{ "college": "uc-irvine", "edition": "2026-2027", "departmentName": "School of Social Sciences", "id": "school-of-social-sciences--socialpolicyandpublicservice-ba", "name": "Social Policy and Public Service", "award": "B.A.", "department": "school-of-social-sciences", "sourceUrl": "https://catalogue.uci.edu/schoolofsocialsciences/socialpolicyandpublicservice_ba/", "blocks": [ { "kind": "text", "markdown": "**Bill Maurer, Director** \n3562 Social & Behavioral Sciences Gateway \n949-824-6802 \nhttp://www.spps.socsci.uci.edu/\n\nThe major in Social Policy and Public Service (SPPS) provides an interdisciplinary perspective on the study of policies and society. Using the knowledge and methods of various social science disciplines, SPPS majors analyze the influence of social inequalities, policies, and the role of social institutions. A degree in this major prepares students for careers in government organizations, public policy, non-profit organizations, public administration or public health, academic research, social work, and education.\n\nThe curriculum for the major covers various research methods and statistics, contemporary social policy issues, public and social policy, and leadership. Requiring students to conduct action research at a local non-profit or a government agency, the curriculum involves the examination of societal inequalities across groups and systems. A year-long field placement requirement facilitates an in-depth understanding of social science research. Students also gain internship experiences in community, public, and educational organizations. To ensure competency in a specific area, students choose one of three focus areas: 1) Education, 2) Governance, or 3) Health." }, { "kind": "text", "markdown": "### Requirements\n\n##### All students must meet the University Requirements. All students must meet the School Requirements.\n\n##### Requirements for the Major\n\nSchool requirements must be met and must include 15 courses (60 units) as specified below. Students must take all required courses for the major for a letter grade." }, { "kind": "courselist", "rows": [ { "type": "comment", "text": "A. An understanding of the fundamental concepts, analytical tools, and methods of social science:" }, { "type": "course", "code": "SOC SCI 1A", "title": "Principles in the Social Sciences", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "SOC SCI 2A", "title": "Introduction to Social Science Analysis", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "SOC SCI 3A", "title": "Computer-Based Research in the Social Sciences", "indent": false }, { "type": "comment", "text": "B. One course in Introduction to Social Policy and Public Service:" }, { "type": "course", "code": "SOC SCI 40", "title": "Social Policy and Public Service", "indent": false }, { "type": "comment", "text": "C. One course in Cultural Competency:" }, { "type": "course", "code": "SOC SCI 70C", "title": "Comparing Cultures", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "SOCIOL 63", "title": "Race and Ethnicity", "indent": false, "connector": "or" }, { "type": "course", "code": "POL SCI 61A", "title": "Introduction to Race and Ethnicity in Political Science", "indent": false, "connector": "or" }, { "type": "comment", "text": "D. One course in Leadership:" }, { "type": "course", "code": "SOC SCI 181A", "title": "Ethical Leadership", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "SOCIOL 141", "title": "Organizations", "indent": false, "connector": "or" }, { "type": "course", "code": "POL SCI 121A", "title": "The American Presidency", "indent": false, "connector": "or" }, { "type": "comment", "text": "E. Two courses in Research Methods:" }, { "type": "course", "code": "SOC SCI 102A", "title": "Introduction to Geographic Information Systems in Social Sciences", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "SOC SCI 170A", "title": "Research Methods in the Social Sciences", "indent": false }, { "type": "comment", "text": "F. Three quarters of Field Studies:" }, { "type": "course", "code": "SOC SCI 193A & SOC SCI 193B & SOC SCI 193CW", "title": "Field Studies in Social Policy and Public Serviceand Field Studies in Social Policy and Public Serviceand Field Studies in Social Policy and Public Service (must be taken consecutively)", "indent": false }, { "type": "comment", "text": "G. Four units of off-campus internship experience:" }, { "type": "course", "code": "SOC SCI 194A", "title": "Public Service Internship", "indent": false }, { "type": "comment", "text": "H. Functional Focus: 12 units in one of the following areas:" }, { "type": "comment", "text": "Education:" }, { "type": "course", "code": "ANTHRO 138", "title": "Prisons and Public Education", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "EDUC 124", "title": "Multicultural Education in K-12 Schools", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "EDUC 126", "title": "Ethics and Education", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "EDUC 132", "title": "Reading and Writing Enrichment for After-School Programs", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "EDUC 140", "title": "Courts, Classrooms, and Controversies in Education Policy", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "EDUC 142", "title": "American History and Education Policy", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "EDUC 144", "title": "The American Charter School", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "EDUC 146", "title": "Education, Learning, and Culture", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "EDUC 147", "title": "Poverty, Education, and Social Change", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "EDUC 150", "title": "Changing the High School Experience", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "EDUC 154", "title": "Latino Families and Youth", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "EDUC 170", "title": "Chicane/Latine Education", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "EDUC 180", "title": "Interdisciplinary Topics in Education", "indent": false }, { "type": "comment", "text": "Governance:" }, { "type": "course", "code": "CHC/LAT 129", "title": "Special Topics in Literature, Arts, Media, Culture", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "CHC/LAT 131", "title": "Histories of Chicana/o/x and Latina/o/x Struggles for Civil Rights, 1960-1980", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "CHC/LAT 147", "title": "Comparative Minority Politics", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "CHC/LAT 151", "title": "Latinos in U.S. Politics", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "CHC/LAT 169", "title": "Special Topics in Globalization, Transnationalism, Immigration, U.S.