Social Science Degrees and Programs
Four social sciences—economics, history, political science, and sociology & anthropology
The social science major offers students the opportunity to study human behavior through the scientific exploration of individuals, communities, and societies. Drawing from four disciplines—history, political science, sociology, and economics—the major introduces students to distinct perspectives, questions, and approaches to understanding human activity and social life. Students will also explore the normative questions of how individuals can live together and promote the work of the Kingdom of God.
Students may choose areas of emphasis that best align with their individual interests and goals. By integrating multiple disciplines, the major provides a broader and more interdisciplinary education than any single-subject major alone.
Alumni Stories
Elizabeth Beebe ’17, has previously worked for Old Skool Cafe, a youth-run supper club, in support of their overall operations and business development projects. After the Thomas Fire and Montecito Mudslide, she worked for two organizations in order to support impacted homeowners and workers. She pursued her Master’s of Public Affairs and now works for Habitat for Humanity.
Andrew Bradshaw ’25, studied business, psychology, sociology and communications at Westmont. He was selected as a Luce Scholar with the Henry Luce Foundation and is currently serving in Kathmandu. In 2024, he interned with the International Crisis Group in New York, where he supported the foundation team’s $12 million donor portfolio at one of the world’s leading policy think tanks focused on conflict and peacebuilding.
Faculty and Staff
Katherine Bryant, PH.D
Specializes in international politics, international development, empirical methods, international conflict and peace building
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Blake Victor Kent, Ph.D.
Expertise in quantitative methods of research, specializing in population health, medicine, and religion
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Stephen Owusu, PH.D.
Specializes in world poverty & development economics, health economics, and the economics of education.
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Alastair Su, Ph.D.
Specializes in the history of capitalism and immigration in the United States
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Opportunities Abroad
Westmont’s Europe Semester
Westmont in Northern Europe
Westmont’s England Semester
Westmont in Cairo
Westmont in Jerusalem
Sample Schedule
- 48 units in economics and business, history, political science and sociology and anthropology
- 20 units in an area of emphasis
- 12 units each in two areas
- 4 units in the fourth area
- At least 20 units must be upper-division courses
- EB 011 Principles of Macroeconomics (4)
- EB 012 Principles of Microeconomics (4)
- Upper-Division EB Elective: (4)
Two of the following:
- EB 102 Intermediate Microeconomics (4)
- EB 103 History of Economic Thought (4)
- EB 135 Money, Banking and Financial Markets (4)
- EB 137 Intermediate Macroeconomics (4)
- HIS 099 Foundations of History (4)
- HIS 198 Senior Research Seminar (4)
- Two upper-division history courses (8): Approved by the academic advisor. Study two different geographical regions and/or chronological periods.
- Additional History Elective: (4)
- POL 010 American Government (4)
- POL 020 International Politics (4)
- POL 030 Political Theory and Ideology (4)
- Upper-Division POL Electives: (8)
- SOC 001 Introduction to Sociology (4)
- SOC 171 Sociological Theory
- (4) Upper-Division SOC Electives: (12)
You Just Have to See it for Yourself
Envision your future at Westmont’s stunning campus, where the environment fuels creativity and personal growth.