Social Sciences

https://socialsciences.calpoly.edu

The Social Sciences Department offers bachelor’s degrees and minors in Anthropology-Geography and Sociology, as well as a minor in Latin American studies.

Within each major, students are required to choose a concentration relevant to their future career endeavors. The Anthropology-Geography major concentrations include environmental studies and sustainability, global studies and international development, and human ecology. Sociology majors can choose a concentration in criminal justice, organizations, or social services. Students in both majors may also design their own individualized concentration by selecting courses relevant to their future goals.

The strength of our department lies in its focus on practical training, critical thinking, and “Learn by Doing” experiences.  Students are trained in applied technical skills including GIS, remote sensing, research design, social data collection, and qualitative/quantitative methodology.

Alongside these skills, students are encouraged to critically investigate contemporary issues, asking hard questions about society, behavior, and the environment in an increasingly diverse and global world.  Finally, students are required to bridge classroom learning with the real world through hands-on practical experience such as internships, service learning, study abroad, and senior projects.

Undergraduate Programs

Undergraduate Minors

Ryan C. Alaniz
B.A., California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, 2000; M.A., University of California, Santa Barbara, 2004; Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 2012.

Gregory S. Bohr
B.A., University of California, Berkeley, 1993; M.A., San Diego State University, 1997; Ph.D., Louisiana State University, 2004.

Nikhil Deb
B.S.S., Shahjalal University, Bangladesh, 2007; M.S.S., Shahjalal University, Bangladesh, 2008; M.A. Ohio University, 2015; Ph.D., University of Tennessee, 2019.

Geoffrey Andrew Fricker
BS (Physical Geography, UCSB -2005), MA (Geography UCLA - 2009), PhD (Geography UCLA -2015)

Benjamin F. Funston-Timms
B.A., University of New Mexico, 1997; M.A., Indiana University, 1999; Ph.D., 2007.

Kimberly B. Higuera
B.A., Duke University, 2014; M.P.P., Stanford University, 2023; Ph.D., 2023.

Liz B. Johnston
B.S., Winthrop College, SC, 1978; M.S.W., Smith College, 1984; Ph.D., Smith College, 2013.

James R. Keese
B.S., California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, 1987; M.A., American Graduate School of International Management, 1989; Ph.D., University of Arizona, 1996.

Martine Danielle Lappé
BA, University of California-San Diego; PhD, University of California-San Francisco.

Jess Lee
B.A. in Gender Studies/2010/Mount Holyoke College;M.A. in Liberal Studies/2014/City University of New York Graduate Center;M.A. in Sociology/2017/University of California, Irvine;Ph.D. in Sociology/2020/University of California, Irvine

Sara E. Lopus
B.S., University of California, Berkeley, 2005; M.S., University of California, Davis, 2009; Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 2015.

Timothy McHale
B.S. Biology; B.A. Philosophy, University of Central Florida 2007; M.Sc. Evolutionary Anthropology Durham University (United Kingdom) 2011 ;Ph.D. Biological Anthropology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas 2017.

Joan Meyers
B.A., Cornell University, 1988; M.A., California State University, San Francisco, 1999; M.A., University of California, Davis, 2001; Ph.D., 2009.

Elizabeth Minor
B.A. Wellesley College 2003; M.A. University of California, Berkeley 2006; Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley 2012.

Kylie Lynn Parrotta
BA Psychology - NC State 2002, MS Sociology - NC State 2006 , PhD Sociology - NC State 2015

Stacey L. Rucas
B.A., University of Texas, Arlington, 1998; M.A., 2000; Ph.D., University of New Mexico, 2004.