The mission of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences provides local, national, and international leadership through its educational, scholarship, and community partnership programs. The College is committed to enhancing quality of life in the Inland Southern California and the global community at large through its varied educational and research activities.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences is a multidisciplinary program that aims to provide students with a broad understanding and appreciation of the social sciences. By pursuing a major in which a number of social sciences disciplines are studied, students will appreciate the varied approaches and methodologies of these fields, as well as the interrelatedness of the social sciences disciplines.
Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences Online
Program Design
This program is designed for students who wish to teach social science subjects in California’s schools, middle school through high school, OR who wish to build a unique BA in Social Sciences program that suits their interests and professional goals.
For those interested in teaching, in addition to this coursework, students will have to pass 2 California pre-credential exams in order to be admitted into a Teaching Credential Program, post-BA: the California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET), which encompasses knowledge and understanding primarily of history, but also economics, geography, political science, psychology and sociology and the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) which is comprised of three subtests: basic math, reading, and writing skills for individuals planning a career in teaching.
For those with interests outside of teaching in multidisciplinary and individualized programs, this program is also designed for students with a varied set of academic and career interests. Students develop skills in areas that are deemed crucial in a wide array of contemporary professions: Globalism, Multiculturalism, and Intercultural Fluency, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, Oral and Written Communication, Teamwork and Collaboration, and Professionalism and Work Ethics.
Program Format
- The program is 100% online and can be completed from the convenience of your home and your schedule.
- A semester will consist of two sessions (session 1 and session 2). Each session is approximately seven weeks long and courses are delivered in an accelerated format.
- During the CEGE registration period, eligible students will receive an enrollment request form from the program staff.*
- Students are enrolled for the program courses by the Academic Advisor.*
- Students will follow a student program plan, which is developed by the Academic Advisor.
- Total units required for graduation: 120
Concentrations
A concentration is an area of focus you can choose to study that relates to your college major. The core discipline in the program is history, as that is the most widely taught social science subject in secondary schools. Students may choose a second concentration in one of the other five disciplines (listed below).
- Economics
- Geography
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Sociology
Program Recognition
- CSUSB to offer fully online BA degree in social sciences, Published December 17, 2020
Frequently Asked Questions
The program information is available on the CEGE - PaCE webpage. Each of the icons located on the right hand side of the page will direct the user to the requested section.
To speak with a student advisor, select the icon 'Schedule Advising Appointment' and select the meeting type. Students who are interested in the program and who are not admitted to the program should select the option 'Application and Admission Advising.' Appointments may be conducted through the telephone or through Zoom.
Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements.
- Lower Division: Complete lower division coursework by successfully obtaining 60 semester (90 quarter) units of transferable course work taken at a regionally accredited* community college or university.
- A complete list of transferable courses from the California Community Colleges to CSUSB may be found at ASSIST.
- General Education: Completion of lower-division general education requirements, which includes CSU History, Constitution and American Ideals requirement. For more information on the General Education requirements, please visit the CSUSB Bulletin - General Education Program.
- Requirements may include the completion of the course with a grade of “C-” or better.
- Golden Four Courses: Completed with a grade of “C-” or better in each course.
- Oral Communication (GE Category A1) (3 units)
- Written Communication (A2)
- Critical Thinking (A3)
- Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning (B4)
- GPA: Meet minimum GPA requirements of 2.0 ("C") or better.
- Eligible to enroll: Students must be in good standing and eligible to enroll at the last institution they attended.
For more information on the program requirements and how to apply, visit the admission requirements page for the College of Extended and Global Education - Professional and Continuing Education.
Additional Resources
Catalogs
ASSIST - Course Transfer and Articulation System - Support
The College of Extended and Global Education is unable to provide a pre-assessment of transcripts and or the review of course equivalency materials prior to an official application submission. Applicants seeking assistance in this area may visit the website ASSIST which is best used in combination with seeing a counselor on your campus. ASSIST is intended to help students and counselors work together to establish an appropriate path toward transferring from a public California community college to a public California university. Furthermore, a complete list of transferable courses from the California Community Colleges to CSUSB may be found on the ASSIST webpage.
- Navigating the ASSIST website
- General Information
- ASSIST for Students, Faculty and Staff
- Frequently Asked Questions
Major: A major is the type of degree you earn at graduation. Because your college major is the area of study you're ultimately focusing on, many of the courses you take during your degree program will tie back into your major's field of study.
Minor: A minor is a second area of study that does not have to relate to your major. This makes a minor unique from a concentration since concentrations are in subject areas that pertain to the degree you plan to earn.
Concentration: A concentration is an area of focus you can choose to study that relates to your college major.
Note: The BA Social Sciences Online program does not currently offer the selection of a minor or a double major.