Social Sciences
Understanding the World
Social Sciences at CCC gives you the tools to ask better questions, navigate complex systems, and build skills that employers across healthcare, business, government, technology, and nonprofit work are actively looking for.
Program Options
Social Sciences at CCC is primarily a transfer pathway. Courses count toward your general education requirements and can be applied to an AGEC certificate, which is the most efficient way to transfer your credits to an Arizona public university without losing ground.
- AGEC-A Certificate
- 35 credits of lower-division general education that transfer to NAU, ASU, and the University of Arizona. When completed with a 2.5 GPA, all admission requirements at Arizona public universities are waived.
- Social and Behavioral Science Electives
Areas of Study
What Can I do Within Social Sciences?
Social Sciences graduates work across virtually every sector. The skills you build here, including research methods, data analysis, cultural competency and systems thinking, are transferable to roles far beyond traditional public service.
Career paths students pursue after transferring include:
- Counselor or Therapist (with further education)
- Clinical or School Psychologist (with further education)
- Social Worker or Case Manager (with further education)
- Market Research Analyst
- Social and Community Service Manager
- Human Resources Specialist
- Anthropologist or Archaeologist (with further education)
- Community Outreach Coordinator
Note: Many roles in psychology, social work, and anthropology require a bachelor’s degree or higher. Planning your transfer pathway early with an advisor ensures you are taking the right courses from the start.
What Will I Learn?
Social sciences courses at CCC build a set of skills that apply far beyond the classroom:
- Human behavior at the individual, group and societal level
- Research methods, data collection and critical analysis
- Ethical frameworks for working with diverse populations
- Historical and cultural context for understanding social systems
- Foundations of psychological theory and practice
- How social institutions form, function and change over time
Program at a glance
- Length of Program
- AGEC Certificate
- Social and Behavioral Science Electives
- Course Delivery:
- In-person and Online Classes
- Course Schedule:
- Day and Evening Classes Available
- Transferrability:
- All Courses transfer to NAU, ASU, and U of A as AGEC credit.
- Financial Aid Eligible
- Military/Veteran Benefits Available
- Location:
- Lone Tree Cmapus
- Page Campus
- Online
Transfer Options
Most students in the Social Sciences are building toward a four-year degree. The AGEC, or Arizona General Education Curriculum, is how you make sure your credits get you there.
When you complete the AGEC block at CCC, your general education credits transfer to ASU, NAU, and the University of Arizona. Completing an AGEC with a 2.5 GPA also waives all lower-division admission requirements at Arizona public universities, which means you are unconditionally admitted to the university of your choice.
For most students pursuing transfer in Social Sciences, the AGEC-A certificate is the most efficient path. CCC also offers a fully online AGEC-A for students who need flexibility.
Career Outlook
Program Standards & REcognition
Should we put the transfer options into these blue boxes
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I need to declare a major before I start taking Social Sciences courses?
No. Many students begin with general education courses before deciding on a specific area of focus. If you have a general interest in anthropology, psychology, sociology, or social work, an advisor can help you choose courses that count toward your AGEC and align with your likely transfer major at the same time. Starting with the AGEC is almost always the right first move.
- Will my Social Sciences credits transfer to a four-year university?
Yes, when completed as part of the AGEC. The Arizona General Education Curriculum is a statewide agreement that guarantees your general education credits transfer as a block to ASU, NAU, and the University of Arizona. If you complete the AGEC with a 2.5 GPA, you are also guaranteed unconditional admission to any of those universities. Meeting with an advisor early ensures the courses you choose count toward both your AGEC and your intended transfer major.
- Can I become a licensed psychologist, counselor, or social worker with courses from CCC?
Not directly. Most licensed professional roles in psychology and counseling require a master’s or doctoral degree, and professional social work requires at minimum a Bachelor of Social Work from an accredited program. CCC’s Social Sciences courses are designed to build the foundation you need to transfer to a four-year university and pursue those credentials. The earlier you plan your transfer pathway, the more efficiently you can get there.
- Can I complete Social Sciences coursework online?
CCC offers a fully online AGEC-A certificate, which is the primary credential for Social Sciences students planning to transfer. Not all courses are available online every semester, so it is important to check the class schedule and work with an advisor to plan your sequence.
- What is the difference between the AGEC-A and an Associate of Arts degree?
Both are transfer-focused credentials, but they serve slightly different purposes. The AGEC-A is a 35-credit general education block that fulfills lower-division general education requirements at Arizona public universities. The Associate of Arts degree includes the AGEC as well as additional coursework and is a full two-year degree. For many Social Sciences students, the AGEC-A is the most efficient path to transfer, but the right choice depends on your goals and your intended transfer institution. An advisor can help you decide which makes more sense for your situation.
- How do I know which Social Sciences courses to take?
That depends on what you want to study and where you plan to transfer. CCC has university guides for anthropology, psychology, sociology, and social work that outline recommended course sequences for students planning to transfer to NAU, ASU, and the University of Arizona. Your advisor can walk you through those guides and help you build a plan that gets you to your goal without taking courses you do not need.
Meet your Faculty:
Next Steps:
- Apply for free
- Find ways to pay for college
- Meet with your Advisor
- Enroll in classes
