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Core objective #6: Cultures, societies and individuals

Objective: Primary areas of focused inquiry

Brief description of learning objective: Students will learn how to systematically analyze human social conditions (e.g., individuals, groups, communities and cultures). In particular, students will learn to observe, theorize, model, experiment and/or interpret as a means of inquiring into human social relations..

Standards or requirements for verification

Only Core Social Science courses may be verified for CO6. These should be lower-division (100-200 level) general education courses, for 3 or more units each.

This objective is satisfied by a single Core Social Science course approved by the Core Board. Where appropriate, majors are encouraged to develop this objective within their courses, and if possible to integrate this objective into the Core Capstone course.

Courses satisfying this objective will also develop Core Objectives 1 or 2 and Core Objective 3. That is, a Core Social Science course should also help students improve their writing or quantitative skills and develop their critical thinking skills.

The objective of CO6 is to ensure that students learn how to systematically analyze human social conditions using the scientific method. Courses satisfying CO6 examine human and social behavior and introduce students to systematic methods of inquiry for understanding the interaction of individuals with their groups, communities and societies. They may include topics such as political and economic systems, laws, ideologies, religious beliefs, customs, social structures or personal experiences that influence ideas, actions and decisions. Information may be collected and analyzed through empirical or qualitative research methods as appropriate to the discipline.

Courses satisfying this Core Objective will meet the expectations for the Core Social Science requirement and should:

  1. include the Core Objective, together with its brief description, on the course syllabus in its original form
  2. Include one or more student learning outcomes addressing this Core Objective on the course syllabus, along with other student learning outcomes appropriate to the course.
  3. identify in the course syllabus the teaching techniques and student experiences that will help students acquire the competencies described in the Core Objective
  4. assess whether students have acquired the competency described in the student learning outcomes and use methods for collecting and analyzing data that can be reported to the Core Curriculum Board

Suggested student learning outcomes and assessment methods

Faculty may incorporate one or more of the examples from this list or propose their own student learning outcomes and methods of assessing the objective.