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Social Justice Studies

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Associate Degree for Transfer

A.A.-T. in Social Justice Studies, Ethnic Studies

The Associate in Arts in Social Justice Studies, Ethnic Studies for Transfer (AA-T) degree provides a curricular track for students who wish to transfer into a variety of CSU majors related to race and ethnicity, such as Ethnic Studies, Chicano Studies, Native-American Studies, Asian-American Studies, or African-American Studies. This Transfer Model is an "Area of Emphasis" (AOE), which allows for students to transfer into more than one CSU major related to Race and Ethnicity. Students interested in transferring to a CSU campus to pursue a bachelor's degree in an Area of Emphasis should meet with a counselor to confirm the courses required for lower division preparation in the major. This degree exposes students to the core principles and practices of the Social Justice Studies field in order to build a foundation for their future personal, academic, or vocational paths.



The Associate in Arts in Social Justice Studies, Ethnic Studies for Transfer degree provides students with a major that fulfills the general requirements of the California State University for transfer. Students with this degree will receive priority admission with junior status to the California State University system.



The Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) student completion requirements (as stated in SB1440 law):



(1) Completion of 60 semester units or 90 quarter units that are eligible for transfer to the California State University, including both of the following:

(A) The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or the California State University General Education-Breadth Requirements (CSU GE-Breadth).

(B) A minimum of 18 semester units or 27 quarter units in a major or area of emphasis, as determined by the community college district.



(2) Obtainment of a minimum grade point average of 2.0.



ADTs also require that students must earn a “C” or better in all courses required for the major or area of emphasis. A "P" (Pass) grade is also an acceptable grade for courses in the major if the course is taken on a Pass/No Pass basis.

Catalog Date: August 1, 2024

Degree Requirements

Course Code Course Title Units
ETHNS 300 Introduction to Ethnic Studies 3
SJS 300 Introduction to Social Justice Studies 3
WGS 300 Introduction to Women and Gender Studies 3
A minimum of 9 units from the following: 9
Select three courses from at least two of the following areas
Area 1: History or Government
HIST 320 History of the United States: African-American Emphasis (3)
   or HIST 486 History of the United States: African American Emphasis - Honors (3)
HIST 321 History of the United States: African-American Emphasis (3)
   or HIST 487 History of the United States: African American Emphasis - Honors (3)
HIST 327 History of the Chicano/Mexican American (3)
HIST 360 History of African Civilizations (3)
HIST 364 Asian Civilization (3)
HIST 365 Asian Civilization (3)
HIST 373 History of Mexico (3)
HIST 375 The History of Modern Latin America and Caribbean (3)
HIST 380 History of the Middle East (3)
Area 2: Arts and Humanities
ARTH 320 Multicultural Art in America (3)
ARTH 324 Art of the Americas (3)
ARTH 325 Native American Art History (3)
ARTH 328 Survey of African Art (3)
ARTH 332 Asian Art (3)
ARTH 334 International Contemporary Art (3)
ENGLT 331 African-American Literature (1730-1930) (3)
ENGLT 332 African-American Literature (1930-Present) (3)
ENGLT 334 Asian-American Literature (3)
ENGLT 335 Latino, Mexican-American, and Chicano Literature (3)
HUM 320 Asian Humanities (3)
Area 3: Social Sciences
ANTH 310 Cultural Anthropology (3)
   or ANTH 481 Honors Cultural Anthropology (3)
ANTH 325 Archaeology of Mesoamerica (3)
ANTH 332 Native Peoples of California (3)
ANTH 334 Native Peoples of North America (3)
ETHNS 320 Introduction to African American Studies (3)
ETHNS 330 Introduction to Asian American Studies (3)
ETHNS 341 The Sociology & Psychology of Mexicans and Latinos in the U.S. (3)
ETHNS 350 Introduction to Native American Studies (3)
ETHNS 351 Native American Policy and Law (3)
ETHNS 360 Introduction to Chicana/o/x Studies (3)
GLST 301 Introduction to Global Studies (3)
GLST 302 Global Issues (3)
PSYC 320 Social Psychology (3)
SOC 321 Race, Ethnicity and Inequality in the United States (3)
   or SOC 482 Race, Ethnicity and Inequality in the United States - Honors (3)
WGS 302 Global Women's Issues (3)
WGS 304 Women, Globalization, and Human Rights (3)
Area 4: Quantitative Reasoning
PSYC 330 Introductory Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (3)
   or STAT 300 Introduction to Probability and Statistics (4)
   or STAT 480 Introduction to Probability and Statistics - Honors (4)
Area 5: Major Preparation
HIST 308 History of World Civilizations, 1500 to Present (3)
SOC 300 Introductory Sociology (3)
Total Units: 18

The Associate in Arts in Social Justice Studies, Ethnic Studies for Transfer (AA-T) degree may be obtained by completion of 60 transferable, semester units with a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0, including (a) a minimum grade of "C" (or "P") for each course in the major or area of emphasis described in the Required Program, and (b) either the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or the California State University General Education-Breadth Requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • research how theoretical perspectives and critical theories on social justice inform the social, political, economic, historical, and cultural circumstances surrounding justice as they relate to race and ethnicity as well as other intersectional aspects of life in society.
  • define and analyze power and oppression to better understand how they operate at the individual, cultural, and institutional levels.
  • explain how intersectional formations of social identity reflecting various levels of power and privilege impact social justice at the individual, cultural, and institutional levels.
  • recognize the historical origins and similarities in struggles for social justice among different ethnic and racial groups.
  • assess artistic works that examine oppression, power, and justice as they relate to race and ethnicity.

Career Information

The AA-T degree provides students with a solid foundation in Social Justice Studies as well as prerequisites for upper division coursework leading to the baccalaureate degree in a variety of Areas of Emphasis. The degree gives students a pathway to possibilities, options and baccalaureate degrees focusing on social justice. In addition, a student can use the AA-T in Social Justice Studies to get into a CSU and then complete a graduate degree in a related field. Students with degrees in this field often assume careers as (or in) the following: activists, community organizers, political campaigners, human rights groups, religious organizations, international agencies, lobbyists, and mediators. This program is also an excellent starting point for students interested in a career in law, law enforcement, social work, clinical psychology, politics, business, education or public policy.