Social Justice Studies
Overview
Social Justice Studies introduces students to the theoretical and practical foundations of social justice and the social processes that create and resist oppression.
- Dean Dennis Lee
- Department Chair Dominic Cerri
- Meta Major People and Society
- Phone (916) 558-2401
- Email SCC-BSS@losrios.edu
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: January 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 340 | Introduction to Chicana/o/x 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 Culture and the Impact of Federal Policy (3) | |
| GLST 301 | Introduction to Global Studies (3) | |
| GLST 302 | Global Issues (3) | |
| POLS 312 | Politics of the Middle East (3) | |
| POLS 313 | Latin America (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.
Social Justice Studies (SJS) Courses
SJS 299 Experimental Offering in Social Justice Studies
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Prerequisite:None.
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2024
This is the experimental courses description.
SJS 300 Introduction to Social Justice Studies
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:ENGWR 300 or ESLW 340 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area V(b); AA/AS Area VI; CSU Area D; IGETC Area 4
- C-ID:C-ID SJS 110
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2024
This interdisciplinary course introduces students to the theoretical and practical foundations of social justice and the social processes that create and resist oppression. It covers the sociology, history and psychology of oppressions based upon race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality and other group identities in the United States and the corresponding social justice movements for liberation. It investigates how creating and undoing asymmetrical power relations are linked to social structures, institutional processes and culture. Additionally, it provides a basis for a better understanding of socio-economic, political and cultural conditions of key social groups in the United States. Topics include theoretical foundations of social justice and oppression, history and politics of group identity, culture and ideologies, forms of oppression, privilege and forms of resistance.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- define the foundational theories within social justice studies.
- explain how social, economic and political institutions create asymmetries of power, privilege and wealth.
- analyze processes of identity formation and group formation.
- recognize the historical roots of oppression in the United States and how they shape the experience of individuals according to race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality and sexual orientation.
- assess the complex intersections and relationships within and across race, ethnicity, class, gender and sexual orientation.
- apply analytical concepts to the study of social movements.
- analyze various efforts for social justice and liberation.
- understand theories on how and why groups resist.
SJS 310 Introduction to LGBTQ Studies
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:ENGWR 300 or ESLW 340 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU; UC (For Fall 2023 start)
- General Education:AA/AS Area V(b); CSU Area D; IGETC Area 4
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2024
This course introduces students to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) studies. It explores how LGBTQ+ individuals and communities are impacted by various social, cultural, historical, and political factors. Topics include politics of sexuality and sexual identities; forms of oppression including heterosexism, homophobia, and transphobia, as well as resistance to oppression, violence against LGBTQ+ individuals and communities, and queer activism. This course also includes contemporary issues in families, education, religion, and the law.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- analyze the various ways people identify their sexual orientation and/or their gender identity and expression.
- explore the intersections of homophobia, sexism, heterosexism, transphobia, racism, classism, ageism, ableism and other intersecting identities within the context of LGBTQ+ political struggles in the United States.
- assess theories about sexual orientation and gender identity and expression within the context of feminist theory, gender theory, and queer theory.
- examine the continuous evolution of legal policies and societal views of LGBTQ+ people on a global level.
- examine sexual orientation and gender identity within Native American, African American, Chicano/a and Latino/a, Asian American, Pacific Islander, and recent immigrant communities in the United States.
- identify key individuals and describe their roles and contributions to domestic and international LGBTQ+ struggles for full human rights.
- assess the impact of hate crimes on LGBTQ+ individuals, the LGBTQ+ community, the community at large, and public policy.
- research the history of public health policy in the United States as well as internationally to explore the ways that LGBTQ+ people have consistently suffered under homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic policies.
- examine the evolution of LGBTQ+ culture in literature, the media, and the arts.
- explore the evolution of our education system on the ability of LGBTQ+ individuals and communities to achieve social justice and equity.
SJS 499 Experimental Offering in Social Justice Studies
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Prerequisite:None.
- Catalog Date:January 1, 2024
This is the experimental courses description.