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.

Three students in front of a whiteboard that has a mind map drawn on it of affordable care act goals information
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 Stephen Byrd

Steven Byrd, Associate Professor of Spanish and Portuguese

Applied Social and Cultural Studies

I think that UNE has a nice balance of teaching, research, and service. It’s not a university of professors solely doing research and distracted from the classroom. We have a culture, especially in the tenure ranks, of trying to maintain the balance between being a good teacher and being there for our students as well as working on our research and partaking in service activities.

I received a faculty mini-grant from UNE to do research on the culinary culture of the Brazilian northeast. For me, it’s the second article in a series of articles. The first article that I wrote was about another state in the southwest of Brazil. Now, I’m looking at the northeast of Brazil because it is an area with a lot of traditional dishes, especially things related to beef. For my research, I spent a month in the city of Hasifi in Brazil this past summer. Hasifi is in the state of Pernambuco, which is where the original sugar plantations began. There are a lot of cattle in the area. There is also a rich tradition of seafood from fisherman, which makes sense because Hasifi is located right on the coast. All of these aspects of the cuisine there were part of my research.

UNE Students

I've taught students at the University of Texas, and I've taught students at the University of New England, and I will take the students at the University of New England ten times out of ten. I really like the students’ demeanor here. They have a particular curiosity and the attitude of a student — they are excited and eager to learn. There is a sense of humility that allows them to be open-minded. They genuinely put effort into assignments and care to turn in their best work. They trust the faculty, and I appreciate their sense of willingness.

I love working with students outside the classroom. I’ve been the advisor for the drama club, UNE Players, for two years now. It comes with its own unique set of challenges, but I love the students’ idealism and energy. They are inspiring. They want to make plays happen no matter the obstacles. I like helping the students and watching them grow through these experiences. It feels rewarding.

I've taught students at the University of Texas, and I've taught students at the University of New England, and I will take the students at UNE ten times out of ten.
Applied Social and Cultural Studies

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)

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. 

Three students sit around a table with open books scattered across the top

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@cesametal.net.

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