Butte College Student for Sustainability lay on lawn

Social & Behavioral Sciences

Explore human behavior and society with Butte College’s Social and Behavioral Sciences programs. From psychology to sociology, our interdisciplinary courses help you develop the analytical skills needed for careers in research, education, and public service.

Programs

Program Name
Goal
Length
Flexibility
AA-T

Goal

Transfer or Career

Length

2 years

Flexibility

  • Chico/Skyway Center
  • Online
AA-T

Associate Degree for Transfer in Social Work and Human Services

Students completing Associate Degrees for Transfer are guaranteed admission to the CSU system. Please see the beginning of the "Academic Programs" section for details.

Flexibility

AA-T

Goal

Transfer

Length

2 years

Flexibility

  • Main Campus
  • Online
AA-T

Associate Degree for Transfer in Psychology

The Associate in Arts in Psychology for Transfer (AA-T) creates a pathway for students planning to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at a CSU. This degree provides the foundational knowledge and skills comprising the first two years of many psychology programs. Students completing the AA-T in Psychology are guaranteed admission to the CSU system, though not to a specific campus or major, and will be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer.

Flexibility

This program can be completed fully online, since all required courses reliably run there. If you prefer attending in person, Main Campus covers most of what you need, with Chico Center and Glenn Center each offering a good share as well — though you may need to combine one of these with Online or another center to cover the rest. Meet with a counselor to map out a schedule that fits your preferred locations.

How this flexibility note was generated

⚠ AI-generated content can be wrong. This note was produced by Claude (Anthropic) by synthesizing the individual program flexibility statements in this cluster. Verify against the per-program reports before relying on it.
You are synthesizing a single cluster-level flexibility statement for a community college academic cluster (a group of related programs that share a department-page accordion).

CLUSTER
  Title: Psychology
  Programs in cluster: 1

PER-PROGRAM STATEMENTS
  • Psychology (AA-T Degree):
      You can complete this Psychology degree fully online, since all required courses reliably run there. If you'd rather attend in person, Main Campus covers most of what you need, with Chico Center and Glenn Center each covering a good share too — you'll likely need to combine one of these with Online or another center to fill in the gaps. Meet with a counselor to map out a schedule that fits your preferred locations.

WHAT TO WRITE
  Write 2 to 3 sentences — under 120 words total — that summarize the AVAILABILITY STORY shared by these programs. Most programs in a cluster will have similar availability — name the common pattern. Note distinct outliers ONLY if a program's availability story differs in a way that affects student decisions (e.g., one program is online-only, others are not).

  - Plain, student-facing language.
  - Refer to "the programs in this cluster" or "these programs" — don't list each program by name unless an outlier needs calling out.
  - If all programs share the same flexibility story, write one unified statement.
  - Do NOT list percentages, term codes, or jargon.
  - Lead with the most flexible/strongest availability and follow with caveats.
  - Refer to locations ONLY by official center names (Main Campus, Chico Center, Glenn Center, Skyway Center, Cosmetology Center, Online). NEVER use a city or town name — no Oroville, no Willows, and never "Chico" as a city. Write "at the Chico Center", never "in Chico" — even if a per-program statement below used a city name, do not repeat it.

OUTPUT
  Return ONLY the statement text. No preamble, no quotation marks, no markdown.
AA-T

Goal

Transfer

Length

2 years

Flexibility

  • Online
AA-T

Associate Degree for Transfer in Sociology

The Associate in Arts in Sociology for Transfer (AA-T) is designed for students planning to earn a bachelor’s degree in Sociology at a CSU. Completion of this degree guarantees admission to the CSU system, though not to a specific campus or major, and students transferring to a participating CSU will complete no more than 60 additional units after transfer.

Flexibility

The Chico Center and Online offer the strongest coverage of required Sociology courses, and combining one of these with another location is typically necessary to complete the degree, since no single site covers everything. Main Campus offers fewer of the required courses, while Glenn Center offers very little of the major coursework. GE breadth courses are widely available, but meeting with a counselor is recommended to plan the right combination of locations for required coursework.

How this flexibility note was generated

⚠ AI-generated content can be wrong. This note was produced by Claude (Anthropic) by synthesizing the individual program flexibility statements in this cluster. Verify against the per-program reports before relying on it.
You are synthesizing a single cluster-level flexibility statement for a community college academic cluster (a group of related programs that share a department-page accordion).

