The minor in social and behavioral sciences provides students an interdisciplinary lens across several fields of the social and behavioral sciences, including communication, sociocultural anthropology, geography, political science, psychology and sociology.
The minor program in social and behavioral sciences provides students an interdisciplinary perspective across several fields of the social and behavioral sciences, including communication, sociocultural anthropology, geography, political science, psychology and sociology in order to understand and interact with people and society.
At A Glance
Social and Behavioral Sciences (Minor)
- Offered by: New College of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences
- Location: West
Application requirements
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements:
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Program requirements
Degree requirements
The minor consists of 18 credit hours, at least 12 credit hours of which must be in upper-division courses and at least six credit hours taken from the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences.
All courses must be completed with a minimum grade of "C" (2.00 on a scale of 4.00). Students wishing to pursue a minor must meet with an academic advisor in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences to construct a minor that reflects a particular area of specialty and interest.
Required Courses:
SBS 200 Introduction to Social and Behavioral Sciences, SB (3)Select one additional course from the following list:
COM 308 Advanced Research Methods in Communication, L (3)
COM 309 Rhetorical, Interpretive and Critical Methods in Communication (3)
PSY 290 Research Methods, L or SG (4)
SBS 302 Qualitative Methods (3)
SBS 303 Quantitative Methods (3)
SOC 391 Research Methods, L or SB (3)Electives (12 credit hours)
A maximum of three semester hours of internship and three semester hours of individualized instruction may be used to fulfill requirements. Courses approved for the 12 credit hours in the minor would come from one of the approved themes from the major.
Depending upon a student's undergraduate program of study, prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this minor.
Enrollment requirements
GPA Requirement: None
Incompatible Majors: BA and BS in social and behavioral sciences
Other Enrollment Requirements: None
Current ASU undergraduate students may pursue a minor and have it recognized on their ASU transcript at graduation. Students interested in pursuing a minor should consult their academic advisor to declare the minor and to ensure that an appropriate set of courses is taken. Minor requirements appear on the degree audit once the minor is added. Certain major and minor combinations may be deemed inappropriate by the college or department of either the major program or the minor. Courses taken for the minor may not count toward both the major and the minor. Students should contact their academic advisor for more information.
Career outlook
A minor in social and behavioral sciences is appropriate for any discipline that requires a solid background in social sciences. Students with this minor are prepared to work in community development, counseling, criminal justice, professional schools (e.g., law, public administration, social work), public policy, social science disciplines, and urban studies or planning.
Example careers
Students who complete this degree program may be prepared for the following careers. Advanced degrees or certifications may be required for academic or clinical positions. Career examples include but are not limited to:
| Career | *growth | *median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors | 23.2% | |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | 16.4% | $33,120 |
| Social Science Research Assistants | 4.3% | $46,000 |
| Human Resources Managers | 9.1% | $110,120 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | 10.4% | $60,670 |
| Patient Representatives | 4.9% | $32,890 |
| Political Scientists | 2.8% | $115,110 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | 18% | $64,100 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | 14.2% | $44,380 |
| Sociologists | 1.3% | $79,650 |
* Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).
- Bright Outlook
- Green Occupation