Social Science (SSCI)

The purpose of this course is to help students build the skills, knowledge, and habits necessary to effectively contribute to and participate in the social, political, economic, and environmental life of their communities and world. By building a strong sense of agency among students, this course aims to elevate active participation and leadership in our democracy. An engaged citizenry is an essential component of a thriving democracy. To adequately prepare for a lifetime of civic engagement, students must grapple with foundational leadership questions relating to power, morality, and ethics. This course incorporates experiential/service learning, a proven civic education practice, that extends lessons beyond the classroom and into the community.

This course is an introduction to integrative social science that focuses on the topics of climate change, sustainability, and resilience. The course texts emphasize the interaction between individuals, social/cultural/economic/political systems, and the environment. Additionally, this course utilizes experiential learning to engage students with place-based, Native Hawaiian practices for caretaking the environment.