Behavioral Science Core Student Learning Outcomes
Adopted 4/05

Behavioral Science Core General Education Outcomes

• Understand human behavior and social interaction in the context of cultural systems, economic structures, political institutions, social groups, and natural environments.
• Demonstrate strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Communicate effectively in written and oral presentations.
• Value the richness that a multicultural and diverse society promotes.
• Communicate sensitively with people of a diverse range of backgrounds.
• Value social responsibility and civic engagement that addresses social and environmental concerns.
• Demonstrate an understanding of how identity influences beliefs, values and interactions with others.

The College expects students who have satisfied the core requirements in Behavioral Sciences to achieve outcomes in two of the following disciplines:

Anthropology:

• Apply knowledge of basic anthropological theories, concepts, and methods of investigation to the study of human culture and biology.
• Recognize the evolutionary development of the human species as an integral part of the total world ecological system.
• Describe different ways people around the world, past and present, interact with each other and their environment, and consider the implications for the future.
• Understand culture as the distinguishing phenomenon of human life, and identify specific universal issues related to cultural change that shape the quality of life for people everywhere.
• Apply the anthropological perspective to the critical analysis of alternative strategies for solving global problems.

Economics:

• Demonstrate a command of basic characteristics of the American and global economy by using this knowledge to critically evaluate economic processes and outcomes.
• Use basic economic theory, and appropriate models to make predictions and to analyze alternative economic policy options.
• Engage in and understand moral reasoning with respect to economic issues by recognizing the implicit value conflicts present in all economic policy debates.
• Identify the economic incentives and disincentives of various public policy choices, and their effect on consumers, producers, and society.
• Identify the characteristics of producer costs, and explain the impact of government policy on production, prices, and markets.
• Explain how changes in market structures affect consumers, producers, society and the environment.

Human Ecology:

• Develop basic literacy in evolution from the birth of the universe to contemporary life on earth from a variety of cultural perspectives.
• Understand basic characteristics of ecosystems and ecological problems.
• Recognize the relationship between humans and their social and natural communities.
• Develop basic race, class and gender analyses as related to environmental and ecological issues.
• Identify, investigate and propose solutions to environmental issues informed by both the social and natural sciences.
• Understand the power of personal choices and collective political involvement in solving environmental problems.

Peace and Social Justice:

• Understand the concepts of peace and conflict through the lens of cultural differences, scarce resources, economic and social structures, international trade, the arms race, oppression, power and war.
• Develop a common language that defines concepts of peace, war, violence, justice, exploitation, security, human rights, international law and organization.
• Integrate theory and methods from multiple disciplines and their role in the history and development of peace studies and social justice education.
• Identify and integrate the paradigms of peace studies and social justice education.
• Comprehend the morality and values of peace and social justice.
• Promote eight keys to a culture of peace: respect all life, reject violence, share with others, listen to understand, preserve the planet, rediscover solidarity, work for women’s equality, participate in democracy.

Political Science:

• Demonstrate basic knowledge of the political institutions and processes of different types of government.
• Demonstrate basic knowledge of the methods, approaches, and theories used in accumulating and interpreting information applicable to the discipline of political science.
• Understand the dynamics of politics and power at work in the modern world.
• Understand the value and necessity of diversity in the democratic political process.
• Understand the nature of conflict and the role politics plays in mitigating the negative consequences conflict.
• Understand how human rights and economic interdependence are key concepts that determine regional and global political stability.

Psychology:

• Demonstrate basic knowledge about human behavior from a variety of psychological perspectives, including neuroscience, sociocultural, gender, developmental, cognitive, behaviorist, psychodynamic and humanistic and develop an understanding of the possibilities and limitations of each perspective.
• Understand the scientific method and be able to critically evaluate the efficacy of research data.
• Understand applications of psychology to personal, social, and organizational issues.
• Demonstrate a commitment to reflection on psychological perspectives to engage in civic life in an active and responsible manner.

Sociology:

• Understand fundamental sociological concepts, perspectives, and the basic elements of human society.
• Cultivate a sociological imagination for implementation in everyday life.
• Develop awareness of the self, and of the self in relation to society, including a focus on social identities and their impact on the sociological perspective.
• Comprehend classical and modern sociological theories, and understand their application to social issues and problems.
• Apply new methods of critical analysis to current social issues and policies.
• Foster a reflective perspective leading to a commitment to social activism and social change.