Core courses introduce B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. Social Ecology students to integrative concepts and methods drawn from systems theory and
ecology, while also emphasizing the value of applying multiple disciplinary perspectives to the analysis of community problems. Students are both trained in research skills and prepared for community-oriented jobs. The School is organized into three departments. The department of
criminology and
law and society focuses on "the social, political, economic and cultural factors that lead to the development of law and explain the structure of our legal system". The psychological science department researches "developmental, social, personality, health, and legal aspects of psychology as well as biological, clinical, cultural, community, environmental, and
ecological psychology". SSE offers majors in
Criminology, Law and Society; Psychology and Social Behavior; Social Ecology; and Urban Studies, as well as various minors in a variety of topics relating to the population and their impact on society. The field study curriculum requires all undergraduate Social Ecology students to complete internships at local sites to encourage experiential learning and community-engaged scholarship. Graduate degrees include master's degrees in
urban and regional planning,
public policy (jointly with the
School of Social Sciences) and criminology, law & society, as well as PhDs in Social Ecology; Criminology, Law and Society; Planning, Policy and Design; and Psychology and Social Behavior.
Research centers SSE
research centers focus on institutional, legal, political, environmental, and social issues. SSE's centers include the Center for Evidence-Based Corrections, Community Outreach Partnership Center, Center for Psychology and Law, Center for Unconventional Security Affairs, and the Newkirk Center for Science and Society. In addition, the School partners with other units on campus for interdisciplinary research centers, such the Center in Law, Society and Culture (in partnership with the Schools of
Humanities and Social Sciences) and the Center for Organizational Research (with the Schools of Social Sciences,
Business, and
Information and Computer Sciences).{{citation| url =http://socialecology.uci.edu/pages/research-centers-school-social-ecology ==See also==