Society, Politics, Behavior and Change

The Society, Politics, Behavior and Change (SPBC) planning unit weaves together the various social science disciplines that enable us to better understand society and the way in which society operates in local, regional, national and international arenas. In so doing, we place a particular emphasis on:

• Society—Many of our programs examine how individuals of diverse races, genders, religions and classes, interact to construct a complex society. We also study how that society and other social forces affect the experiences and opportunities of the individuals and groups within.
• Politics—Some of our programs consider how societies and governments are organized. Our study of politics includes attention to its implications for race, gender, and class.
• Behavior—Many of our programs study the social, psychological and biological forces that influence human health and behavior. Our faculty has particular strengths in the areas of cognitive, clinical and social psychology.
• Change—Our programs study strategies for bringing about social change. We examine historical examples of successful social change and ongoing struggles to improve society, and to consider positive alternatives for the future.

Business management programs study the role of organizations in society, and the ways in which various types of organizations including for-profit, nonprofit, public and entrepreneurial venture, may be structured and financed in the Pacific Northwest and at the national and international level. Our business programs often emphasize economics and the role of private sector economic development in job creation.

Many of our programs examine society from a multicultural perspective that seeks to understand and show respect for peoples with different ethnic and cultural heritages and to build bridges between them. As part of our work, we identify the factors and dynamics of oppression and pursue strategies for mitigating such oppression.

Our area includes faculty from the following disciplines: economics, accounting, history, public policy, public administration, labor studies, business, management science, political science, law, entrepreneurship, international affairs, tribal governance, health sciences, psychology, and education.

Several of the faculty members in this area teach regularly in the Master in Teaching program or the Master of Public Administration program. All of our faculty work collaboratively to develop our undergraduate curriculum.

Students who graduate from Evergreen after studying in social science programs go on to start their own businesses and social ventures, and they frequently attend graduate school in fields such as business, education, law, psychology, political science and public administration.