Academic Catalog

Social Justice Studies, AA-T

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Program Description

Social justice is the idea that all members of a society are entitled to equal rights and equal opportunities. Social Justice Studies recognizes the social inequality and inequities in society—particularly regarding race and ethnicity, and gender and sexuality—and works in its analysis toward creating a more equitable society. More specifically, Social Justice Studies analyzes the injustices in society, such as how racism, sexism, and homophobia are manifested through discrimination, economic disparities, and violence. Furthermore, Social Justice Studies examines social policies that aim to alleviate injustices and create a more equitable society.

The Associate in Arts in Social Justice Studies for Transfer Degree is designed to prepare students to transfer into the California State University (CSU) system. Students who complete the degree will be ensured preferential transfer status into the CSU system for Social Justice Studies majors and majors in related disciplines. The degree requirements will fulfill the lower division major requirements at many local CSUs. Students are advised, however, to meet with a counselor to assess the course requirements for specific local CSUs and to validate which CSUs are considered local. The degree will enable students to develop a strong foundation in race and ethnicity, gender and women's studies, social research methods or quantitative reasoning, and understanding patterns of inter-personal behavior, and will also offer interdisciplinary perspectives on social inequality and social justice. In addition, students will develop strong critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills that will prepare them for the requirements of upper division course work.

Students who complete the Associate in Arts in Social Justice Studies for Transfer Degree will be awarded one degree, to be selected from one of the following three emphases:

  • General Social Justice Studies: Provides a broad understanding of social justice and injustice
  • Gender and Sexuality: Focuses on the experiences of women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and queer individuals
  • Race and Ethnicity: Explores racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. and around the world

Learn more about the program on the Sociology website.

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Students will be able to identify and analyze the causes of race and gender inequality in the United States.
  • Students will identify and analyze social policies that have the potential to alleviate race and gender inequalities.

Units Required

  • Major: 28-33

Associate Degree Requirements

Associate in Arts in Social Justice Studies for Transfer requires completion of a minimum of 90 units to include:

  • CSU General Education Breadth Requirements or the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)1 (49-58 units) (full certification is required)
  • Core and support courses (28-33 units, of which 12-31 units may satisfy the GE requirement)
  • Transferable electives necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement
1

Important Note: Although it is possible to fulfill the requirements for the Associate Degree for Transfer by completing the IGETC for UC pattern, admission to CSU requires completion of an Oral Communication course (IGETC Area 1C; CSU GE Area A-1); therefore, students who plan to transfer to CSU should complete this course as part of their GE or elective units.

Note: All courses pertaining to the major must be completed with a grade of "C" (or "P") or better. In addition, the student must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.0.

Core and Support Courses

Select one of the following emphasis options:

