Social and Behavioral Sciences, Associate of Arts

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Understand People. Change Policy. Shape Society.

San Jac’s Social & Behavioral Sciences Associate of Arts degree explores human behavior, societal structures, historical and cultural forces, philosophies, and politics. Students develop critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and observational skills through courses in psychology, sociology, government, anthropology, philosophy, and more. Built to transfer into bachelor’s programs, it includes the core curriculum and an 18-credit path tailored to students’ major and target university, providing a strong foundation for careers in education, public service, social work, research, or law.

Career Opportunities and Income

Visit sanjac.edu for information regarding career opportunities and potential earnings in the Greater Houston region.

Learning & Career Pathway

The Associate of Arts in Social and Behavioral Sciences is primarily intended to support student transfer to a four-year bachelor’s degree program at a university.

San Jacinto College works with many Houston-area and Texas universities that offer bachelor’s degrees that are a great next step after earning the Associate of Arts in Social and Behavioral Sciences. The MAPS tab above shows transfer plans for these universities. If you know where you want to transfer and your intended major, use that plan to choose the right courses at San Jac.

Learning Outcomes and Career Skills

A student completing this transfer associate degree will be able to:

  • Apply social and behavioral science concepts to explain real-world situations.
  • Explain social and behavioral science issues, evaluate evidence, and draw conclusions while taking different perspectives into consideration.
  • Communicate discipline-specific topics, concepts, or research in written, oral, and visual formats.
  • Apply quantitative and empirical approaches to investigate issues, formulate hypotheses, and/or generate evidence-based results.
  • Collaborate to discover, explore, and examine a variety of perspectives.
  • Examine the implications of ethical decision-making in social and behavioral science research and practice.

Locations

College Admission

San Jacinto College is an open admission institution. All students are welcome to apply and will be admitted to the College. You may begin the process on the College’s “How to Apply” webpage.

Program Admission

There are no additional admission requirements for the Social and Behavioral Sciences program; you only need to complete your application to the College, as noted in “College Admission” above, and follow the enrollment steps.

Plan of Study

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Students who know the university to which they want to transfer to pursue a related bachelor’s degree should use the appropriate transfer plan for the university listed on the Transfer Plans (MAPS) page from the tab above.

This plan of study is intended only for students who do not yet know the university to which they want to transfer or for students who do not currently plan to transfer after earning their associate degree.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
First TermCredits
ENGL 1301 Composition I 3
Mathematics 3
American History 3
EDUC 1100 Learning Framework 1
Transfer Path Course (see list below) 3
 Credits13
Second Term
ENGL 1302
Composition II
or Technical and Business Writing
3
Creative Arts (Fine Arts) 3
American History 3
Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
Transfer Path Course (see list below) 3
 Credits15
Second Year
First Term
Life and Physical Science (Natural Science) lecture & lab 4
Language, Philosophy and Culture (Humanities) 3
GOVT 2305 Federal Government (Federal Constitution and Topics) 3
Transfer Path Course (see list below) 3
Transfer Path Course (see list below) 3
 Credits16
Second Term
Life and Physical Science (Natural Science) lecture & lab 4
GOVT 2306 Texas Government (Texas Constitution and Topics) 3
Component Area Option 3
Transfer Path Course (see list below) 3
Transfer Path Course (see list below) 3
 Credits16
 Total Credits60

Transfer Path Courses 

Transfer Path
18 total semester credit hours (SCH) with at least 12 SCH in any combination of ANTH, CRIJ, GEOG, GOVT, HIST, HUMA, PHIL, PSYC, or SOCI.12
The remaining hours will be selected to meet the student's specific transfer institution requirements.6
Total Credits18

If you do not see your transfer school, please follow the Plan of Study. For more information, contact an Admissions Advisor. Please speak to an advisor at San Jacinto College and the transfer institution to ensure this Transfer Plan is accurate and complete. For a list of all MAPs, students may go to Transfer Plans A-Z. Students may filter for specific universities, disciplines, or degrees, and print individual MAPs.

Anthropology

Texas A&M, Anthropology, BA Full-time

Texas A&M, Anthropology, BA Part-time

Texas A&M, Anthropology, BS Full-time

Texas A&M, Anthropology, BS Part-time

Texas State, Anthropology, BA Full-time

Texas State, Anthropology, BA Part-time

Texas State, Anthropology, BS Full-time

Texas State, Anthropology, BS Part-time

UHCL, Anthropology, BS Full-time

UHCL, Anthropology, BS Part-time

UH Main, Anthropology, BA Full-time

UH Main, Anthropology, BA Part-time

UH Main, Anthropology, BS Full-time

UH Main, Anthropology, BS Part-time

UT - Arlington, Anthropology, BA Full-time

UT - Arlington, Anthropology, BA Part-time

UT - Austin, Anthropology, BA Part-time

UT - San Antonio, Anthropology, BA Full-time

UT - San Antonio, Anthropology, BA Part-time

Government

UH Main, Government and Political Science, BA Full-time

UH Main, Government and Political Science, BA Part-time

UH Main, Government and Political Science, BS Full-time

UH Main, Government and Political Science, BS Part-time

History

UH Main, History, BA Full-time

UH Main, History, BA Part-time

UHCL, History, BA Full-time

UHCL, History, BA Part-time

Philosophy

UH Main, Philosophy, BA Full-time

UH Main, Philosophy, BA Part-time

UH Downtown, Philosophy, BA Full-time

UH Downtown, Philosophy, BA Part-time

UT - Arlington, Philosophy, BA Full-time

UT - Arlington, Philosophy, BA Part-time

UT - San Antonio, Philosophy, BA Full-time

UT - San Antonio, Philosophy, BA Part-time

SHSU, Philosophy, BA Full-time

SHSU, Philosophy, BA Part-time

Texas A&M, Philosophy, BA Full-time

Texas A&M, Philosophy, BA Part-time

Texas State, Philosophy, BA Full-time

Texas State, Philosophy, BA Part-time

Psychology

Lamar, Psychology, BA Full-time

Lamar, Psychology, BA Part-time

Lamar, Psychology, BS Full-time

Lamar, Psychology, BS Part-time

SHSU, Psychology, BS Full-time

SHSU, Psychology, BS Part-time

Texas A&M, Psychology, BA Full-time

Texas A&M, Psychology, BA Part-time

Texas A&M, Psychology, BS Full-time

Texas A&M, Psychology, BS Part-time

Texas State, Psychology, BA Full-time

Texas State, Psychology, BA Part-time

Texas State, Psychology, BS Full-time

Texas State, Psychology, BS Part-time

UH Main, Psychology, BA Full-time

UH Main, Psychology, BA Part-time

UH Downtown, Psychology, BS Full-time

UH Downtown, Psychology, BS Part-time

UH Main, Psychology, BS Full-time

UH Main, Psychology, BS Part-time

UHCL, Psychology, BS Full-time

UHCL, Psychology, BS Part-time

UT - Arlington, Psychology, BA Full-time

UT - Arlington, Psychology, BA Part-time

UT - Arlington, Psychology, BS Full-time

UT - Arlington, Psychology, BS Part-time

UT - San Antonio, Psychology, BA Full-time

UT - San Antonio, Psychology, BA Part-time