Download DRAFT 2 College of the Sequoias Master Plan 2015 – 2025 Chapter

College of the Sequoias Master Plan 2015 – 2025
Chapter 4 Programs and Services, Draft 2, 4-21-14
Social Science Division
The Social Science Division is dedicated to helping students develop their intellectual, personal, and
civic potential through the study of the human condition. Courses are offered in traditional
classrooms as well as online and hybrid versions of online and face-to-face courses. The Social
Science Division offers x# of associate degrees, x# of certificates of achievement and x# of skills
certificates.
Administration of Justice examines the structure, function, laws, procedures, and decisionmaking processes of the police, courts, and correctional agencies that constitute the criminal
justice system. The courses in this discipline prepare students for transfer to four-year
institutions as well as advanced technical training that includes basic peace officer and
correctional academies. The basic police academy is described in this document under Police
Science.
Anthropology (cultural and archaeology): Cultural anthropology studies and compares human
culture focusing on a set of central issues: how people make a living and organize themselves;
how they communicate; how they make distinctions among themselves; and the effect of social
inequalities, culture change and globalization. Archaeology contributes to knowledge of the
human past including the history and interdisciplinary nature of archaeological research; dating
techniques; methods of survey, excavation, analysis and interpretation; cultural resource
management; professional ethics and selected cultural sequences. The District offers two
transferrable general education lecture courses in anthropology, introduction to cultural
anthropology and introduction to archaeology.
Economics examines the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services
through the study of economic theories that explain how the choices made by individuals, firms,
and governments impact scarce resources.
Ethnic Studies uses an interdisciplinary approach covering periods of social, cultural, and
historical developments of various ethnic groups. Topics include: motives for migration,
immigration, assimilation, social mobility, social change, contributions and conflicts as well as
the creation of a modern multicultural society.
Geography (cultural) is the study of the earth, including the distribution and interconnectedness
of cultural phenomena. The Geography Department offers one transfer general education
course in cultural geography.
History is the study of the context of all human activity, with an emphasis on using that
knowledge to foster students’ understanding of today’s society and their place in it.
College of the Sequoias Master Plan 2015 – 2025
Chapter 4 Programs and Services, Draft 2, 4-21-14
Human Services is a career technical education program that prepares students for entry-level
paraprofessional positions in social services agencies and/or for transfer to four-year
institutions.
Philosophy is the study of the fundamental nature of reality, knowledge and values through a
critical analysis of assumptions or beliefs.
Political Science is the study of the processes, principles and structure of government and
political institutions and includes an analysis of issues that governments face in developing
policies in the current domestic and global context.
Psychology is the scientific study of mental processes and behavior. As a program with one of
the largest course offerings in the division, the District offers a wide range of psychology
courses.
Social Science consists of one course in statistics to support all social sciences programs.
Sociology is the study of human social behavior, groups and the influence of environment on
behavior.
Efficiency
WSCH/FTEF
AJ*
Average:
Fall 2009Fall 2013
583
2025
Target
Successful Course
Completion Rate
Average:
Fall 2009Fall 2013
67%
2025
Target
Statewide
Successful Course
Completion Rate
Average:
Fall 2009-Fall 2013
80%
ANTH**
849
62%
70%
ECON
583
65%
64%
ETHN
699
68%
66%
GEOG***
716
67%
65%
HIST
589
57%
62%
HSRV
4,288
53%
73%
PHIL
514
63%
65%
POLS
675
56%
64%
PSY
628
71%
67%
SOC
425
72%
66%
SSCI****
390
66%
66%
*Does not include Police Science courses
**Includes ANTH 010 (cultural) only
***Includes GEOG 002 (cultural) only
College of the Sequoias Master Plan 2015 – 2025
Chapter 4 Programs and Services, Draft 2, 4-21-14
****Fewer than five terms of data
Note: Please double-check WSCH/FTEF data for HSRV…this cannot be correct.
Analysis: All of the disciplines in the Social Science Division are comparable to or exceed the state
benchmark for efficiency (525) except Human Services and Sociology. The successful student course
completion rates for five disciplines in the Social Science Division are below the statewide success
rates: Administration of Justice, Anthropology (cultural), History, Human Services, Philosophy, and
Political Science. The remaining seven disciplines in the Social Science Division meet or exceed the
statewide student successful course completion rate for those disciplines. In spring 2013 the Social
Science Division added an English prerequisite to many courses, which has resulted in improved
rates of successful course completion.
Growth Projections: Psychology is projected to grow faster than the District’s overall growth rate
and Social Science is projected to grow slower given that this course is designed for students
majoring in one of the social sciences. All other disciplines in this division are projected to grow at
the same rate as the District: Administration of Justice, Anthropology (cultural), Economics, Ethnic
Studies, Geography (cultural), History, Human Services, Philosophy, Political Science, and Sociology.
Challenges: The challenges for the Social Science Division include developing and implementing
strategies for student success in large lecture sections and expanding offerings to COS-Hanford
Education Center and COS-Tulare College Center. Discipline-specific challenges are for
Administration of Justice, Anthropology (cultural), History, Human Services, and Political Science to
develop and implement strategies to increase student successful course completion rates and for
Sociology to increase efficiency.