Social Ecology
46 courses · UC Irvine · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Fall 2026
SOCECOL 1 Introduction to Social Ecology
- Units
- 4
Introduction to the ecological paradigm through a consideration of the classic and recent works in human, cultural, and social ecology. Emphasis on the use of the ecological paradigm as an aid in analyzing societal problems and prescribing for their amelioration.
SOCECOL 10 Research Design
- Units
- 4
An introduction to the logic behind and methods of designing and conducting research studies in Social Ecology. Topics include how to measure variables of interest, identifying causal relationships, sampling, survey research methods, experiments, quasi-experimental designs, and ethics in research.
SOCECOL 13 Statistical Analysis in Social Ecology
- Units
- 4
Introduction to the techniques of statistical analysis in Social Ecology. Topics include probability, statistical inference, significance testing, univariate descriptive statistics, and multivariate analysis from an interdisciplinary perspective.
SOCECOL H20A Honors: Critical Issues on the Social Sciences
- Units
- 6
Major themes, methods, and works in the social sciences from an interdisciplinary perspective. Each quarter focuses on a different topic. Weekly seminars emphasizing development of critical thinking skills and quantitative analysis through written work are integral to the course.
SOCECOL H20B Honors: Critical Issues on the Social Sciences
- Units
- 6
- Prerequisite
- SOC SCI H1E or SOCECOL H20A
Major themes, methods, and works in the social sciences from an interdisciplinary perspective. Each quarter focuses on a different topic. Weekly seminars emphasizing development of critical thinking skills and quantitative analysis through written work are integral to the course.
SOCECOL H20C Honors: Critical Issues on the Social Sciences
- Units
- 6
- Prerequisite
- SOC SCI H1F or SOCECOL H20B
Major themes, methods, and works in the social sciences from an interdisciplinary perspective. Each quarter focuses on a different topic. Weekly seminars emphasizing development of critical thinking skills and quantitative analysis through written work are integral to the course.
SOCECOL H20D Critical Issues on the Social Sciences
- Units
- 6
Major themes, methods, and works in the social sciences from an interdisciplinary perspective. Weekly seminars emphasizing development of critical thinking skills and quantitative analysis through written work are integral to the course.
SOCECOL 74A Moral Development and Just Communities
- Units
- 4
A three-quarter sequence exploring interpersonal, personal, and social issues based on principles of fairness and justice. Both the living environment of a University residence hall and selected institutions of society are analyzed in terms of moral development theory.
SOCECOL 74B Moral Development and Just Communities
- Units
- 4
- Prerequisite
- SOCECOL 74A
A three-quarter sequence exploring interpersonal, personal, and social issues based on principles of fairness and justice. Both the living environment of a University residence hall and selected institutions of society are analyzed in terms of moral development theory.
SOCECOL 74C Moral Development and Just Communities
- Units
- 4
- Prerequisite
- SOCECOL 74B
A three-quarter sequence exploring interpersonal, personal, and social issues based on principles of fairness and justice. Both the living environment of a University residence hall and selected institutions of society are analyzed in terms of moral development theory.
SOCECOL 100 Special Topics in Social Ecology
- Units
- 4
Special topics courses are offered from time to time. In general they will focus on a topic from interdisciplinary perspectives. Course content varies with the interest of the instructor.
SOCECOL 104W Community Archiving in Social Ecology
- Units
- 4
- Prerequisite
- SOCECOL 10. Satisfactory completion of the Lower-Division Writing requirement. Minimum cumulative GPA above 2.0. Authorization for field study
Students are trained in community archiving, oral history, and ethnography in order to produce material for submission to a student-initiated Social Ecology community archive housed in the UC Irvine Special Collections section of the UC Irvine libraries.
SOCECOL 106W Building, Analyzing, and Sustaining a Digital Media Archive
- Units
- 4
- Prerequisite
- SOCECOL 10. Satisfactory completion of the Lower-Division Writing requirement. Minimum cumulative GPA above 2.0. Authorization for field study
Students are trained in contributing to and managing a digital media archive. Provided an opportunity to use resources in the archive to develop policy proposals to solve real-world problems at the intersection of crime, law, and society.
