (B4) (SOCI 15 can also be taken as SOCS 15 )

Methods Requirement

Students must complete at least one of the following courses:

A 3-unit maximum of individual studies may be used to meet the degree requirements.

ANTH 149 - Ethnographic Methods 3 unit(s)
ANTH 165 - Historical Archaeology 3 unit(s)
PSYC 18 - Introduction to Research Methods 3 unit(s)
PSYC 120 - Advanced Research Methods and Design 4 unit(s)
SOCI 104 - Quantitative Research Methods 3 unit(s)

Anthropology (9 units)

Three courses (at least 2 upper division) which may include

ANTH 149 - Ethnographic Methods 3 unit(s)
ANTH 165 - Historical Archaeology 3 unit(s)
ANTH 168 - Archaeological Methodology 3 unit(s)

Psychology (9 units)

Three courses in psychology (at least 2 upper division) which may include

PSYC 18 - Introduction to Research Methods 3 unit(s)
PSYC 120 - Advanced Research Methods and Design 4 unit(s)

Sociology (9 units)

SOCI 101 - Social Theory 3 unit(s)

Two Additional Upper Division Sociology Courses

Two additional upper division sociology courses which may include:

SOCI 104 - Quantitative Research Methods 3 unit(s)

Area of Specialization (6 units)

Specializations are a cluster of courses used by departments for advising purposes. Specializations will not appear on transcripts or diplomas. Please see advisor for more details.

Two additional upper division anthropology, psychology, or sociology courses, except SJSU Studies Area R, S, or V courses, approved by Behavioral Science advisor.

University Electives (22 units)

At least one unit must be Upper Division course.

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