CLUSTER
  Title: Sociology
  Programs in cluster: 1

PER-PROGRAM STATEMENTS
  • Sociology (AA-T Degree):
      No single location covers all your required Sociology courses, so plan to combine two options. The Chico Center and Online each reliably offer most of what you need, making them your strongest bets, while Main Campus covers less and Glenn Center covers very little of the major coursework. You can complete your GE breadth almost anywhere, but for the required courses, expect to mix Chico Center or Online with another location to fill in gaps. Meet with a counselor to map out a schedule that works for you.

WHAT TO WRITE
  Write 2 to 3 sentences — under 120 words total — that summarize the AVAILABILITY STORY shared by these programs. Most programs in a cluster will have similar availability — name the common pattern. Note distinct outliers ONLY if a program's availability story differs in a way that affects student decisions (e.g., one program is online-only, others are not).

  - Plain, student-facing language.
  - Refer to "the programs in this cluster" or "these programs" — don't list each program by name unless an outlier needs calling out.
  - If all programs share the same flexibility story, write one unified statement.
  - Do NOT list percentages, term codes, or jargon.
  - Lead with the most flexible/strongest availability and follow with caveats.
  - Refer to locations ONLY by official center names (Main Campus, Chico Center, Glenn Center, Skyway Center, Cosmetology Center, Online). NEVER use a city or town name — no Oroville, no Willows, and never "Chico" as a city. Write "at the Chico Center", never "in Chico" — even if a per-program statement below used a city name, do not repeat it.

OUTPUT
  Return ONLY the statement text. No preamble, no quotation marks, no markdown.
AA-T

Goal

Transfer

Length

2 years

Flexibility

  • Online
AA-T

Associate Degree for Transfer in Philosophy

The Associate in Arts in Philosophy for Transfer (AA-T) provides a pathway to a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy at a CSU. Students gain foundational knowledge in logic, ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology while developing strong analytical, critical thinking, and writing skills. This degree prepares students not just for further study in philosophy but also for careers in fields such as law, education, and management.

Flexibility

Online offers the most consistent coverage of the required Philosophy courses in this cluster, with Main Campus and the Chico Center each covering a smaller piece — so plan to combine Online with one of these campuses to get everything you need. The Glenn Center works well for general education courses but not for the core Philosophy requirements. Meet with a counselor to map out a schedule that fits your needs.

How this flexibility note was generated

⚠ AI-generated content can be wrong. This note was produced by Claude (Anthropic) by synthesizing the individual program flexibility statements in this cluster. Verify against the per-program reports before relying on it.
You are synthesizing a single cluster-level flexibility statement for a community college academic cluster (a group of related programs that share a department-page accordion).

CLUSTER
  Title: Philosophy
  Programs in cluster: 1

PER-PROGRAM STATEMENTS
  • Philosophy (AA-T Degree):
      No single location covers all your required Philosophy courses reliably, so plan to combine a couple of places. Online offers the most consistent coverage of your major requirements, with Main Campus and the Chico Center each filling in a smaller piece — you'll likely need to mix Online with one of these campuses to cover everything. The Glenn Center works well for your general education courses, but not for the required Philosophy courses themselves. Meet with a counselor to map out a schedule that fits your needs.

WHAT TO WRITE
  Write 2 to 3 sentences — under 120 words total — that summarize the AVAILABILITY STORY shared by these programs. Most programs in a cluster will have similar availability — name the common pattern. Note distinct outliers ONLY if a program's availability story differs in a way that affects student decisions (e.g., one program is online-only, others are not).

  - Plain, student-facing language.
  - Refer to "the programs in this cluster" or "these programs" — don't list each program by name unless an outlier needs calling out.
  - If all programs share the same flexibility story, write one unified statement.
  - Do NOT list percentages, term codes, or jargon.
  - Lead with the most flexible/strongest availability and follow with caveats.
  - Refer to locations ONLY by official center names (Main Campus, Chico Center, Glenn Center, Skyway Center, Cosmetology Center, Online). NEVER use a city or town name — no Oroville, no Willows, and never "Chico" as a city. Write "at the Chico Center", never "in Chico" — even if a per-program statement below used a city name, do not repeat it.

