"Transferring to MCLA was one of the greatest decisions I ever made. Being able to learn from and connect with the faculty and staff equipped me with greater networking capabilities/skills and the opportunity to use them outside of the institution, preparing me for the road ahead. Taking part and engaging in different clubs and organizations on campus helped to shape and guide me for countless opportunities."
Brandon Pender ’07 Research Analyst, Office of State Rep. Daniel E. Bosley ’76
Self & Society
Societies
provide the ground in which we grow and develop into the selves that we
are. As a result, it is impossible to understand ourselves and those
around us without an understanding of the societies that have and are shaping
us. This understanding of the social world in which we think, work,
and live enables us to be more than just the passive recipients of this
"shaping."
Furthermore, societies are also shaped by the beliefs,
values, and activities of human beings. It is impossible to consciously
shape one's own society for the better without an understanding of its
current structure and how it got that way. In particular, we need
to be aware that what seems "natural" are socially created ways of thinking
and doing. Thus, the ultimate goal and benefit of each course on self
and society is a deeper understanding of both ourselves and our society,
that enables us to transform both.
Tier Two courses in Self & Society introduce students to topics and methods characteristic of the social
sciences. Through exploring four themes: Origin Mythologies,
Self and Socialization, Difference and Inequality, and Global connections,
these courses provide key concepts for grasping the interaction between individuals
and the social processes that give shape to our common economic, political and social
experience.
All courses in this area of study share a common set of goals:
Course Goals
Self
and society: Understand and critically analyze concepts, patterns,
and issues that affect the organization of societies and the relationship
between the individual and society.
Theories: Critically analyze classic theories of human organization
Institutions:
Study institutions, systems, and patterns of governance and of economic
and social organization that give rise to contemporary societies.
Values: Discuss the values and ethical issues that underlie social, political,
and economic organizations.
Policies:
Examine the formulation of policies and the consequences of different policy
options.
Methods:
Analyze distinctive methods of inquiry appropriate to the study of societal
institutions and patterns, using quantitative as well as qualitative techniques.
Picture Credits: Haida sea-going canoe, NW coast -- Free Speech Demonstration, Berkeley, 1962 -- Breughel, "The Tower of Babel" (1563) -- Liverpool celebrates championship of Europe, 2005
