Become career ready with an interdisciplinary social science degree

What makes a group of people a society? How do cultural beliefs affect societies, their cohesiveness, and health? While they are questions of the ages, these inquiries have never been more relevant than they are today. Combining the fields of anthropology, sociology, psychology, archeology, and political science, this highly interdisciplinary major offers three concentrations: Health, Medicine, and Society; Society, Community, and Human Services; and Law, Crime, and Society. By learning to integrate multiple perspectives, you will be prepared for a broad array of career fields, ranging from public health to criminology.

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A psychology professor talks to students during a class

Why UNE for Applied Social and Cultural Studies

UNE’s Applied Social and Cultural Studies major, the only one of its kind in the U.S, offers an interdisciplinary approach in three different concentration areas. Personalized academic support from faculty and a robust internship program give our graduates highly valued skill sets and wide-ranging career opportunities.

  • Interdisciplinary curriculum
  • Choice of concentration
  • Focus on engaging fieldwork, including internships and capstone experience
  • Personally designed programs overseen by faculty advisors
  • Travel-abroad opportunities
Headshot of Arthur Anderson

Arthur Anderson, Ph.D., Assistant Lecturer, Department of Society, Culture, and Languages

I grew up in Portland but did my undergraduate, graduate, and Ph.D. work in the U.K. and moved back to Portland in 2012. I made my way into the adjunct circuit for a little while and wound up at UNE. I primarily study what we refer to as the protohistoric period, and in Maine, that means looking at those earliest moments of contact along the coast.

I look at the end of the pre-historic period and the emergence of this European presence, which turns into a horrific story at the underpinnings of the world we live in today. It’s an important moment to study, but it's also archeologically tricky to zoom in on that fifty-year period of really ephemeral contact between cultures. It’s hard, but it's important.

There is a lot of student involvement and a lot of opportunities with archeology at UNE, particularly across departments. The quality of undergraduate students that I get to work with and the quality of research that they're able to do because we're a primarily undergraduate institution is unique. It comes down to them and what they want to do. They get out what they put into it, and they really step up in pretty amazing ways. Those opportunities for undergraduate students to do research here are consistently amazing for me.

Exceptional Teaching and Learning

On campus at UNE — I would argue — is one of Maine’s most important archaeological sites. It is located right behind the Marine Science Center [MSC]. The site is one of the earliest moments of contact between European and indigenous people. We have European descriptions that we can compare to the archaeological record in order to start to understand some of the biases implicit in the very earliest European records of indigenous people here.

When the MSC was built, an archeology company was hired to do the work to get permission to build because of the known existence of a site. At the very least, some basic boundaries of archeological preservation had to be established so that the MSC could be placed in a way to not disturb the land. That work is helping us now, part of our project is getting artifacts from then into the UNE Special Collections. We want to correlate that earlier work, using it to inform how we want to undertake targeted excavations now to try to answer outstanding questions.

We offer an archaeology course every summer. Any undergraduate student can take it; there are no prerequisites. After the first few days, we put you in a hole and hand you a trowel. That’s the only way to really learn it. It’s an opportunity for these students to get out and do hands-on field research that is applicable, like working as a team to collect data. Whatever the students go on and do after, they have this experience and these skills. It’s valuable. Also, for a lot of students, it’s a moment of connecting the social sciences with the material world and with the act of discovery.

Those opportunities for undergraduate students to do research here are consistently amazing for me.

What Will You Study? Applied Social and Cultural Studies Degree Curriculum Overview

Examples of Available Concentrations

Health, Medicine, and Society

Examine health, illness, disability, and mental health issues as well as health care systems. (Ideal for a career in public health, health administration, or mental health)

Society, Community, and Human Services

Study the constituents and institutions involved in community service and development. (Ideal for a career in social work, human services, or community development/education)

Law, Crime, and Society

Explore how society defines and responds to crime, while contemplating the relevance of class, race, gender, and age. (Ideal for a career in law or criminology)

Curriculum

CAS Core RequirementsCredits
Total Credits42–43
Program Required CoursesCredits
SOC 268 – Practice of Social Research3
SOC 270 – Classical Social Theory or SOC 280 – Contemporary Social Theory3
SOC 300 – Internship3
SOC 370 – Applied Field Methods3
Applied Capstone Experience9–16
Four (4) Courses from Applied Concentration12
Total Credits33–40
Select Three (3) of the Following Courses:Credits
ANT 101 – Introduction to Anthropology or ANT 102 – Cultural Anthropology3
PSC 105 – Introduction to Political Science3
PSY 105 – Introduction to Psychology3
SOC 150 – Introduction to Sociology3
Total Credits9
Open Electives (as needed to reach 120 credits)Variable
Minimum Total Required Credits120

Applied Capstone Experiences (ACE)

Internship

Students may take between nine (9) and sixteen (16) credits to complete this ACE. Students may select from over seven hundred and fifty (750) sites in the Civic Engagement database. This learning opportunity should parallel the student’s concentration and help them to gain experience, skills, and knowledge of how systems work and how to develop contacts in a given field.

