A.B. Social Sciences

The Bachelor of Arts Program major in the Social Sciences* is a special program designed to meet the needs of students who are curious, critical, concerned, and practical. 

Curious about himself or herself.  Wondering about human relationships and the forces that bind and dissolve whole communities and nations.  Curious about human origins and destinies, about language and communication.  Wondering why people and governments differ, and how they got to be that way.  Wondering what the present and the past can tell a man about the future, in the Philippines and elsewhere.

Critical about what he or she reads or hears or sees.  Careful to distinguish what is from what ought to be, and from what others say it is.  Aware of the rules of logic and method, yet honoring the gift of true insight as well.  Able to analyze and weigh the traditional values of one’s own and other cultures and to conclude with a deeper and more conscious respect for both. 

Concerned about the Filipinos and all human beings, about this nation’s resources and the world’s.  Anxious to learn how to help solve or mitigate great problems such as social injustice, environmental pollution and destruction, overpopulation, and disease.  Moved by intelligent compassions for the masses.

Practical in preparing for jobs with people, about people.  Bringing to his or her job certain skills, a deep and broad understanding of the human condition.  Ready and eager for the in-service training that employers expect to impart.  Or well-prepared for further professional schooling. 

For students who are curious, critical, concerned, and practical – and for those who accept this ideal as a worthy one for themselves, A.B. major in Social Sciences may be of service.  It is designed to inform the curious, lend rigor to the critical, guide the concerned, and prepare the practical. 

Course Requirements

The program is flexible enough to accommodate students with wide-ranging interests in the study of social behavior.  Of the 39 units comprising the major subjects, only eighteen (or six courses) are required:  a course in social theory (SA 101), two courses in research methods (SA 103, SA 104), a course in social statistics (SA 100), one course on sociological analysis (SA 102), and one practicum course (SA 105).  The remaining 15 units major subjects can be chosen, in any combination, from course offerings of the University’s social science departments, namely:  Communications, Development Studies, Economics, History, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology and Anthropology.  In turn, the 9 units of electives can be chosen from courses offered by the above departments, or upon consultation with the Program Coordinator, and 6 units of free electives from courses offered by the non-social science departments, e.g., management, computer science or fine arts.

Social science courses can be classified according to a number of subject areas.  These subject areas help students plan their course work in consultation with the Program Coordinator or any member of the social science faculty.

Curriculum

FRESHMAN YEAR

First Semester- Units

En 11. Communication in English I - 3

Lit 13. Introduction to Fiction - 3

Ma 11. Modern Mathematics I - 3

NatSci 1. PsI/Bi7/Bi9/Es10/Ch1 (choose one) - 4

Fil 11. Sining ng Pakikipagtalastasan sa Filipino I - 3

PE 1. Physical Education - (2)

NSTP 1. National Service Training Program - (3)

Total no. of units - 16

Second Semester

En 12. Communication in English II - 3

Lit 14. Introduction to Poetry - 3

Ma 12. Modern Mathematics II - 3

NatSci 2. PsI/Bi7/Es10/Ch1 (choose one) - 4

Fil 12. Sining ng Pakikipagtalastasan sa Filipino II - 3

PE 2. Physical Education - (2)

NSTP 2. National Service Training Program - (3)

                                                                                                                  Total no. of units - 16

SOPHOMORE YEAR

First Semester

SA 21. Introduction to Sociology and Anthropology - 3

Th 121. An Introduction to Doing a Catholic Theology - 3

Fil 14.  Ang Panitikan ng Pilipinas - 3

Hi 16/18. Asian/Western History (choose one) - 3

FLC 1. Jsp1/Chn1/Sp1/Gr1/Fr1/Bh1/Ital1 (choose one) - 3

PE 3. Physical Education - (2)

                                                                                                                    Total no. of units - 15

Second Semester

SA 100. Basic Statistics for the Social Sciences - 3

SA 101. Survey of Social Theories - 3

Ec 102. Basic Economics, Agrarian Reform and Taxation - 3

Psy 101. General Psychology - 3

Sci 10.Science and Society - 3

PE 4.   Physical Education - (2)