OUTPUT
  Return ONLY the statement text. No preamble, no quotation marks, no markdown.
CC

Goal

Career

Length

1 semester

Flexibility

  • Online
CC

Certificate of Completion in Sustainability Studies

(Not Eligible for Financial Aid) The Sustainability Studies Certificate is designed to broaden students’ understanding of the interconnected social, economic, and environmental transformations of the 21st century. This interdisciplinary program explores the challenges facing human civilization as well as the solutions that support a sustainable future. Students will develop leadership skills that promote cooperation, respect, and innovative approaches to social change, economic prosperity, and environmental restoration. The certificate enhances career opportunities by increasing workforce marketability and enriching the knowledge of those pursuing further education in sustainability-related fields.

Flexibility

The program in this cluster requires combining coursework across Main Campus and Online, since neither location alone covers all required courses. Chico Center and Glenn Center can help with general education but won't fulfill the core requirements. Plan on working with a counselor to build a term-by-term schedule that pulls from multiple locations.

How this flexibility note was generated

⚠ AI-generated content can be wrong. This note was produced by Claude (Anthropic) by synthesizing the individual program flexibility statements in this cluster. Verify against the per-program reports before relying on it.
You are synthesizing a single cluster-level flexibility statement for a community college academic cluster (a group of related programs that share a department-page accordion).

CLUSTER
  Title: Skill Builders
  Programs in cluster: 1

PER-PROGRAM STATEMENTS
  • Sustainability Studies (Certificate):
      For this certificate, no single location covers everything reliably, so plan on splitting your coursework. Main Campus and Online each cover some of the required courses, but you'll need to combine them (and check what's missing each term) to get through all the requirements. Chico Center and Glenn Center work well for general education, but not for the certificate's required courses. Meet with a counselor to map out a term-by-term plan.

WHAT TO WRITE
  Write 2 to 3 sentences — under 120 words total — that summarize the AVAILABILITY STORY shared by these programs. Most programs in a cluster will have similar availability — name the common pattern. Note distinct outliers ONLY if a program's availability story differs in a way that affects student decisions (e.g., one program is online-only, others are not).

  - Plain, student-facing language.
  - Refer to "the programs in this cluster" or "these programs" — don't list each program by name unless an outlier needs calling out.
  - If all programs share the same flexibility story, write one unified statement.
  - Do NOT list percentages, term codes, or jargon.
  - Lead with the most flexible/strongest availability and follow with caveats.
  - Refer to locations ONLY by official center names (Main Campus, Chico Center, Glenn Center, Skyway Center, Cosmetology Center, Online). NEVER use a city or town name — no Oroville, no Willows, and never "Chico" as a city. Write "at the Chico Center", never "in Chico" — even if a per-program statement below used a city name, do not repeat it.

OUTPUT
  Return ONLY the statement text. No preamble, no quotation marks, no markdown.
Department Social & Behavioral Sciences

Full Time Faculty

Dan Barnett

Philosophy Instructor

Heather Valle

Psychology Instructor

Linda Johnson

Psychology Instructor

Nathen Murawski

Psychology Instructor

Vahan Hovsepian

Psychology Instructor

Melinda Riley

Sociology Instructor

Associate Faculty

Nandi Crosby

Sociology Instructor

Lauren Wilson

Sociology Instructor

Curtis Peldo

Philosophy Instructor

Olav Smith

Philosophy Instructor

Pauline Light

Psychology Instructor

Debra Friedrichsen

Psychology Instructor

Lori Strahan

Psychology Instructor

Kathline Wright

Psychology Instructor

Karen Gust

Psychology Instructor

Amanda Johnson

Psychology Instructor

Norman Reese

Psychology Instructor

Dacia Williams

First Year Experience Instructor

Bernadette Tello

Sociology Instructor

Devin Kutil

Sociology Instructor

Laurel Hartley

Sociology Instructor

Page Gearhart-Davis

Sociology Instructor - Unit

Peter Young

Psychology Instructor

Department Contacts

Office: LRC 304
Department phone: (530) 895-2409
Contact phone: (530) 895-2857

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Department Social & Behavioral Sciences