Thesis

Students may take between nine (9) and sixteen (16) credits to complete this ACE. The thesis should build on work the student has done in the ASCS major and their chosen concentration. This academic work should prepare them for graduate study in disciplines that have been incorporated into their concentration.

Study Abroad

Students will typically take fifteen (15) to sixteen (16) credits to complete a study abroad experience. While studying in a foreign society and culture is important, the primary focus is to take courses from the new institution that will help the student develop their areas of interest as they relate to the major. In short, there needs to be an integrated social science experience that drives the study abroad learning and the opportunity to explore a new society and culture for this to be a successful experience. All study abroad experiences should first be cleared with the Academic Director, to see if they qualify to meet the requirement for the Capstone.

Applied Concentration

There are three (3) concentrations in the ASCS major: Health, Medicine, and Society; Society, Human Services, and Community; and Law, Crime, and Society. As soon as possible after arriving at UNE students should declare their major. By the end of their second year, students should declare their concentration. There are no required courses in any concentration. In each concentration students, in consultation with their advisor, select four (4) courses from a variety of disciplines that will help them build foundations, skills, and develop expertise in their chosen concentration.

Health, Medicine, and Society

Sample courses include (but are not limited to)

  • ANT 211 – Medical Anthropology
  • PSC 325 – Politics and Public Health
  • PSY 235 – Health Psychology
  • SOC 228 – The Sociology of Aging
  • SOC 275 – The Sociology of Food and Health
  • SOC 355 – Medical Sociology
Society, Human Services, and Community

Sample courses include (but are not limited to)

  • PSY 236 – Mental Health and Society
  • PSY 370 – Drugs, Society, and Behavior
  • SOC 215 – Poverty
  • SOC 320 – Community Organization
  • SOC 460 – Social Policy and Planning
  • SOC 480 – The Family
Law, Crime, and Society

Sample courses include (but are not limited to)

  • ANT 224 – Forensic Anthropology and Human Rights
  • CMM 411 – Communication, Law, and Regulation
  • PSY 252 – Forensic Psychology
  • PSY 255 – Social Psychology
  • SOC 170 – Deviance and Crime
  • SOC 421 – A Just Society?
  • SOC 333 – Sociology of Law

Students in this major can participate in the pre-health graduate school preparation tracks.

To learn more about the program see the Academic Catalog.

Honors Program

We offer qualified students the option of graduating with Honors. This includes significant research, scholarship or creative activity under the direction of a faculty member. Interested students should consult with their major advisor. 

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Career Paths for Applied Social and Cultural Studies Majors

The skill set you develop as an Applied Social and Cultural Studies major includes critical thinking, communication skills, the ability to see things through different lenses, and professional skills acquired from internships. You’ll be equipped to enter the workforce across a broad spectrum of fields.

Our graduates have pursued many rewarding professions, including:

  • Lawyer
  • Public Health Specialist
  • Social Worker
  • Community Organizer
  • Health Administrator
  • Human Relations (HR) Administrator
  • Non-Profit Administrator
  • ESL/ELL Teacher
  • Diversity Officer

Career Advising for B.A. in Applied Social and Cultural Studies Students

Whether you have a specific career goal in mind or a vague idea of the field that interests you, Career Advising is here to help you plan your next step.

Go Beyond the Classroom with Applied Social and Cultural Studies

International Medical Missions

As an Applied Social and Cultural Studies major, you may opt to travel to Latin America as part of the IMM(UNE) club, which conducts medical volunteer missions in places like Guatemala and Ecuador.

Experiential Learning in the B.A. in Applied Social and Cultural Studies Program

The driving force of this program is real-world learning. Whether you’re performing fieldwork, interning, or traveling abroad, hands-on opportunities are found at every turn in your journey.

Internships for Applied Social and Cultural Studies Majors

Our database of more than 900 internship sites allows you to gain valuable professional experience in a field you want to explore. Our graduates have interned with legal services organizations, international charities, downtown community organizations, public access television stations, and many other groups.

For more information, contact Sam McReynolds, Ph.D., at (207) 602-2765 or smcreynolds@une.edu.

