Skip to main content
EARL WARREN COLLEGE EARL WARREN COLLEGE
  1. HOME
  2. Academics
  3. General Education Requirements
  4. Programs of Concentration

Programs of Concentration (PofCs) - All Majors Except B.S. Engineering Majors

Two Programs of Concentration (PofCs) are required:

  • Each must contain six four-unit courses, three of which must be upper-division (numbered 100+) unless noted
  • Must be non-contiguous (unrelated) to the major and to each other
  • At least two courses from each PofC must be taken at UC San Diego

Additionally:

  • Courses may be taken Pass/Not Pass
  • No more than three language courses may be applied to a PofC
  • Upper-division major courses may not overlap PofC or other general education requirements
  • Rady School of Management (MGT) courses may not be used - see an academic advisor if pursuing a Business minor in lieu of a PofC

Watch our instructional videos for further information regarding selecting your PofCs for:

Choosing Programs of Concentration

The major, combined with your two PofCs, must represent all three disciplines:

  1. Humanities and Fine Arts
  2. Math, Natural Sciences, and Physical Sciences
  3. Social Sciences

Contact Warren Advising during walk-in advising or on the Virtual Advising Center to have your choices added to your degree audit.  We recommend declaring by the end of your second year.


All Major Departments Except B.S. Engineering Majors

Step 1 - Find the discipline representing your major

Humanities and
Fine Arts

  • Chinese Studies
  • Classical Studies
  • German Studies
  • Global South Studies
  • History
  • International Studies (Hist, Lit)
  • Italian Studies
  • Japanese Studies
  • Jewish Studies
  • Literature
  • Music
  • Philosophy
  • Russian, East European, and                  Eurasian Studies
  • Study of Religion
  • Theatre and Dance
  • Visual Arts
  • Cinematic Arts

Math, Natural Sciences, and Physical Sciences

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Cognitive Science (see counselor)
  • Data Science
  • Environmental Systems
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Public Health (see counselor)
  • Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Social Sciences

  • Anthropology
  • Black Diaspora and African American Studies
  • Cognitive Science (see counselor)
  • Communication
  • Critical Gender Studies 
  • Economics
  • Education Sciences
  • Ethnic Studies
  • Global Health
  • Human Developmental Sciences
  • International Studies (Anth, Bus, Econ, Ling, Poli, Soci)
  • Latin American Studies
  • Linguistics
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Public Health (see counselor)
  • Sociology
  • Urban Studies and Planning

Programs of Concentration (PofC)

Step 2 - Choose two PofCs, one from each of the two disciplines not represented by your major discipline

Humanities and
Fine Arts

  • African American Studies#
  • Anti-Racism*#
  • Asian American and Pacific                   Islander Studies#
  • Chicanx and Latinx Studies#
  • Chinese Studies#
  • European Studies#
  • History
  • Humanities*+
  • Japanese Studies#
  • Jewish Studies#
  • Latin American Studies#
  • Literature
  • Middle East Studies#
  • Music
  • Philosophy
  • Theatre and Dance
  • Transnational Korean Studies
  • Visual Arts

Math, Natural Sciences, and Physical Sciences

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Cognitive Science#
  • Environmental Studies*#
  • Fundamentals of Biology*
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Science and Technology*+
  • Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Social Sciences

  • African American Studies#
  • Anthropology
  • Anti-Racism#*
  • Asian American and Pacific                   Islander Studies#
  • Business*
  • Chicanx and Latinx Studies*#
  • Chinese Studies#
  • Cognitive Science#
  • Communication
  • Critical Gender Studies 
  • Economics
  • Education Sciences*
  • Environmental Studies*
  • European Studies#
  • Ethnic Studies
  • Health Care - Social Issues*
  • Human Developmental Sciences*
  • Japanese Studies#
  • Jewish Studies#
  • Latin American Studies#
  • Law and Society*#
  • Linguistics/General
  • Linguistics and Language
  • Middle East Studies#
  • Perspectives of Social Science*+
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Urban Studies and Planning

# These PofCs may be used in only one discipline. Cognitive Science majors are not eligible to choose Cognitive Science as one of their PofCs.

