Social Science Disciplines
Anthropology
(Coordinator: Maritza Straughn-Williams)
Anthropology is the study of the origins of human beings and their cultures
worldwide. In addition to documenting a particular culture, anthropologists
are interested in how and why human culture changes. The science of anthropology
is divided into several subfields, including physical anthropology, cultural
anthropology, the study of human culture, linguistics, and archeology.
Criminal Justice (Coordinator:
Jennifer Wynn)
Criminal justice is the study of practices and institutions directed at upholding
social control, deterring and mitigating crime, and sanctioning those who
violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts. The four
components of the criminal justice system are corrections, police, courts,
and juvenile justice.
Economics
(Coordinator: Gilberto Arroyo)
Economics is the social science that studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.
History
(Coordinator: John Shean*)
History is both a subject and a discipline. The subject of history is the human past.
The discipline of history is all the methods that historians have developed to
understand the human past. The human past does not change, but our methods of
understanding the past are constantly changing. As society and knowledge evolve, we
find new topics of interest in the past, new sources of knowledge about the past, and
new tools for understanding the past.
*2009-2010 while George Sussman is on sabbatical
Political Science (Coordinator: Bojana
Blagojevic)
Political Science is the study of social arrangements to maintain peace and
order within a given society; it examines the theory of systems of government
and studies actual practices of government.
Psychology
(Coordinator: Lakshmi Bandlamudi)
Psychology is the study of behavior and the mind. It is made up of a number of subdisciplines, focusing on different aspects of individual functioning.
Urban Studies (Coordinators: Joanne Reitano and Larry Rushing)
La Guardia's Urban Study graduation requirement is unique in the nation. Urban
Study courses can be offered in any discipline as long as they examine the
city (any city) as a special human environment. Two out-of-classroom experiences
turn the city into a learning laboratory. By encouraging students to examine
their taken-for-granted worlds, Urban Study courses bridge the gap between
the classroom and the real world. As a result, all La Guardia students will
be better able to function in and contribute to the city as residents, workers,
citizens and leaders. Urban Study courses are writing intensive and e-portfolio
courses.
Sociology (Coordinator: Janet
Michello)
Sociology is the scientific study of groups and group processes. Research
investigation is an important part of sociology and its research methods include
various methodologies such as survey research, observational methods, and other
types of field studies. It has many sub-disciplines such as medical sociology,
criminology, family sociology, deviance, and social psychology to name a few. It
has broad application to many careers such as teaching, market research, community
organizing, counseling, law enforcement, and many others.
Urban studies noticeboard, examining NYC's economic crises, past and present |
Noticeboard, "political questions, personal concerns" |