Become career ready with an interdisciplinary social science degree
What makes a group of people a society? How do cultural beliefs affect societies, their cohesiveness, and health? While they are questions of the ages, these inquiries have never been more relevant than they are today. Combining the fields of anthropology, sociology, psychology, archeology, and political science, this highly interdisciplinary major offers three concentrations: Health, Medicine, and Society; Society, Community, and Human Services; and Law, Crime, and Society. By learning to integrate multiple perspectives, you will be prepared for a broad array of career fields, ranging from public health to criminology.
Why SWAGÊÓƵ for Applied Social and Cultural Studies
SWAGÊÓƵ’s Applied Social and Cultural Studies major, the only one of its kind in the U.S, offers an interdisciplinary approach in three different concentration areas. Personalized academic support from faculty and a robust internship program give our graduates highly valued skill sets and wide-ranging career opportunities.
- Interdisciplinary curriculum
- Choice of concentration
- Focus on engaging fieldwork, including internships and capstone experience
- Personally designed programs overseen by faculty advisors
- Travel-abroad opportunities
Arthur Anderson, Ph.D., Assistant Lecturer, Department of Society, Culture, and Languages
I grew up in Portland but did my undergraduate, graduate, and Ph.D. work in the U.K. and moved back to Portland in 2012. I made my way into the adjunct circuit for a little while and wound up at SWAGÊÓƵ. I primarily study what we refer to as the protohistoric period, and in Maine, that means looking at those earliest moments of contact along the coast.
I look at the end of the pre-historic period and the emergence of this European presence, which turns into a horrific story at the underpinnings of the world we live in today. It’s an important moment to study, but it's also archeologically tricky to zoom in on that fifty-year period of really ephemeral contact between cultures. It’s hard, but it's important.
There is a lot of student involvement and a lot of opportunities with archeology at SWAGÊÓƵ, particularly across departments. The quality of undergraduate students that I get to work with and the quality of research that they're able to do because we're a primarily undergraduate institution is unique. It comes down to them and what they want to do. They get out what they put into it, and they really step up in pretty amazing ways. Those opportunities for undergraduate students to do research here are consistently amazing for me.
Exceptional Teaching and Learning
On campus at SWAGÊÓƵ — I would argue — is one of Maine’s most important archaeological sites. It is located right behind the Marine Science Center [MSC]. The site is one of the earliest moments of contact between European and indigenous people. We have European descriptions that we can compare to the archaeological record in order to start to understand some of the biases implicit in the very earliest European records of indigenous people here.
When the MSC was built, an archeology company was hired to do the work to get permission to build because of the known existence of a site. At the very least, some basic boundaries of archeological preservation had to be established so that the MSC could be placed in a way to not disturb the land. That work is helping us now, part of our project is getting artifacts from then into the SWAGÊÓƵ Special Collections. We want to correlate that earlier work, using it to inform how we want to undertake targeted excavations now to try to answer outstanding questions.
We offer an archaeology course every summer. Any undergraduate student can take it; there are no prerequisites. After the first few days, we put you in a hole and hand you a trowel. That’s the only way to really learn it. It’s an opportunity for these students to get out and do hands-on field research that is applicable, like working as a team to collect data. Whatever the students go on and do after, they have this experience and these skills. It’s valuable. Also, for a lot of students, it’s a moment of connecting the social sciences with the material world and with the act of discovery.
Those opportunities for undergraduate students to do research here are consistently amazing for me.
What Will You Study? Applied Social and Cultural Studies Degree Curriculum Overview
Examples of Available Concentrations
Health, Medicine, and Society
Examine health, illness, disability, and mental health issues as well as health care systems. (Ideal for a career in public health, health administration, or mental health)
Society, Community, and Human Services
Study the constituents and institutions involved in community service and development. (Ideal for a career in social work, human services, or community development/education)
Law, Crime, and Society
Explore how society defines and responds to crime, while contemplating the relevance of class, race, gender, and age. (Ideal for a career in law or criminology)
Curriculum
| CAS Core Requirements | Credits |
|---|---|
| Total Credits | 42–43 |
| Program Required Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| SOC 268 – Practice of Social Research | 3 |
| SOC 270 – Classical Social Theory or SOC 280 – Contemporary Social Theory | 3 |
| SOC 300 – Internship | 3 |
| SOC 370 – Applied Field Methods | 3 |
| Applied Capstone Experience | 9–16 |
| Four (4) Courses from Applied Concentration | 12 |
| Total Credits | 33–40 |
| Select Three (3) of the Following Courses: | Credits |
|---|---|
| ANT 101 – Introduction to Anthropology or ANT 102 – Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| PSC 105 – Introduction to Political Science | 3 |
| PSY 105 – Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 150 – Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Total Credits | 9 |
| Open Electives (as needed to reach 120 credits) | Variable |
| Minimum Total Required Credits | 120 |
|---|
Applied Capstone Experiences (ACE)
Internship
Students may take between nine (9) and sixteen (16) credits to complete this ACE. Students may select from over seven hundred and fifty (750) sites in the Civic Engagement database. This learning opportunity should parallel the student’s concentration and help them to gain experience, skills, and knowledge of how systems work and how to develop contacts in a given field.