* Specialized PofCs require specific courses.

+ You may only choose one of the following PofCs: Humanities, Science and Technology, or Perspectives of Social Science.

Fulfilling a Program of Concentration with a Minor

Minors may be used in lieu of PofCs when they are non-contiguous to your major discipline.

  • For example, a student with a Biology major can complete a Psychology minor in lieu of a social science PofC because Psychology falls within the discipline of the social sciences.
  • An interdisciplinary minor may count in lieu of a PofC if at least four of the minor courses are from the discipline that the PofC will replace. Meet with a Warren academic advisor if you plan on completing an interdisciplinary minor. 
  • A business minor may be used in lieu of a Social Science PofC only when a student completes three upper-division social science (non-MGT) courses approved for the minor.

A student may overlap the equivalent of two applicable upper-division courses (a maximum of eight units) between a major and a minor.

Interdisciplinary PofCs

Interdisciplinary PofCs

Requires six courses, three of which must be upper division.


In order to categorize as either Humanities and Fine Arts or Social Sciences, four of the six courses must be chosen from the discipline in which your PofC will be used. 


Language courses, if allowed for the PofC, count as humanities/fine arts courses:

  • A maximum of three language courses can be used for a Humanities and Fine Arts interdisciplinary PofC
  • A maximum of two language courses can be used for a Social Science interdisciplinary PofC 

See an academic counselor for approved courses:

Specialized Humanities and Fine Arts PofCs

Anti-Racism

No more than two social science courses allowed.

Three of the six courses selected must be upper division.

Humanities Courses:

History: 7A, HILD  7B, HILD 7C, HITO 136, HITO 155, HITO 156, HIUS 108B, HIUS 113, HIUS 120D, HIUS 128, HIUS 129, HIUS 136, HIUS 146, HIUS 155, HIUS 159, HIUS 174

Literature: LTCS 132, LTEN 179, LTEN 182

Music: MUS 17, MUS 107, MUS 126, MUS 151 

Philosophy: PHIL 156,  PHIL 165, PHIL 170

Theatre & Dance:TDGE 12

Visual Arts: VIS 125G

 

Social Science courses:

African American Studies: AAS 10, 185

Anthropology: ANSC 185, ANTH 21, ANTH 23, ANTH 105

Cognitive Science: CGS 114, CGS 147, COGS 150

Communications: COMM 114I, COMM 114J, COMM 129, COMM 138, COMM 155

Economics: ECON 138

Education Sciences: EDS 25, EDS 112, EDS 113, EDS 120, EDS 125, EDS 126

Environmental Studies: ENVR 110

Ethnic Studies: ETHN 1, ETHN 2, ETHN  3, ETHN 102, ETHN 103, ETHN 104, ETHN 105, ETHN 108, ETHN 109, ETHN 112B, ETHN 119, ETHN 120, ETHN 129, ETHN 131, ETN 134, ETN 142,  ETHN 147, ETHN 151, ETHN 152, ETHN 153, ETHN 163J, ETHN 167, ETHN 183

Latin American Studies: LATI 10

Linguistics: LIGN 8

Political Science: POLI 100H, POLI 100I, POLI 100J, POLI 100O, POLI 100Q,  POLI 100W, POLI 100Y, POLI 102E, POLI 102J, POLI 102K, P0LI 104N, POLI 105A, POLI 108, POLI  131

Psychology: PSYC 131

Sociology: SOCI 10,  SOCI 127, SOCI 139, SOCI 147, SOCI 151, SOCI  152, SOCI 183, SOCI 188K

Urban Studies & Planning: USP 1, USP 104, USP 106, USP 129, USP 132, USP 133, USP135

Humanities

Requires any combination of six four-unit courses, three of which must be upper-division, from:

  • History
  • Literature
  • Music
  • Philosophy
  • Study of Religion
  • Theatre and Dance
  • Visual Arts

Other courses, if applicable, may be petitioned prior to taking the course(s).