SOCECOL 111W Advanced Research Methods
- Units
- 4
- Prerequisite
- SOCECOL 10 and SOCECOL 13. Satisfactory completion of the Lower-Division Writing requirement
For students planning to conduct senior research projects or apply to graduate school in social research fields. Topics include reviewing literature, preparing a research proposal, protecting human subjects, citing scholarly work, building measures, estimating sample size, interview and presentation skills.
SOCECOL 118 Domestic Violence
- Units
- 4
General perspectives about domestic violence and theoretical accounts about what causes such behavior.
SOCECOL 119 Violence in Intimate Relationships
- Units
- 4
Responses to various forms of domestic violence, such as intimate partner violence and child abuse. Covers barriers to reporting to the police, and prosecutors and courts. Human services, such as safety planning for victims, treatment programs, and restorative justice approaches.
SOCECOL E127 Nuclear Environments
- Units
- 4
Understanding the impact of the nuclear age on the environment and human health through interrelated developments of nuclear power and nuclear weapons. The early years of weapon development, catastrophic environmental pollution, perils of nuclear power in the U.S. and Russia.
SOCECOL 183A Global and International Studies Forum
- Units
- 4
A faculty-student forum featuring lectures from a variety of institutions with discussion issues related to Global and International Studies.
SOCECOL 186A Senior Seminar on Global Sustainability I
- Units
- 2
Students attend weekly seminar to discuss current issues in global sustainability. Weekly attendance at Global Sustainability Forum is also required. Seminar utilized to analyze forum presentations. Prepare bibliography.
SOCECOL 186B Senior Seminar on Global Sustainability II
- Units
- 2
- Prerequisite
- BIO SCI 191A or SOCECOL 186A or EARTHSS 190A
Students attend weekly seminar to discuss current issues in global sustainability. Weekly attendance at Global Sustainability Forum is also required. Seminar utilized to analyze forum presentations. Prepare research proposal.
SOCECOL 186CW Writing/Senior Seminar on Global Sustainability III
- Units
- 4
- Prerequisite
- BIO SCI 191B or EARTHSS 190B or SOCECOL 186B. BIO SCI 191B or EARTHSS 190B or SOCECOL 186B. Satisfactory completion of the Lower-Division Writing requirement
Students attend weekly seminar to discuss current issues in global sustainability. Weekly attendance at Global Sustainability Forum also is required. Seminar utilized to analyze Forum presentations and to prepare senior research paper. Prepare/write research paper under direction of faculty member.
SOCECOL 189 Advanced Seminar in the Science and Practice of Compassion
- Units
- 4
- Prerequisite
- PSCI 192B
For students who are accepted into the Global Service Scholars Program. Provides advanced training in empathy and compassion, and prepares students for their summer international field experience.
SOCECOL 190 Applied Statistics in Social and Behavioral Research
- Units
- 4
- Prerequisite
- SOCECOL 13
Covers statistical techniques used to describe and make generalizations about phenomena represented by data. Hands-on experience in data analysis and interpretation using statistical software (SPSS, STATA) is emphasized. Topics include data visualization, ANOVA, multiple regression, and categorical data analyses.
SOCECOL H190A Honors Research
- Units
- 4
Independent work on an individual research project in addition to participation in a mini proseminar in which faculty discuss their ongoing research. Students prepare a written proposal for a research project.
SOCECOL H190B Honors Research
- Units
- 4
- Prerequisite
- SOCECOL H190A
Independent work on an individual research project in a addition to participation in a mini proseminar in which faculty discuss their ongoing research. Students prepare a written proposal for a research project.
SOCECOL H190W Honors Research
- Units
- 4
- Prerequisite
- SOCECOL H190B. Satisfactory completion of the Lower-Division Writing requirement
Students write up their honors research project (H190A-B) and prepare an oral report which is presented at the honors seminar.
SOCECOL 194W Naturalistic Field Research
- Units
- 4
- Prerequisite
- SOCECOL 10. Satisfactory completion of the Lower-Division Writing requirement
Introduction to alternative models of experiential learning and to various methods of observation, assessment, and evaluation. Introduction to the nature of organizations and ethical issues that emerge from research and intervention in natural settings.
SOCECOL 195 Field Study
- Units
- 2-8
- Prerequisite
- SOCECOL 10
Community engagement to facilitate civic education through field research experience, social intervention, and professionalization. Small group instruction, discussion, writing, and presentations synthesizing students’ experiences in the field with theory, paradigms, and ideas learned about in their course work.
