Social Justice Studies: Ethnic Studies, Associate in Arts for Transfer
An Associate of Arts in Social Justice Studies for Transfer is a unique degree that aligns with various topic-specific degrees that are offered at many four-year institutions, providing interdisciplinary education and preparing students for a seamless transfer into Ethnic Studies, Gender Studies, Social Justice Studies, and related majors in the California State University system, where they can customize their upper-division courses to earn a baccalaureate degree.
Social Justice Studies is interdisciplinary and interrogates the multiple meanings of diversity. It engages students in a critical evaluation of historical, cultural, and social movements, lived experiences, and socio-economic issues of diverse communities. The goal of social justice studies is to prepare students to be critical thinkers and engaged members of society who can solve social concerns in their communities as well as successfully work and live in a variety of environments.
A degree in Social Justice Studies can be used in social work, education, law, community or social services, cultural arts, legislative advocacy, politics, human rights development, and in local, state, federal, and international governmental agencies. Students must complete the Associate Degree for Transfer requirements to earn the AA-T degree.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Explain and analyze theories of Social Justice, the history of social activism, and social movements.
- Engage in critical reflection about social justice rooted in community-based experiences that develop cultural competency in local and global contexts.
- Define and use key concepts, terminology, and theoretical frameworks central to the interdisciplinary fields of Ethnic Studies or Gender and Women’s Studies.
- Articulate symbolic and aesthetic expressions based on ethnicity or gender.
Associate in Arts for Transfer Degree Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core | ||
| Select three courses from the following: | 9 | |
| Introduction to Ethnic Studies | ||
| Introduction to Race and Ethnicity | ||
| Introduction to Gender and Women’s Studies | ||
| Introduction to Gender and Sexuality | ||
| List A | ||
| Select three courses from at least two of the following areas: | 9-10 | |
| Area 1: History or Government | ||
| American Government and African American Politics | ||
| Chicanos in American Politics | ||
| Chicano History 1848 to Present | ||
| African Americans in U.S. History to 1877 | ||
| African Americans in U.S. History 1865 to Present | ||
| Area 2: Arts and Humanities | ||
| Mexican-American and Chicano Art | ||
| African-American Arts and Music | ||
| Ethnic Images in Film | ||
| Area 3: Social Science | ||
| Introduction to Native American Studies | ||
| Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in American Society | ||
| Sociology of Latinos and Latinas | ||
| Area 4: Quantitative Reasoning and Research Methods (Only one course may be used to satisfy List A.) | ||
| Introduction to Statistics | ||
or PSYC/SOCI 19 | Introduction to Statistics for the Social Sciences | |
| Area 5: Major Preparation | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Gender in Global Perspective | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Contemporary Social Problems | ||
| TOTAL MAJOR UNITS | 18-19 | |
| Additional Requirements | 41-42 | |
| Complete Cal-GETC pattern and electives, if needed, for a total of 60 transferable units. | ||
| Total Units | 60 | |
Please refer to the program requirements section of the Catalog for information about associate degree requirements and certificate requirements including Information Competency, and General Education requirements.
The model sequence of coursework below is one pathway for students to complete the program. The information below is not an official educational plan. An MPC Counselor can assist you with creating a personalized education plan based on your academic, career, and personal goals. Visit MPC’s Counseling website for more information about Counseling and up-to-date program requirements.
Suggested 2-Year Course Sequence
Suggested 2-Year Course Sequence
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Units | |
| ENGL C1000 | Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
| STAT C1000 | Introduction to Statistics or Introduction to Statistics for the Social Sciences or Introduction to Statistics for the Social Sciences | 4 |
| ETNC 10 | Introduction to Ethnic Studies or Introduction to Race and Ethnicity or Introduction to Gender and Women’s Studies or Introduction to Gender and Sexuality | 3 |
| Major List A | 3 | |
| Elective (COUN 10 Recommended) | 1 | |
| Units | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL C1001 | Critical Thinking and Writing | 3 |
| ETNC 10 | Introduction to Ethnic Studies or Introduction to Race and Ethnicity or Introduction to Gender and Women’s Studies or Introduction to Gender and Sexuality | 3 |
| Cal-GETC Area 3A (ETNC 4 or 5 Recommended) | 3 | |
| Cal-GETC Area 5A and 5C | 4 | |
| Electives (CSU/UC Transferable) | 3 | |
| Units | 16 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| COMM C1000 | Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
| ETNC 10 | Introduction to Ethnic Studies or Introduction to Race and Ethnicity or Introduction to Gender and Women’s Studies or Introduction to Gender and Sexuality | 3 |
| Cal-GETC Area 3B (ETNC 24 Recommended) | 3 | |
| Cal-GETC 5B (ANTH 2 Recommended) | 3 | |
| Electives (CSU/UC Transferable) | 3 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Major List A | 3 | |
| Cal-GETC Area 6 | 3 | |
| Electives (ETNC 16 or 18 Recommended) | 3 | |
| Electives (CSU/UC Transferable) | 6 | |
| Units | 15 | |
| Total Units | 60 | |
MPC transfer programs are designed to enable students to complete lower-division requirements in preparation for transfer to a baccalaureate-granting institution.
The Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act (Senate Bill 1440, codified in California Education Code sections 66746-66749) guarantees admission to California State University (CSU) system for any community college student who earns an Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT), although not to a particular campus or major. Upon transferring to a CSU campus that accepts the Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) or Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T), students will be required to complete no more than 60 upper-division units to earn a bachelor’s degree in a same or similar major (unless designated as a “high-unit” major).
The following Associate Degree for Transfer requirements must be completed to earn the AA-T or AS-T degree:
- Minimum of 60 CSU-transferable semester units;
- Minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 in all CSU-transferable coursework (while a minimum of 2.0 is required for admission, some majors may require a higher GPA);
- Completion of a minimum of 18 semester units as detailed in the Major Requirements;
- Completion of all courses in the major with a grade of C or better (or a “P” if the course is taken on a “Pass/No Pass” basis);
- Certified completion of the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) pattern.
All students should consult with a Counselor to discuss transfer pathways and specific university admission requirements. Visit MPC’s Counseling website for more information about Counseling services provided by MPC and to connect with a Counselor.