Social Sciences (SSCI)

Students who enroll in interdisciplinary social science courses must have placed in ENGL 101 and are encouraged to either have completed ENGL 101 or be enrolled in that course when scheduling an interdisciplinary social science course.

SSCI 100 Globalization: A Social Science Perspective (A, W, SP, SU,–DL)

5 credits
This course will survey the process of globalization through the social science disciplines. The impacts of the social, cultural, economic and political contexts on society and organizations will be considered. Strategies for becoming effective negotiators and managers within a global economy will be explored. Students, working in teams, will research a particular organization of their choice and present a case study on the organization at the end of the quarter. This is a general education core course. A section with project/study time in Cuernavaca, Mexico, may be offered Winter quarter. A distance-learning (DL) version is also available. Students taking the Web-based version of the course must be familiar with computers, have an e-mail address, and access to the Internet. Course content is identical to that presented in a traditional classroom setting. Group projects are maintained via virtual meetings and distance-learning students are required to take a proctored final examination at the Testing Center.
Lecture: 5 hours – Lab: 0 hours
Prerequisite: Placement into ENGL 101
Lab fee: $5.00

SSCI 101 Cultural Diversity (A, W, SP, SU,–DL)

5 credits
SSCI 101 is an interdisciplinary course that focuses on the cultural, psychological, sociological, political, geographic and economic diversity among various groups. Topics include the ways individual beliefs, social values, and political and economic systems affect our perspectives and lifestyles. Through the use of team projects, students participate in interactive group work to explore the effects of social inequity on groups within society. The course emphasizes the development of critical thinking skills as applied to social science research and diversity issues that students may encounter in their lives. This is a general education core course. A. A distance-learning (DL) version of Cultural Diversity is available. Students taking the Web-based version of the course must be familiar with computers, have an e-mail address, and access to the Internet. Course content is identical to that presented in a traditional classroom setting. Group projects are maintained via virtual meetings and distance-learning students are required to take a proctored final examination at the Testing Center.
Lecture: 5 hours – Lab: 0 hours
Prerequisite: Placement into ENGL 101
Lab fee: $5.00

SSCI 101 Cultural Diversity: The Southwest Experience (SU)

5 credits
This is the same course as listed above; however, students will study diversity within the context of 5 different Indian tribes on reservations in New Mexico and Arizona. This course includes a 15-day intensive travel experience with the travel typically taking place during the two-week break prior to the beginning of Summer Quarter.
Prerequisite: Placement into ENGL 101 and permission of the instructor
Lab fee: $5.00 (additional costs for travel, housing, etc.)

SSCI 101 Cultural Diversity: The Mexico Experience (W)

5 credits
This course covers the same material as the traditional version of SSCI 101; however, diversity is studied within the context of Mexican culture. This course includes a 10-day intensive travel experience in Mexico City and Cuernavaca, Mexico. Travel typically takes place during the break between Autumn and Winter quarters.
Prerequisite: Placement into ENGL 101 and permission of the instructor
Lab fee: $5.00 (additional costs for travel, housing, etc.)


SSCI 102 Popular Culture (A, W, SP, SU,–DL)

5 credits
SSCI 102 is an interdisciplinary general education core course that examines the relationship between society and popular culture in the United States through topics including advertising, television, music, movies, art, sports and the Internet. The course analyzes these components of American popular culture and their connections to social, political, economic and cultural influences from the latter half of the 20th century to the present. Students will explore these changes in U.S. society through selected readings, written assignments and group projects. This is a general education core course. A distance learning (DL) version of Popular Culture is available. Students taking the Web-based version of the course must be familiar with computers, have an e-mail address, and access to the Internet. Course content is identical to that presented in a traditional classroom setting. Examinations for distance-learning courses are administered at the Testing Center
Lecture: 5 hours – Lab: 0 hours
Prerequisite: Placement into ENGL 101
Lab fee: $5.00

SSCI 104 Human Economic Geography (A, W, SP, SU,–DL)

5 credits
SSCI 104 is an interdisciplinary, general education core course that provides a geographical examination of the world economy. Students research the factors affecting a country’s socioeconomic development and present findings from a policy maker’s perspective. Factors to be covered include location, demographic trends, resource availability and use patterns, industrialization, political and cultural forces, and global interdependence. A section with project/study time in Cuernavaca, Mexico may be offered Winter Quarter. A distance-learning (DL) version of World Economic Geography is available. Students taking the Web-based version of the course must be familiar with computers, have an e-mail address, and access to the Internet. Course content is identical to that presented in a traditional classroom setting. Examinations for distance-learning courses are administered at the Testing Center.
Lecture: 5 hours – Lab: 0 hours
Prerequisite: Placement into ENGL 101
Lab fee: $5.00

SSCI 105 Law and Society (A, W, SP, SU)

5 credits
SSCI 105 is an interdisciplinary, general education core course that examines the interrelationships between law and other social structures and processes. The structure of the law, the origin of laws, the organization and function of the legal system, the impact of the law, and the relationship between law and social change will be examined.
Lecture: 5 hours – Lab: 0 hours
Prerequisite: Placement into ENGL 101
Lab fee: $5.00

SSCI 287 Research Methods for the Social Sciences (A, W, SP, SU)

5 credits
This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to the major research techniques that are employed by social science researchers. The first half of the course focuses on the logic of research and research design and the procedures used for research design. The second half of the course deals more specifically with a variety of particular techniques used for gathering data. Students will be expected to apply each of the techniques covered in the course though a series of small exercises throughout the quarter. Students will write a research paper based on some of their findings.
Lecture: 3 hours – Lab 2 hours
Prerequisites: ENG 102 or ENG 111; MATH 104 or MATH 135; 10 hours of credit in the social sciences
Lab fee: $5.00

SSCI 290 Capstone Experience in Social Sciences (On Demand)

3 credits
This course is for students completing the two-year Associate of Arts or Associate of Science Degree who have a special interest in continuing in a baccalaureate degree program in the social sciences. The course presents a basic introduction to social science research methodologies that students apply in researching a social science topic of interest. Course requirements include the assembly of a portfolio that covers student’s academic career at Columbus State Community College and participation in summative testing of academic skills. Open only to Associate of Arts or Associate of Science students preparing to graduate within two academic quarters.
Lecture: 2 hours – Lab: 2 hours
Prerequisites: Completion of Associate of Arts or Associate of Science core requirements and at least 75 hours toward the degree
Lab fee: $5.00

SSCI 293 Independent Study in the Social Sciences (On Demand)

1-5 credits
SSCI 293 is an individual, student-structured course that examines a selected topic in the social sciences through intensive reading or research. The independent study elective permits a student to pursue his/her interests within the context of a faculty-guided program.
Lecture: 1 to 5 hours – Lab: 0 hours
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and chairperson and one course in the Social Sciences
Lab fee: $5.00

SSCI 299 Special Topics in the Social Sciences (On Demand)

1-5 credits
SSCI 299 allows students to examine, in detail, selected topics of interest in the social sciences.
Lecture: 1 to 5 hours – Lab: 0 hours
Prerequisite: Varies
Lab fee: $5.00