2017-29

Arizona State University
University Senate

Senate Motion #2017-29

Motion Introduced by:  Curriculum and Academic Programs Committee, Caroline Harrison, Chair

Date of First Reading:  November 28, 2016

Date of Second Reading: January 30, 2017

Title of Motion: Request from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences – School of Human Evolution and Social Change – establishment of an undergraduate certificate – Social Science Research Methods

Action Requested: This curricular proposal has received all college, school, unit and university administrative approvals, and is being presented to the Senate for review and voting decision.   

Rationale: This social science certificate program prepares students to acquire, manage, and analyze a broad range of data on human thought and human behavior, leveraging an array of qualitative and quantitative methods. Data acquisition skills may include the downloading and managing of information from online sources or the primary collection of data such as in surveys or in direct observation. A key feature of this program is a focus on data analysis skills, so graduates will be able to interpret properly any data that they can collect. The certificate provides demonstrated general competencies in statistical analysis relevant to any social research, plus skills in a selection of methods relevant to identified fields of enquiry.