                                                                                                                    Total no. of units - 15

JUNIOR YEAR

First Semester

Ph 101. Philosophy of Human Person I - 3

Th 131. Marriage, Family Life and Human Sexuality in a Catholic Perspective - 3

SA 102^a. Sociological Analysis - 3

SA 103. Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences - 3

Hi 165.Rizal and the Emergence of Philippine Nation - 3

SA Elective - 3

                                                                                                               Total no. of units - 18

Second Semester

Ph 102. Philosophy of the Human Person II - 3

SA 104. Qualitative Methods in the Social Sciences - 3

SA Major Subject 1 - 3

SA Major Subject 2 - 3

SA Elective - 3

Free Elective - 3

                                                                                                                   Total no. of units - 18

SENIOR YEAR

First Semester

Ph 103. Philosophy of Religion - 3

Th 141. A Theology of the Catholic Social Vision - 3

Hi 166.Philippine History - 3

SA 105. Practicum I - 3

SA Major Subject 3 - 3

Free Elective - 3

                                                                                                                 Total no. of units - 18

Second Semester

Ph 104. Foundations of Moral Values - 3

Th 151. The Catholic Commitment of Today’s Filipino - 3

PoS 100. Politics and Governance - 3

SA Major Subject 4 - 3

SA Major Subject 5 - 3

SA Elective - 3

                                                                                                                  Total no. of units - 18

Total Number of Academic Units:  134

^aCan be substituted with SA 107 (Contemporary Sociological or Anthropological Thought) or SA 109 (Theories of Development)

* In 2011, the program will be renamed to A.B. Sociology.

Minor Programs

Minor Program in Cultural Heritage

This program, open to any undergraduate student of the Ateneo, aims to train students who wish to tackle issues relating to cultural heritage and develop actions aimed at maintaining elements of cultural heritage such as streetscapes, architecture, food ways, music, dance, and crafts among others. Students develop social sciences skills to understand the context for the conservation of cultural heritage and to communicate a vivid awareness of Filipino cultural heritage. Envisioned opportunities include work with development agencies or local government agencies; graduate studies in architecture, art management, development, tourism, or urban planning; creation of products with distinct local or regional feel; and work with hotels, restaurants and tours as a specialist in heritage tourism; among others.

Minor Program in Sociology

This program aims to provide the Ateneo student majoring in fields other than the Social Sciences the basic background and skills to undertake systematic social research and analyses. With the research and analytical skills gained from the program, envisioned opportunities include work in fields requiring an understanding of social development, organizational cultures, and social transformations, in general.

Job Opportunities

Graduates of the A.B. Social Sciences Program have several job opportunities open to them.  The training equips them with knowledge and skills needed for work that entails dealing with people in various settings.  Past graduates, for example, have found themselves involved in the management, operation and evaluation of social development programs in the public and private sectors.  Among these agencies are the National Housing Authority, the Department of Social Welfare, the Philippine Business for Social Progress, and the Ayala Foundation. They also enter the corporate or business world, including journalism and the media industry, using a social science background for a managerial, research, or frontline position.

In addition, social science graduates may also find fulfillment and satisfaction in teaching social sciences, or in doing research with private and government institutions or agencies.  Graduates will also find the social science program an excellent preparation for advanced or professional studies in art, anthropology, development studies, economics, history, journalism, law, language and linguistics, management, political science, sociology, urban or regional planning, and related fields.  Many international positions are also available to professional social scientists.

ATENEO CULTURAL LABORATORY

The Ateneo Cultural Laboratory is a three-week intensive summer program that trains participants in using sociological and anthropological perspectives and methods in the documentation, interpretation, and analysis of social and cultural assets. It covers a week of classes in field methods, research design and data analysis techniques, and two weeks of fieldwork on a particular community and data processing and analysis.

It welcomes incoming senior college students from the humanities, management, science and engineering, and the social sciences; graduate students; non-academic professionals; and the general public interested in Philippine culture and society.

The 2009 inaugural program took place in Tayabas, Quezon Province to provide Fundacion Santiago, an NGO specializing in community development, with solid data that can help unlock Tayabas’ heritage tourism potential.