Option 1: General Social Justice Studies

Core Courses
SOC 23RACE & ETHNIC RELATIONS4
SOC 28SOCIOLOGY OF GENDER4
Select one course from the following:4-5
ANTH 2A
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
or ANTH 2AH
 HONORS CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
COMM 12
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
ECON 25
THE GLOBAL ECONOMY
ETHN 1
INTRODUCTION TO ETHNIC STUDIES
ETHN 2
INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES
ETHN 3
INTRODUCTION TO LATINX STUDIES
ETHN 4
INTRODUCTION TO NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES
ETHN 5
INTRODUCTION TO ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES
POLI 15
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS/WORLD POLITICS
or POLI 15H
 HONORS INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS/WORLD POLITICS
SOC 1
INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
or SOC 1H
 HONORS INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
WMN 5
INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN'S STUDIES
Support Courses
List A
Complete four courses from at least three areas, below:16-20
Area 1: History or Government
HIST 17B
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES FROM 1812 TO 1914
HIST 17C
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES FROM 1914 TO THE PRESENT
POLI 1
POLITICAL SCIENCE: INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
POLI 15
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS/WORLD POLITICS 1
or POLI 15H
 HONORS INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS/WORLD POLITICS
Area 2: Arts and Humanities
ART 2E
A HISTORY OF WOMEN IN ART
ART 2F
INTRODUCTION TO ASIAN ART
ART 2J
AMERICAN ART
ENGL 5
LOUD & QUEER: LITERATURE OF SEXUAL/GENDER IDENTITY
ENGL 7
NATIVE AMERICAN LITERATURE
ENGL 12
AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE
ENGL 22
WOMEN WRITERS
ENGL 31
LATINO/A LITERATURE
ENGL 38
LITERATURE OF PROTEST
ENGL 40
ASIAN AMERICAN LITERATURE
MDIA 3
INTRODUCTION TO FILM & MEDIA CRITICISM
MDIA 11
INTRODUCTION TO POPULAR CULTURE
or MDIA 11H
 HONORS INTRODUCTION TO POPULAR CULTURE
or HUMN 11
 INTRODUCTION TO POPULAR CULTURE
or HUMN 11H
 HONORS INTRODUCTION TO POPULAR CULTURE
MUS 8
MUSIC OF AMERICAN CULTURES
or MUS 8H
 HONORS MUSIC OF AMERICAN CULTURES
PHIL 24
COMPARATIVE WORLD RELIGIONS: EAST
PHIL 25
COMPARATIVE WORLD RELIGIONS: WEST
PHOT 8
PHOTOGRAPHY OF AMERICAN CULTURES
or PHOT 8H
 HONORS PHOTOGRAPHY OF AMERICAN CULTURES
THTR 8
MULTICULTURAL THEATRE ARTS IN MODERN AMERICA
Area 3: Social Science
ANTH 2A
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY 1
or ANTH 2AH
 HONORS CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 4
FIRST PEOPLES OF NORTH AMERICA
ANTH 6
PERSPECTIVES FROM AFRICA
ANTH 20
NATIVE PEOPLES OF CALIFORNIA
CHLD 51A
AFFIRMING DIVERSITY IN EDUCATION
COMM 10
GENDER, COMMUNICATION & CULTURE
COMM 12
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION 1
ECON 25
THE GLOBAL ECONOMY 1
ETHN 1
INTRODUCTION TO ETHNIC STUDIES 1
GEOG 2
HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
GLST 1
INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL STUDIES
or GLST 1H
 HONORS INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL STUDIES
GLST 2
GLOBAL ISSUES
HIST 10
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA: THE MULTICULTURAL STATE
HLTH 20
INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH
HLTH 22
HEALTH & SOCIAL JUSTICE
PSYC 21
PSYCHOLOGY OF WOMEN: SEX & GENDER DIFFERENCES
or WMN 21
 PSYCHOLOGY OF WOMEN: SEX & GENDER DIFFERENCES
PSYC 22
PSYCHOLOGY OF PREJUDICE & DISCRIMINATION
PSYC 49
HUMAN SEXUALITY
SOSC 20
CROSS-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES FOR A MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY
WMN 11
WOMEN IN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
Area 4: Quantitative Reasoning and Research Methods
MATH 10
ELEMENTARY STATISTICS
or MATH 17
 INTEGRATED STATISTICS II
or PSYC 7
 STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
or SOC 7
 STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
PSYC 10
RESEARCH METHODS & DESIGNS
or SOC 10
 SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODS & DESIGNS
Area 5: Major Preparation
ANTH 2A
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY 1
or ANTH 2AH
 HONORS CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
COMM 12
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION 1
ECON 25
THE GLOBAL ECONOMY 1
POLI 15
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS/WORLD POLITICS 1
or POLI 15H
 HONORS INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS/WORLD POLITICS
SOC 1
INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY 1
or SOC 1H
 HONORS INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
SOC 20
MAJOR SOCIAL PROBLEMS
Total Units28-33
1

May be completed only once for credit to satisfy either the core or support course requirement.

Option 2: Gender and Sexuality

Core Courses
SOC 23RACE & ETHNIC RELATIONS4
SOC 28SOCIOLOGY OF GENDER4
WMN 5INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN'S STUDIES4
Support Courses
List A
Complete four courses from at least three areas, below:16-20
Area 1: History or Government
HIST 17B
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES FROM 1812 TO 1914
HIST 17C
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES FROM 1914 TO THE PRESENT
POLI 1
POLITICAL SCIENCE: INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
POLI 15
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS/WORLD POLITICS
or POLI 15H
 HONORS INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS/WORLD POLITICS
Area 2: Arts and Humanities
ART 2E
A HISTORY OF WOMEN IN ART
ENGL 5
LOUD & QUEER: LITERATURE OF SEXUAL/GENDER IDENTITY
ENGL 22
WOMEN WRITERS
ENGL 38
LITERATURE OF PROTEST
Area 3: Social Science
COMM 10
GENDER, COMMUNICATION & CULTURE
HLTH 20
INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH
PSYC 21
PSYCHOLOGY OF WOMEN: SEX & GENDER DIFFERENCES
or WMN 21
 PSYCHOLOGY OF WOMEN: SEX & GENDER DIFFERENCES
PSYC 22
PSYCHOLOGY OF PREJUDICE & DISCRIMINATION
PSYC 49
HUMAN SEXUALITY
SOC 45
SOCIOLOGY OF SEXUALITY
WMN 11
WOMEN IN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
Area 4: Quantitative Reasoning and Research Methods
MATH 10
ELEMENTARY STATISTICS
or MATH 17
 INTEGRATED STATISTICS II
or PSYC 7
 STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
or SOC 7
 STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
PSYC 10
RESEARCH METHODS & DESIGNS
or SOC 10
 SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODS & DESIGNS
Area 5: Major Preparation
ANTH 2A
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
or ANTH 2AH
 HONORS CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
COMM 12
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
ECON 25
THE GLOBAL ECONOMY
POLI 15
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS/WORLD POLITICS
or POLI 15H
 HONORS INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS/WORLD POLITICS
SOC 1
INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
or SOC 1H
 HONORS INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
SOC 20
MAJOR SOCIAL PROBLEMS
Total Units28-32