Linguistics/Language courses are not allowed.

May not be used if Perspectives of Social Science or Science and Technology is your other PofC.

Specialized Natural Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Math PofCs

Environmental Studies

Maximum of two Social Science course including required courses. 

 

Required courses:

  1. Environmental Studies: ENVR 30 (counts as Natural Science course option)
  2. Environmental Studies: ENVR 110 (counts as Social Science course option)

 

Additional Courses (at least two courses must be upper division):

Natural Science Courses

  • Biological Sciences: BILD 3
  • Biological Sciences: BIEB 121, 131, 135, 140, 165, 166, 176
  • Chemistry: CHEM 15, 171, 172, 173
  • Environmental Studies: ENVR 120
  • Environmental Systems: ESYS 101, 102, 103, 120, 150
  • Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering: MAE 118
  • Physics: PHYS 12
  • Scripps Institution of Oceanography: SIO 10, SIO 12, 15, 16 -or- 16R, 20, 35, 110, 132, 134,150 

Social Science Courses 

  • Anthropology- Archaeology:  ANAR 115, 182
  • Anthropology- Biological Anthropology: ANBI 132
  • Anthropology- Sociocultural Anthropology: ANSC 160
  • Communication: COMM 171
  • Economics: ECON 131, 132, 145
  • Environmental Studies: ENVR 110, 140
  • Ethnic Studies: ETHN 103
  • Political Science: POLI 104E, 125A, 162
  • Psychology: PSYC 185
  • Sociology: SOCI 149
  • Urban Studies & Planning: USP 2, 124, 144, 165B, 171 

May not be used if Environmental Studies-Social Science is your other PofC.

Fundamentals of Biology

Requires any six four-unit, lower-division Biology courses. 


Recommended courses for non-science majors:

  • Biology:  BILD 1-99

More advanced courses are allowed.

Science and Technology

Requires six four-unit, lower-division courses, with a maximum of three from a single department.


Recommended courses: *Some advanced lower and upper-division courses may apply (see academic counselor).

  • Anthropology: ANTH 2
  • *Biology:  BILD 1-99
  • *Chemistry:  CHEM 1-99
  • Cognitive Science:  COGS 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14A, 14B, 15, 17, 18
  • Computer Science and Engineering:  CSE 3, 4GS, 6GS, 6R, 8B or 11
  • Computational Social Science: CSS 1, 2
  • Data Science: DSC 10, 20, 30
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering:  ECE 5, 15, 16, 17, 25, 30
  • Environmental Studies:  ENVR 30
  • Environmental Systems:  ESYS 10
  • Linguistics:  LIGN 17
  • Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering:  MAE 2, 3, 5, 7, 8
  • Music:  MUS 7
  • *Physics:  PHYS 1-99
  • Psychology: PSYC 2
  • *Scripps Institution of Oceanography:  SIO 1-99

May not be used if Humanities or Perspectives of Social Science is your other PofC.

Specialized Social Science PofCs

Anti-Racism

No more than two humanities courses allowed.

Three of the six courses selected must be upper division.

Social Science courses:

African American Studies: AAS 10, 185

Anthropology: ANSC 185, ANTH 21, ANTH 23, ANTH 105

Cognitive Science: CGS 114, CGS 147, COGS 150

Communications: COMM 114I, COMM 114J, COMM 129, COMM 138, COMM 155

Economics: ECON 138

Education Sciences: EDS 25, EDS 112, EDS 113, EDS 120, EDS 125, EDS 126

Environmental Studies: ENVR 110

Ethnic Studies: ETHN 1, ETHN 2, ETHN  3, ETHN 102, ETHN 103, ETHN 104, ETHN 105, ETHN 108, ETHN 109, ETHN 112B, ETHN 119, ETHN 120, ETHN 129, ETHN 131, ETN 134, ETN 142,  ETHN 147, ETHN 151, ETHN 152, ETHN 153, ETHN 163J, ETHN 167, ETHN 183