Senior Capstone Experience

As an Applied Social and Cultural Studies student, you choose a capstone experience to widen the scope of your expertise. There are three ways to fulfill the applied capstone experience (ACE).

Internship

You may take between 9 and 16 credits to complete this ACE. You may select from more than 800 sites in the departmental database. This learning opportunity should parallel your area of interest and help you gain experience, skills, and knowledge of how systems work and how to develop options in a given field.

Thesis

You may take between 9 and 16 credits to complete this ACE. The thesis should build on the work you have done in the Applied Social and Cultural Studies major. This academic work should prepare you for graduate study in disciplines that have been incorporated into your study.

Study Abroad

It typically takes 15-16 credits to complete a study abroad experience. While studying in a foreign society and culture is important, the primary focus is to take courses from the new institution that will help you to develop your areas of interest as it relates to your major. In short, there needs to be an integrated social science experience that drives the study abroad learning as well as the opportunity to explore a new society and culture for this to be a successful experience. All study abroad experiences should first be cleared with the department chair to see if they qualify to meet the requirement for the capstone.

Applied Social and Cultural Studies FAQ

What is an applied social and cultural studies degree?

Applied social and cultural studies is an interdisciplinary social science major that empowers students to enhance their writing, research, and communication abilities while exploring topics they are enthusiastic about. Students learn to ask important questions, conduct research, and use data to address problems related to health, law, or community issues.

UNE’s Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Applied Social and Cultural Studies degree program in Maine is grounded in the disciplines of anthropology and sociology while also integrating courses and perspectives from other fields, including psychology, archeology, and political science. This highly interdisciplinary major is the only one of its kind in the U.S. and offers three concentrations:

  1. Health, Medicine, and Society – Examines health, illness, disability, and mental health issues as well as health care systems. This concentration is ideal for a career in public health, medicine, health administration, or mental health.
  2. Society, Community, and Human Services – Studies the constituents and institutions involved in community service and development. This concentration is ideal for a career in social work, human services, or community development/education.
  3. Law, Crime, and Society – Explores how society defines and responds to crime while contemplating the relevance of class, race, gender, and age. This concentration is ideal for a career in law or criminology.

Learn more about UNE’s Applied Social and Cultural Studies major

Additionally, UNE offers a Minor in Health, Medicine, and Society that allows students to broaden their understandings of health to investigate the social and cultural aspects of health and healing. The minor prepares students for the social science sections on the MCAT and teaches how to integrate societal perspectives into understandings of health care. With guidance from our dedicated faculty, the support of a close-knit group of students, and our curriculum’s emphasis on hands-on learning, students graduate with a leg up as they pursue a career in the health care realm.

UNE’s Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Applied Social and Cultural Studies is a major in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences. This school offers 8 majors and 11 minors. Students learn to address complex questions related to human and nonhuman behavior, cognition, social relationships, culture, and politics.

What can I do with an applied social and cultural studies degree?

An applied social and cultural studies bachelor’s degree can equip you with distinctive skills and knowledge including critical thinking and communication skills as well as opening doors to exciting career prospects. An applied social and cultural studies degree can pave the way for further studies at the master’s or doctoral level in various social science fields, depending on your chosen coursework focus. At UNE, our B.A. in Applied Social and Cultural Studies degree program includes three concentrations in the major that help open doors to many graduate programs and careers.

  • UNE Applied Social and Cultural Studies graduates with a concentration in Health, Medicine, and Society have pursued many rewarding professions, including physician, public health specialist, health administrator, and medical sociologist.
  • UNE Applied Social and Cultural Studies graduates with a concentration in Law, Crime, and Society have pursued professions, including, lawyer, criminologist, and probation officer.
  • UNE Applied Social and Cultural Studies graduates with a concentration in Society, Community, and Human Services have pursued professions, including social worker, community organizer, human relations (HR) administrator, non-profit administrator, ESL/ELL teacher, and diversity officer.

Students studying in UNE’s Applied Social and Cultural Studies degree program in Maine can also work with our Academic and Career Advising Center. It doesn’t matter if you have a clear career goal or just a general interest in a field.

Learn more about Career Advising at UNE

Why should I major in applied social and cultural studies?

At UNE, Applied Social and Cultural Studies is a unique major that is tailored for undergraduates who want to blend different departments and courses within the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences and explore issues related to health, law, or community and from multiple and intersecting perspectives. Students who decide to major in Applied Social and Cultural Studies are often highly motivated, self-driven, intellectually curious, and seek an active role in their education.

