The Bachelor of Science in Social Services program is designed to prepare students for impactful careers in the social services field. This interdisciplinary program combines theoretical knowledge with practical skills to address the needs of individuals, families, and communities. Students will gain a deep understanding of social issues, human behavior, and the policies that shape social services.
Requirements
Students must complete 32 units of credit (128 semester hours) to earn a B.S. degree. The requirements for the B.S. degree fall into four categories:
- Major area courses
- Courses meeting Distribution Requirements
- Elective courses
- A capstone course
Visit the Catalog for full program requirements.
The Major
Through the study of a major, a student specializes and deepens academic and professional knowledge in a subject area. Students pursuing a bachelor of science degree must meet with an academic advisor for information about degree requirements.
Transfer students may transfer up to 16 course units toward the bachelor’s degree.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
- Foundations of Social Sciences: Students will demonstrate the ability to apply foundational concepts from psychology and sociology to understand and address social issues, as covered.
- Nonprofit Management Skills: Students will develop skills in managing nonprofit organizations, including strategic planning, fundraising, and program evaluation.
- Ethical Leadership and Decision-Making: Students will demonstrate ethical leadership and decision-making skills, applying principles of integrity, accountability, and transparency to address complex public challenges and promote social equity.
- Interpersonal Communication: Students will develop strong interpersonal communication skills, demonstrating sensitivity to cultural differences and promoting inclusive practices. These skills are essential for interacting effectively with clients, colleagues, and stakeholders.
- Program Development and Evaluation: Students will acquire skills in designing, implementing, and evaluating social service programs to meet community needs and improve service delivery.
Capstone Course
The Capstone project is the culminating experience for bachelor of science degree programs. The final deliverable is a demonstration of the student’s professional competencies and evidence of a foundation of theoretical knowledge applied to “real-world” issues. SPS offers students various options for completing their capstone requirements. Each option involves practicing their skills in collaboration, analysis, problem-solving, research, writing, and professional presentations. Students work with their advisor to determine the Capstone option that works best for their professional and academic development.
Distribution Requirements
All B.S. candidates are required to complete 11 course units to meet the liberal arts distribution requirement. This requirement is designed to give you perspectives on human affairs that are essential to becoming a contributing citizen of the world. Required major courses may also satisfy a distribution requirement; consult with your academic advisor if you have questions. The 11 units must be distributed as follows:
- English/Verbal Expression — two units, ENG 1000 – Introduction to Composition and ENG 1150 – Intermediate Composition
- Humanities — three units. These courses must be distributed among at least two disciplines. One unit must be a course on ethics. Course subject prefixes that satisfy this category include ASL, ART, ARTH, ARTS, ENG (not ENG 1000 or ENG 1150), FILM, GERM, HEBR, JAPN, MUSC, PHIL, and TA. You may also take COMM 1210: Effective Speaking and Presenting.
- Science/Mathematics — two units. One in math; one in science.
- Social Sciences — three units. These courses must be distributed among at least two disciplines. Course subject prefixes that satisfy this category include CJ, COMM, ECON, GOVT, HIST, LEAD, PSYC, and SOC.
- Technology — one unit. Course subject prefix that satisfies this category is CSEC.
Distribution Requirement Student Learning Outcomes
- Analyze a variety of professional rhetorical situations and produce appropriate texts in response.
- Formulate appropriate and ethical communication choices in presentations based on audience and situation.
- Articulate the different sides of ethical issues and defend their own views in discussion and in writing.
- Analyze human experience by examining similarities and differences in a global or international context.
- Apply appropriate mathematical, statistical, or computational strategies to solve problems.
- Discuss the role of science in society and its ethical conduct.
- Recognize how social, political, historical, and economic institutions shape societal and individual behavior.