Latin American Studies: LATI 10

Linguistics: LIGN 8

Political Science: POLI 100H, POLI 100I, POLI 100J, POLI 100O, POLI 100Q,  POLI 100W, POLI 100Y, POLI 102E, POLI 102J, POLI 102K, P0LI 104N, POLI 105A, POLI 108, POLI  131

Psychology: PSYC 131

Sociology: SOCI 10,  SOCI 127, SOCI 139, SOCI 147, SOCI 151, SOCI  152, SOCI 183, SOCI 188K

Urban Studies & Planning: USP 1, USP 104, USP 106, USP 129, USP 132, USP 133, USP135

 

Humanities Courses:

History: 7A, HILD  7B, HILD 7C, HITO 136, HITO 155, HITO 156, HIUS 108B, HIUS 113, HIUS 120D, HIUS 128, HIUS 129, HIUS 136, HIUS 146, HIUS 155, HIUS 159, HIUS 174

Literature: LTCS 132, LTEN 179, LTEN 182

Music: MUS 17, MUS 107, MUS 126, MUS 151 

Philosophy: PHIL 156,  PHIL 165, PHIL 170

Theatre & Dance:TDGE 12

Visual Arts: VIS 125G

 

Business

Requires three courses from:

  • Management: MGT 4 or ECON 4, MGT 5, 16, 18, 45, 71, 100, 103, 112,166, 181

Requires three upper-division courses approved for the minor from:

  • Communication
  • Psychology
  • Sociology

If pursuing a business minor in lieu of a PofC, see an academic advisor regarding allowable courses.

Education Sciences

Requires at least six courses, with a minimum of 12 units (three four-unit) EDS courses, for a total of 24 units, chosen from the following:

  • Anthropology:  Sociocultural Anthropology:  ANSC 122, 162, 163
  • Cognitive Science:  COGS 154
  • Communication:  COMM 102, 110I, 168
  • Economics:  ECON 147
  • Education Sciences:  EDS 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 125, 126, 128A/139, 129A/139, 129B/139, 129C/139, 130/139, 131/139, 133/139, 135, 136/139, 137/139, 140/139, 141/139, 145/139, 146/139
  • Education Sciences/Linguistics:  EDS/LIGN 119
  • Ethnic Studies:  ETHN 140, 141, 144
  • Human Development Program:  HDP 1, 135
  • Psychology:  PSYC 101
  • Sociology:  SOCI 117, 126

Environmental Studies

Maximum of two Natural Science course including required courses. 

 

Required courses:

  1. Environmental Studies: ENVR 30 (counts as Natural Science course option)
  2. Environmental Studies: ENVR 110 (counts as Social Science course option)

 

Additional Courses (at least two courses must be upper division):

Social Science Courses 

  • Anthropology- Archaeology:  ANAR 115, 182
  • Anthropology- Biological Anthropology: ANBI 132
  • Anthropology- Sociocultural Anthropology: ANSC 160
  • Communication: COMM 171
  • Economics: ECON 131, 132, 145
  • Environmental Studies: ENVR 110, 140
  • Ethnic Studies: ETHN 103
  • Political Science: POLI 104E, 125A, 162
  • Psychology: PSYC 185
  • Sociology: SOCI 149
  • Urban Studies & Planning: USP 2, 124, 144, 165B, 171 

Natural Science Courses

  • Biological Sciences: BILD 3
  • Biological Sciences: BIEB 121, 131, 135, 140, 165, 166, 176
  • Chemistry: CHEM 15, 171, 172, 173
  • Environmental Studies: ENVR 120
  • Environmental Systems: ESYS 101, 102, 103, 120, 150
  • Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering: MAE 118
  • Physics: PHYS 12
  • Scripps Institution of Oceanography: SIO 10, SIO 12, 15, 16 -or- 16R, 20, 35, 110, 132, 134, 150 

May not be used if Environmental Studies - Natural Science is your other PofC.