Majoring in Applied Social and Cultural Studies at UNE in Maine provides students with a strong foundation for understanding today’s social issues and problems. Students will also have a wide range of skills and experiences that will enhance their future educational and career opportunities as well as enable them to be more active and aware citizens.

Read testimonials from UNE students in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences

If you’ve thought about majoring in sociology, anthropology, or psychology but are looking for a major with a more applied focus, a major in Applied Social and Cultural Studies may be a good fit for you.

What factors make UNE’s Applied Social and Cultural Studies major stand out?

Faculty

UNE Applied Social and Cultural Studies faculty advisors offer personalized academic support for student-designed programs. There are also opportunities for research and scholarship under the direction of UNE faculty members.

Our small classes and one-on-one guidance from faculty give students ample chances to refine valuable, career-ready skills.

Meet faculty and professional staff in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Curriculum

UNE’s Applied Social and Cultural Studies major provides students with broad-based exposure to social science theories and methods and integrates coursework on a wide range of social issues from the perspectives of sociology, anthropology, political science, psychology, communications, and other related fields of study.

Health, Medicine, and Society elective course examples:

  • Medical Anthropology
  • Plagues and Populations
  • Politics and Public Health
  • Medical Sociology

Society, Community, and Human Services elective course examples:

  • Poverty
  • Community Organization
  • Mental Health and Society
  • Drugs, Society, and Behavior

Law, Crime, and Society elective course examples:

  • Deviance and Crime
  • Sociology of Law
  • A Just Society
  • Communication, Law, and Regulation

Experiential, real-world learning is the driving force behind UNE’s Applied Social and Cultural Studies curriculum. This includes performing fieldwork, interning, or traveling abroad. There are two unique elements to this program at UNE:

  1. Internships – All students complete a 120-hour internship at a local school, agency, or organization that provides the opportunity to gain practical experience, apply a social science perspective to real-world situations, and explore potential career paths. UNE’s database of more than 900 internship sites allows you to gain valuable professional experience in a field you want to explore. Graduates of our Applied Social and Cultural Studies degree programs in New England have interned with legal services organizations, international charities, downtown community organizations, public access television stations, and many other groups.
  2. Capstone Experience – Students choose a capstone experience to widen the scope of their expertise. There are three ways to fulfill the applied capstone experience (ACE) as a senior:
    1. Internship - Between 9 and 16 credits. This learning opportunity aligns with the student’s interests, providing valuable experience, skills, and knowledge in an area related to their concentration.
    2. Thesis - Between 9 and 16 credits. This academic work prepares students for future graduate studies.
    3. Study Abroad - Between 15 and 16 credits. Students enroll in courses at an institution that enhances their major-related interests and contributes to their concentration area.

Learn more about the full Applied Social and Cultural Studies curriculum

Career goals

UNE’s major in Applied Social and Cultural Studies takes a career-based approach by offering concentrations that have real-world applications to health, law, and community.

Graduates of UNE’s Applied Social and Cultural Studies program enter the world with marketable skills that prepare them for entry-level positions in a variety of fields. Graduates have gone on to work directly with at-risk youth, serve as administrators in family services programs, engage in the criminal justice system, and do public health research. Zippia ranks us #1 in Maine for graduates getting jobs, and 95% of bachelor’s degree graduates are employed or continuing higher education within six months to one year of graduating.

As an Applied Social and Cultural Studies major at UNE, you will have the ability to work with our Academic and Career Advising Center. It doesn’t matter if you have a clear career goal or just a general interest in a field.

Learn more about Career Advising at UNE

Location and environment

UNE is Maine’s largest private university. We have three unique campuses that provide diverse learning opportunities. In Maine, we have two campuses in Biddeford and Portland offering renowned undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. Additionally, our Tangier, Morocco campus hosts a unique semester abroad program for UNE students.

Learn more about UNE’s campuses and how you can visit us

Additionally, UNE boasts small class sizes. Overall, we have a 12:1 student-to-teacher ratio and an average class size of 20.

Learn more about some quick facts about UNE

Beyond the classroom, Applied Social and Cultural Studies majors at UNE may opt to travel to Latin America as part of the IMM(UNE) club, which conducts medical volunteer missions in places like Guatemala and Ecuador.

Learn more about clubs and activities at UNE

Financial aid

Take into account whether the institution you're considering offers financial assistance or scholarships to help fund your educational pursuit.

A UNE undergraduate education is very affordable. Our tuition is 16% below the average tuition for private universities in New England. Plus, all incoming full-time undergraduate students at UNE will receive Merit Scholarships in amounts from $5,000 to $22,000 per year. UNE helps families of all income levels find the higher education they desire.

Learn more about grants and scholarships available to students at UNE