-Mexico Border", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "INTL ST 161A", "title": "Political Islam", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "INTL ST 165", "title": "Introduction to Contemporary Middle East Politics", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "INTL ST 177E", "title": "Cuban Society and Revolution", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "POL SCI 124A", "title": "The Politics of Protest", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "POL SCI 124B", "title": "Latinos in U.S. Politics", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "POL SCI 124E", "title": "African American Politics", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "POL SCI 126C", "title": "U.S. Immigration Policy", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "POL SCI 130A", "title": "Game Theory and Politics I", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "POL SCI 142D", "title": "U.S. Foreign Policy I: Globalism and Cold War", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "POL SCI 151H", "title": "Voting and Political Manipulation", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "POL SCI 155C", "title": "Organizations", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "POL SCI 172A", "title": "International Law", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "POL SCI 174C", "title": "U.S. Supreme Court", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "POL SCI 179", "title": "Special Topics in Public Law", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "SOC SCI 152A", "title": "Non-Government Organization (NGO) Fundamentals", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "SOC SCI 188A", "title": "Introduction to Contemporary Middle East Politics", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "SOCIOL 138", "title": "Business Decisions", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "SOCIOL 144", "title": "Politics, Power, and Society", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "SOCIOL 166", "title": "Immigration and Inequality", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "SOCIOL 167A", "title": "Racial and Ethnic Relations in the United States", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "SOCIOL 177C", "title": "Undocumented Immigrant Experiences", "indent": false }, { "type": "comment", "text": "Health:" }, { "type": "course", "code": "ANTHRO 128B", "title": "Race, Gender, and Science", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "ANTHRO 134A", "title": "Medical Anthropology", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "ANTHRO 134N", "title": "Disease, Health, and Inequality", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "CHC/LAT 173", "title": "Latina Reproductive Health", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "CHC/LAT 178A", "title": "Medical Anthropology", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "CHC/LAT 179", "title": "Special Topics in Health, Medicine, and Psychosocial Dynamics", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "COGS 120A", "title": "Abnormal Psychology", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "COGS 120D", "title": "Developmental Psychology", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "COGS 121S", "title": "Psychology of Sleep and Consciousness", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "COGS 153", "title": "African American Psychology", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "SOCIOL 135", "title": "Social Psychology of Networks", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "SOCIOL 151", "title": "Social Inequalities and Health", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "SOCIOL 154", "title": "Medical Sociology", "indent": false }, { "type": "course", "code": "SOCIOL 158", "title": "Sociology of Mental Health", "indent": false } ] }, { "kind": "text", "markdown": "NOTE: Certain special topics courses may be applicable to this major; students should see their undergraduate advisor prior to enrolling in a special topics course to ensure that it meets the requirements. SOC SCI 184A Sage Leader Research I\\-SOC SCI 184B Sage Leader Research II may not be used to satisfy school requirements." }, { "kind": "text", "markdown": "### Honors Program\n\nThe honors program allows SPPS majors to engage in research leading to the completion of an honors thesis. The topic for the honors thesis, reflecting a social science theme, is determined by the student in consultation with a faculty advisor. In addition to satisfying the requirements for the major, honors program participants must complete additional course work as specified below.\n\nThe honors program is composed of three four-unit courses: SPPS H190A Honors Research Workshop, SPPS H190B Honors Thesis Research, and SPPS H190C Honors Thesis. Satisfactory completion of the honors thesis course also satisfies the upper-division writing requirement. The honors program is open to all junior and senior Social Policy and Public Service majors with an overall GPA of 3.30 and a 3.50 GPA in at least five Social Science courses.\n\nThe schedule of courses for the honors program is as follows:\n\nSPPS H190A **Honors Research Workshop. 4 Units** \nIn the fall quarter, students enroll in SPPS H190A. This course ends with each student writing a research plan for the honors thesis. At the onset of the course, students select a faculty mentor who guides the student in the process and supervises the research; faculty mentors evaluate and approve the final honors thesis.\n\nSPPS H190B **Honors Research Workshop. 4 Units** \nIn the winter quarter, students enroll in SPPS H190B, attend class and work with their faculty mentor, who supervises and evaluates data collection and preliminary data analysis.\n\nSPPS H190C **Honors Research Workshop. 4 Units** \nIn the spring quarter, students enroll in SPPS H190C, attend class and work with their faculty mentor to complete the final version of their honors thesis." } ] }