Disciplines
Social and Behavioral Sciences Disciplines
Anthropology
Anthropology is the broad study of humankind around the world and throughout time.
It is concerned with the biological, linguistic and cultural diversity of human life.
Its purpose is to improve the present human condition with lessons from the past or
with modern examples of simpler ways of living. It also aims to use the methods of
science to deconstruct racism, prejudice, and institutionalized discrimination.
Included in anthropology are the following main subdisciplines:
Applied Anthropology
Application of anthropological concepts and theories to the solution of everyday problems.
Archaeological Anthropology
Prehistory and early history of cultures around the world; major trends in cultural evolution; and techniques for finding, excavating, dating, and analyzing material remains of the cultural past.
Biological Anthropology
Mechanisms of biological evolution, genetic inheritance, human adaptability and variation, osteology, forensics, primatology, and the fossil record of human evolution. Formerly named Physical Anthropology.
Cultural Anthropology
Culture, ethnocentrism, cultural aspects of language and communication, subsistence and other economic patterns, kinship, sex and marriage, socialization, social control, political organization, class, ethnicity, gender, religion, and culture change. Also known as Ethnology. Pioneer of the ethnographic method and of the documentation of scientific evidence by film/video and photography.
Linguistic Anthropology
The human communication process focusing on the importance of socio-cultural influences; analysis of nonverbal communication; and discovery of the structure, function, and history of languages, dialects, pidgins, creoles, ancient writing systems, and secret codes.
Anthropology Course Descriptions
Geography
General education requires a degree of integration among courses to be successful,
and geography, by the very nature of its discipline, provides that function. Geography
is a bridge between the social sciences and the physical sciences. The term "Geography"
is derived from the Greek words "geo" (the earth) and "graphos" (to write about or
describe); it is a method or approach that centers on spatial analysis. In geography
an attempt is made to blend elements of the social and physical sciences to produce
an understanding of place. It is the method that makes the approach "geography" —
the study of place and the relationships between places on the surface of the earth
in a systematic manner.
Geography survey courses support departmental goals by providing the spatial framework necessary to understand physical, political, historical, economic and cultural processes, both past and present, which affect the world in which we live.
Cultural Geography
Cultural Geography studies the ways in which peoples are regionally different in their distinguishing characteristics. Through the study of different cultures a student will develop an appreciation and a tolerance towards those who are different.
Physical Geography
Physical Geography will help the student to understand the mechanisms of the physical environment so that he/she can better understand its workings and its inter-relationships, so that he/she can make informed decisions on public policies that affect our physical environment. With its natural emphasis on global awareness and spatial relationships of environmental issues, Physical Geography helps the college meet its mission of adding value to the lives of our students, which in turn enriches the community in which our students will live before and after graduation.
World and Regional Geography
World and Regional Geography supports the mission of the Department through its emphasis on the interaction of people and culture in the spatial context of our historical/political world. With its natural emphasis on global awareness and cultural diversity, this course helps the college meet its mission of adding value to the lives of our students, which in turn enriches the community in which our students will live before and after graduation.
Perhaps we might want to ask the following question.
What is History?
This is a deep subject.
Some argue that History is a science, one of the social sciences. Those who hold that History is a social science believe that with the proper application of the techniques of social science-statistics and the objective collection of empirical data, for example-they can achieve conclusions no less valid than those achieved by other social scientists. This idea of the social sciences is a rather late creation and related to those sciences that are observer dependent. For instance, Geology or Biology are not dependent upon the observer as there could be rocks or organisms without people. For this reason Aristotle, for instance, studied biology, as did Anaximander with geology. Neither, however, would have understood the category "Sociology."
Yet both Anaximander and Aristotle would have understood the category "History," and not only that, they would have read it. This, in part, explains why there are those who believe that History is an art rather than a science. They would point out that history comes from an older tradition than the social sciences. Indeed, it even has a muse: Clio. Moreover they assume that all conclusions drawn about that transcendental variable, humans, are inconclusive at best and thus it may be better to think of the craft of history as effort to learn valid lessons, instead of actual laws, from the past. A great French mathematician and historian of science Pierre Duhem once said, "science is prediction" (in French of course). Historians are bad at that. One must hasten to add that historians know with great certainty that the past existed. It is just exactly how and why it existed we are not sure of.
So, why study history?
Once again a deep subject.
The best answers are these. At bottom, humans tend to learn from analogy. A child learns to ride a bike by trying and failing, and perhaps failing some more until they eventually succeed. A biologist learns about a disease by studying its life cycle. We all learn from examples.
On a related note we all remember our own past experiences and try to make sense of them. It matters not whether it is eating sushi or falling in love that we tend to learn from our own pasts. Finally there is the larger subject of the nature of the liberal education and the creation of what the Germans (and some educated others) call a Weltanschauung, or world view. One of the major points of a college education is to emerge from one's studies with some kind of feeling about the past, present, and future, as well as an overall sense of the place of humanity in this veil of tears called life. Historians do not, in most cases at least, know this answer, and we offer no classes containing it. However, with an additional degree of patience, fortitude, and understanding, no other form of study can better equip students to develop such an opinion as that of history.
Please note that not all courses are taught every term.
Political Science
The study of Political Science is an exciting one in that it provides students with
a greater understanding of the country and world they live on, but also serves to
empower them as citizens locally, nationally, and globally.
Coursework in Political Science focuses on two distinct areas: our immediate world (government and politics in the United States), and the global community (international relations and politics in diverse countries).
Political Science Course Descriptions
Psychology
The courses offered by the Psychology department at Santa Fe College are designed
to help the student comprehend the empirical basis and major interpretations of data
which contribute to our understanding of how humans think, feel, and act; and to understand
how we develop as individuals and interact with others and with society itself, and
the influences on this complex of interactions.
Psychology Course Descriptions
Sociology
Sociology studies the social interaction that makes the world go around. Our goal
is to put students in touch with their sociological imagination — the mindset that
allows us to see the connection between our individual selves and our larger social
worlds. In understanding this connection, students gain a greater understanding of
and appreciation for themselves, others, the common heritage of all people and the
diversity of the human population. Even more, students are empowered as they make
choices to increase their sense of life meaning and value. Use the links below to
find out more.
Reasons to Study Sociology
- Sociology provides us with an understanding of how social forces shape individual attitudes and behavior.
- Sociology shows us how societies are developed and maintained.
- Sociology introduces us to the sociological imagination, which is the mindset that allows us to see the connection between the individual and society.
- Sociology helps us to the appreciate the diversity that exists in the human population.
- Sociology challenges our common sense notions about the social world that we live in.
- Sociology sharpens our analytical skills.
- Sociology helps us to understand ourselves and others.
- Sociology adds value to our lives by empowering us to make well-thought out decisions.
- Sociology is fun!