Social Sciences Department

The Social Sciences Department offers college courses comprising the academic disciplines of Anthropology, Criminal Justice Administration, Geography, History, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Social Work. These courses are aligned to meet the Tennessee Transfer Pathway (TTP) Social/Behavioral Sciences requirements and the Tennessee Board of Regents general education goals for social/behavioral sciences which include (a) to develop in the student an understanding of self and the world by examining the content and process used by social and behavioral sciences to discover, describe, explain, and predict human behavior and social systems; (b) to enhance knowledge of social and cultural institutions and the values of society and other societies and cultures in the world; and (c) to understand the interdependent nature of the individual, family, and society in shaping human behavior and determining quality of life.

As a result of successful completion of courses in the department’s curriculum, students should be able to demonstrate achievement of the following Tennessee Board of Regents student learning outcomes for the social/behavioral sciences:

1.  Recognize, describe, and explain social institutions, structures, and processes and the complexities of a global culture and diverse society.
2. Think critically about how individuals are influenced by political, geographic, economic, cultural, and family institutions in their own and other diverse cultures and explain how one’s own belief system may differ from others.
3. Explore the relationship between the individual and society as it affects the personal behavior, social development and quality of life of the individual, the family and the community.
4. Examine the impact of behavioral and social scientific research on major contemporary issues and their disciplines’ effects on individuals and society.
5. Using the most appropriate principles, methods, and technologies, perceptively and objectively gather, analyze, and present social and behavioral science research data, draw logical conclusions, and apply those conclusions to one’s life and society.
6. Take ethical stands based on appropriate research in the social and behavioral sciences.
7. Analyze and communicate the values and processes that are used to formulate theories regarding the social context of individual human behavior in the social and behavioral sciences.

The goal of the History requirement is to develop in students an understanding of the present that is informed by an awareness of past heritages, including the complex and interdependent relationships between cultures and societies. As a result of successful completion of history courses, students should be able to demonstrate achievement of the following student learning outcomes:

1. Analyze historical facts and interpretations.
2. Analyze and compare political, geographic, economic, social, cultural, religious and intellectual institutions, structures, and processes across a range of historical periods and cultures.
3. Recognize and articulate the diversity of human experience across a range of historical periods and the complexities of a global culture and society.
4. Draw on historical perspective to evaluate contemporary problems/issues.
5. Analyze the contributions of past cultures/societies to the contemporary world.

The Social Sciences Department offers the following Tennessee Transfer Pathways (see http://www.tntransferpathway.org/ and http://www.mscc.edu/social_science/univ_path.aspx):

1. Criminal Justice Administration Tennessee Transfer Pathway A.A.  -  Criminal Justice Administration Tennessee Transfer Pathway A.S. 
2. History Tennessee Transfer Pathway A.A.  -  History Tennessee Transfer Pathway A.S. 
3. Political Science Tennessee Transfer Pathway A.A.  -  Political Science Tennessee Transfer Pathway A.S. 
4. Psychology Tennessee Transfer Pathway A.A.  -  Psychology Tennessee Transfer Pathway A.S. 
5. Sociology Tennessee Transfer Pathway A.A.  -  Sociology Tennessee Transfer Pathway A.S. 
6. Social Work Tennessee Transfer Pathway A.A.  -  Social Work Tennessee Transfer Pathway A.S. 

In addition to the Tennessee Transfer Pathways, the department also offers the following university parallel non-TTP Area of Emphasis:

1. Pre-Law Area of Emphasis A.A.  -  Pre-Law Area of Emphasis A.S.