Option 3: Race and Ethnicity

Core Courses
SOC 23RACE & ETHNIC RELATIONS4
SOC 28SOCIOLOGY OF GENDER4
Select one course from the following:4-5
ANTH 2A
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
or ANTH 2AH
 HONORS CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
COMM 12
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
ETHN 1
INTRODUCTION TO ETHNIC STUDIES
ETHN 2
INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES
ETHN 3
INTRODUCTION TO LATINX STUDIES
ETHN 4
INTRODUCTION TO NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES
ETHN 5
INTRODUCTION TO ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES
Support Courses
List A
Complete four courses from at least three areas, below:16-20
Area 1: History or Government
HIST 17B
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES FROM 1812 TO 1914
HIST 17C
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES FROM 1914 TO THE PRESENT
POLI 1
POLITICAL SCIENCE: INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
POLI 15
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS/WORLD POLITICS
or POLI 15H
 HONORS INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS/WORLD POLITICS
Area 2: Arts and Humanities
ART 2F
INTRODUCTION TO ASIAN ART
ART 2J
AMERICAN ART
ENGL 7
NATIVE AMERICAN LITERATURE
ENGL 12
AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE
ENGL 31
LATINO/A LITERATURE
ENGL 38
LITERATURE OF PROTEST
ENGL 40
ASIAN AMERICAN LITERATURE
MDIA 3
INTRODUCTION TO FILM & MEDIA CRITICISM
MDIA 11
INTRODUCTION TO POPULAR CULTURE
or MDIA 11H
 HONORS INTRODUCTION TO POPULAR CULTURE
or HUMN 11
 INTRODUCTION TO POPULAR CULTURE
or HUMN 11H
 HONORS INTRODUCTION TO POPULAR CULTURE
MUS 8
MUSIC OF AMERICAN CULTURES
or MUS 8H
 HONORS MUSIC OF AMERICAN CULTURES
PHIL 24
COMPARATIVE WORLD RELIGIONS: EAST
PHIL 25
COMPARATIVE WORLD RELIGIONS: WEST
PHOT 8
PHOTOGRAPHY OF AMERICAN CULTURES
or PHOT 8H
 HONORS PHOTOGRAPHY OF AMERICAN CULTURES
Area 3: Social Science
ANTH 2A
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY 1
or ANTH 2AH
 HONORS CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
ANTH 4
FIRST PEOPLES OF NORTH AMERICA
ANTH 6
PERSPECTIVES FROM AFRICA
ANTH 20
NATIVE PEOPLES OF CALIFORNIA
CHLD 51A
AFFIRMING DIVERSITY IN EDUCATION
COMM 10
GENDER, COMMUNICATION & CULTURE
COMM 12
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION 1
ECON 25
THE GLOBAL ECONOMY
ETHN 1
INTRODUCTION TO ETHNIC STUDIES 1
GEOG 2
HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
HIST 10
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA: THE MULTICULTURAL STATE
HLTH 20
INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH
PSYC 22
PSYCHOLOGY OF PREJUDICE & DISCRIMINATION
SOSC 20
CROSS-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES FOR A MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY
Area 4: Quantitative Reasoning and Research Methods
MATH 10
ELEMENTARY STATISTICS
or MATH 17
 INTEGRATED STATISTICS II
or PSYC 7
 STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
or SOC 7
 STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
PSYC 10
RESEARCH METHODS & DESIGNS
or SOC 10
 SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODS & DESIGNS
Area 5: Major Preparation
ANTH 2A
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY 1
or ANTH 2AH
 HONORS CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
COMM 12
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION 1
ECON 25
THE GLOBAL ECONOMY
POLI 15
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS/WORLD POLITICS
or POLI 15H
 HONORS INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS/WORLD POLITICS
SOC 1
INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
or SOC 1H
 HONORS INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
SOC 20
MAJOR SOCIAL PROBLEMS
Total Units28-33
1

May be completed only once for credit to satisfy either the core or support course requirement.