Thesis
Students may take between nine (9) and sixteen (16) credits to complete this ACE. The thesis should build on work the student has done in the ASCS major and their chosen concentration. This academic work should prepare them for graduate study in disciplines that have been incorporated into their concentration.
Study Abroad
Students will typically take fifteen (15) to sixteen (16) credits to complete a study abroad experience. While studying in a foreign society and culture is important, the primary focus is to take courses from the new institution that will help the student develop their areas of interest as they relate to the major. In short, there needs to be an integrated social science experience that drives the study abroad learning and the opportunity to explore a new society and culture for this to be a successful experience. All study abroad experiences should first be cleared with the Academic Director, to see if they qualify to meet the requirement for the Capstone.
Applied Concentration
There are three (3) concentrations in the ASCS major: Health, Medicine, and Society; Society, Human Services, and Community; and Law, Crime, and Society. As soon as possible after arriving at SWAGÊÓƵ students should declare their major. By the end of their second year, students should declare their concentration. There are no required courses in any concentration. In each concentration students, in consultation with their advisor, select four (4) courses from a variety of disciplines that will help them build foundations, skills, and develop expertise in their chosen concentration.
Health, Medicine, and Society
Sample courses include (but are not limited to)
- ANT 211 – Medical Anthropology
- PSC 325 – Politics and Public Health
- PSY 235 – Health Psychology
- SOC 228 – The Sociology of Aging
- SOC 275 – The Sociology of Food and Health
- SOC 355 – Medical Sociology
Society, Human Services, and Community
Sample courses include (but are not limited to)
- PSY 236 – Mental Health and Society
- PSY 370 – Drugs, Society, and Behavior
- SOC 215 – Poverty
- SOC 320 – Community Organization
- SOC 460 – Social Policy and Planning
- SOC 480 – The Family
Law, Crime, and Society
Sample courses include (but are not limited to)
- ANT 224 – Forensic Anthropology and Human Rights
- CMM 411 – Communication, Law, and Regulation
- PSY 252 – Forensic Psychology
- PSY 255 – Social Psychology
- SOC 170 – Deviance and Crime
- SOC 421 – A Just Society?
- SOC 333 – Sociology of Law
Students in this major can participate in the pre-health graduate school preparation tracks.
To learn more about the program see the Academic Catalog.
Honors Program
We offer qualified students the option of graduating with Honors. This includes significant research, scholarship or creative activity under the direction of a faculty member. Interested students should consult with their major advisor.
Career Paths for Applied Social and Cultural Studies Majors
The skill set you develop as an Applied Social and Cultural Studies major includes critical thinking, communication skills, the ability to see things through different lenses, and professional skills acquired from internships. You’ll be equipped to enter the workforce across a broad spectrum of fields.
Our graduates have pursued many rewarding professions, including:
- Lawyer
- Public Health Specialist
- Social Worker
- Community Organizer
- Health Administrator
- Human Relations (HR) Administrator
- Non-Profit Administrator
- ESL/ELL Teacher
- Diversity Officer
Career Advising for B.A. in Applied Social and Cultural Studies Students
Whether you have a specific career goal in mind or a vague idea of the field that interests you, Career Advising is here to help you plan your next step.
Go Beyond the Classroom with Applied Social and Cultural Studies
International Medical Missions
As an Applied Social and Cultural Studies major, you may opt to travel to Latin America as part of the IMM(SWAGÊÓƵ) club, which conducts medical volunteer missions in places like Guatemala and Ecuador.
Experiential Learning in the B.A. in Applied Social and Cultural Studies Program
The driving force of this program is real-world learning. Whether you’re performing fieldwork, interning, or traveling abroad, hands-on opportunities are found at every turn in your journey.
Internships for Applied Social and Cultural Studies Majors
Our database of more than 900 internship sites allows you to gain valuable professional experience in a field you want to explore. Our graduates have interned with legal services organizations, international charities, downtown community organizations, public access television stations, and many other groups.
For more information, contact Sam McReynolds, Ph.D., at (207) 602-2765 or smcreynolds@une.edu.
Senior Capstone Experience
As an Applied Social and Cultural Studies student, you choose a capstone experience to widen the scope of your expertise. There are three ways to fulfill the applied capstone experience (ACE).
Internship
You may take between 9 and 16 credits to complete this ACE. You may select from more than 800 sites in the departmental database. This learning opportunity should parallel your area of interest and help you gain experience, skills, and knowledge of how systems work and how to develop options in a given field.
Thesis
You may take between 9 and 16 credits to complete this ACE. The thesis should build on the work you have done in the Applied Social and Cultural Studies major. This academic work should prepare you for graduate study in disciplines that have been incorporated into your study.
Study Abroad
It typically takes 15-16 credits to complete a study abroad experience. While studying in a foreign society and culture is important, the primary focus is to take courses from the new institution that will help you to develop your areas of interest as it relates to your major. In short, there needs to be an integrated social science experience that drives the study abroad learning as well as the opportunity to explore a new society and culture for this to be a successful experience. All study abroad experiences should first be cleared with the department chair to see if they qualify to meet the requirement for the capstone.
Apply Today
Ready to begin your future in SWAGÊÓƵ’s Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social and Cultural Studies? Get started today.