Health Care - Social Issues

Required courses:

  1. Sociology: SOCI 40
  2. Philosophy: PHIL 163
  3. One course from Urban Studies and Planning courses: USP 143, 144, 145, or 147

Three courses (at least one must be upper division) from:

  • Anthropology:  ANTH 2
  • Anthropology:  Biological Anthropology:  ANBI 100*, 120, 130, 141
  • Anthropology:  Sociocultural Anthropology:  ANSC 100*, 101, 105, 143, 144, 146, 148, 164
  • Critical Gender Studies: CGS 107
  • Cognitive Science:  COGS 174
  • Communication: COMM 108D
  • Economics:  ECON 140, 141
  • Ethnic Studies:  ETHN 102, 142, 157
  • Family Medicine and Public Health: FMPH 40, 50
  • Global Health: GLBH 181
  • Linguistics: LIGN 146
  • Psychology:  PSYC 2, 60, 100, 104, 124, 132, 134, 154, 155, 168, 169, 172, 179, 181, 188
  • Sociology:  SOCI 60, 70, 107, 113, 120T*, 134E, 135, 136E-F, 138, 159*, 173
  • Urban Studies and Planning:  USP 143, 144, 145, 147, 149

*ANBI 100, ANSC 100, SOCI 120T and SOCI 159 must be health related. Approved topics will be listed on the program website.

Human Developmental Sciences

Required course:

  1. Human Development: HDS 1

Five upper-division Human Developmental Sciences courses from:

  • Anthropology
  • Communication
  • Human Developmental Sciences
  • Linguistics (LIGN)
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Urban Studies and Development

Law and Society

Maximum of 2 Humanities courses including required courses.

Required courses:

One course: POLI 40 or SOCI 50 or HILD 50 or PHIL 50

Note: POLI 40, SOCI 50 are Social Science courses

           HILD 50, PHIL 50 are Humanities courses

Social Science courses:

  • Anthropology: ANSC 123, 131, 140, 141
  • Communications: COMM 109E, 114F, 114M, 114N
  • Critical Gender Studies: CGS 118, 123
  • Economics: ECON 118, 119
  • Ethnic Studies: ETHN 152, **153 OR HIUS 136, 162
  • Linguistics: LIGN 105, 176
  • Political Science: POLI 13D, 104A, 104B, 104C, 104D, 104E, 104F, 104G, 104I, 104J, 104K, 104L, 104M, 104N, 104P, 104T, 104U, 140A, 140D, 145A, 150A
  • Psychology: PSYC 162, 164
  • Sociology: SOCI 140, 140A, 140F, 141, 142, 144, 145, 146, 152, 160E, 163
  • Urban Studies & Planning: USP 122, 123, 124, 150, 161

Humanities courses:

  • History: HISC 131, HITO 134, HIUS 128, **136 OR ETHN 153, 150, 151, 152A, 152B, 153, 155A, 155B, 169
  • Philosophy: PHIL 10, 138, 162, 163, 165, 167, 168

Can apply as either Humanities or Social Science courses:

  • Law and Society: LAWS 101

ANSC 100, HIUS 181, SOCI 120T topical courses are acceptable but must be law-related. Check with Warren College prior to taking the course(s) to ensure they will be accepted.

**Cross listed courses

Linguistics and Language

Required Course:

  1. Linguistics: LIGN 101
  2. Two courses in one language, level 1B/1BX and 1C/1CX or higher
  3. Three Linguistics/General (LIGN) courses, at least two of which must be upper-division.

For American Sign Language: LISL 1C/CX or LISL 1D/DX; LIGN 7, 101; and three Linguistics/General (LIGN) courses; at least two of which must be upper-division.

Perspectives of Social Science

Requires any combination of six four-unit courses, three of which must be upper-division from:

  • Anthropology
  • Communication
  • Economics
  • Education Sciences
  • Ethnic Studies
  • Human Developmental Sciences
  • Linguistics/General (LIGN)
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Urban Studies and Planning

This PofC does not meet minor requirements.

May not be used if Humanities or Science and Technology is your other PofC.