SOCECOL 195A Advanced Field Study
- Units
- 4
- Prerequisite
- SOCECOL 10. Acceptance to Advanced Field Study required
While completing 8 hours of field work per week, students become acquainted with the goals and activities of their placement and work closely with the placement supervisor and AFS instructor to identify the scope of a community project.
SOCECOL 195B Advanced Field Study
- Units
- 4
- Prerequisite
- SOCECOL 195A. Acceptance to Advanced Field Study required
While completing 8 hours of field work per week, students implement their research project through data collection and observations which allow them to reflect on, apply, and synthesize their academic training through observations and experiences at the placement.
SOCECOL 195CW Advanced Field Study
- Units
- 4
- Prerequisite
- SOCECOL 195B. Acceptance to Advanced Field Study required. Satisfactory completion of the Lower-Division Writing requirement
While completing 8 hours per week of field work, students write and finalize their AFS Client Project in consultation with the placement and the FS instructor, and make a final written and oral presentation to the placement and invited guests.
SOCECOL 195W Field Study Writing Seminar
- Units
- 4-8
- Prerequisite
- SOCECOL 10. Cumulative UC GPA of 2.0. Authorization is required. Successful completion of the Lower-Division Writing requirement
Community engagement to promote civic education through field research experience, and the opportunity to study social issues and the environments where they occur. Develop discipline-specific writing and communication skills, methodology, and integrate information from multiple sources.
SOCECOL 198 Directed Studies
- Units
- 2-4
Directed study with Social Ecology faculty.
SOCECOL 199 Special Studies
- Units
- 1-4
Special Studies with Social Ecology faculty.
SOCECOL 264A Data Analysis
- Units
- 4
Provides an appreciation and understanding of statistics necessary to conduct applied research. Topics include approaches to and presentation of data, robust statistics, standardization techniques, multivariate regression, and analysis of variance.
SOCECOL 264B Data Analysis
- Units
- 4
- Prerequisite
- SOCECOL 264A with a minimum grade of B-
Provides an appreciation and understanding of statistics necessary to conduct applied research. Topics include approaches to and presentation of data, robust statistics, standardization techniques, multivariate regression, and analysis of variance.
SOCECOL 266D Analysis of Survival Data
- Units
- 4
Provides an introduction to survival analysis methods for the analysis of change in discrete dependent variables. Focuses on data collection strategies for obtaining longitudinal data and continuous-time hazards models. Communicates the variety and power of multivariate hazard models.
SOCECOL 272A Structural Equation Modeling I
- Units
- 4
- Prerequisite
- SOCECOL 264A with a minimum grade of B- and SOCECOL 264B with a minimum grade of B-
The general structural equation model is developed including path models, recursive and nonrecursive structural models, multiple indicator models, and confirmatory factor models. Use of LISREL and other software for estimating model parameters is covered.
SOCECOL 272B Structural Equation Modeling II: Longitudinal and Advanced Topics
- Units
- 4
- Prerequisite
- SOCECOL 272A with a minimum grade of B-
Provides hands-on experience with longitudinal and advanced structural equation models and is of interest to students from a range of disciplines. Topics covered include confirmatory factor, latent growth curve, general growth mixture, and multi-level modeling.
SOCECOL 275 Special Topics in Social Ecology
- Units
- 2-4
Topics covered vary with interests of the instructor.
SOCECOL 295 Masters Thesis Research & Writing
- Units
- 1-8
- Prerequisite
- Advancement to candidacy
Independent research with Social Ecology faculty.
SOCECOL 296 Doctoral Dissertation Research & Writing
- Units
- 1-12
- Prerequisite
- Advancement to Candidacy
Dissertation research with Social Ecology faculty.
SOCECOL 297 Field Study
- Units
- 2-4
Field studies in Social Ecology.
SOCECOL 298 Directed Studies
- Units
- 2-4
Directed study with Social Ecology faculty.
SOCECOL 299 Independent Study
- Units
- 1-8
Independent study with Social Ecology faculty.
SOCECOL 399 University Supervised Teaching
- Units
- 2-4
Limited to Teaching Assistants.