Social Justice Studies, AA-T

The Associate in Arts for Transfer degree in Social Justice Studies is intended to meet the lower division requirements for a variety of related majors at a CSU campus (e.g., Ethnic Studies, Gender Studies, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Studies, and majors related to the study of particular marginalized identity groups; majors related to language, cultural studies, regional studies, or interdisciplinary studies; Global Studies (Concentration in Latin America); History (Latin American History Option); Human Communication (Africana Studies Concentration or Chicano Studies Concentration); International Business (Emphasis in Spanish & Latin America); Labor and Employment Studies; Liberal Studies (Option in Interdisciplinary Studies in Culture & Society or Border Studies Option or Concentration in Ethnic Studies); Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding; Sociology (Concentration in Critical Race Studies or Concentration Race, Class, and Gender); Sociology with Inequalities and Diversity Option; Social Science with Emphasis in Islamic and Arabic Studies (see http://adegreewithaguarantee.com/en-us/abouttheprogram/findyourpath.aspx for a more complete listing of CSU destination majors). Students completing this degree are guaranteed admission to the CSU system, although not necessarily to a particular major or campus. Students may also transfer to non-CSU campuses where transfer requirements are met. The Social Justice Studies AA-T is an interdisciplinary degree that empowers students to be critical analysts of social phenomena, culturally competent communicators, and effective agents for change in law and society. Courses engage students in learning about concepts and values of civil rights and liberties, community, cooperation and collaboration, culture, diversity, ethics, equity, freedom, heterodoxy, human rights, inclusivity, justice, and solidarity, as well as about related legal, political and social movements, protests and resistance, socio-legal studies, law and social change, and conflict analysis and transformation for social justice, equity, and liberation. Courses facilitate open inquiry and the critical examination of issues related to social justice and oppressive structures, systems, and institutions within society. This degree is designed to appeal to the student who is interested in learning about the experiences of marginalized groups. Students gain important foundational knowledge that prepares them to critically examine power dynamics in society through a social justice lens and to address injustices through civic activism or careers in a variety of fields, such as advocacy, arts, business, child advocacy, clinical psychology, community organization, conflict resolution, criminal justice, disability rights, drama, education, environmental justice, human relations, human rights groups, immigration, international agencies, law, law enforcement, lobbying, media, music, nonprofits, politics, public policy, religious organizations, social science, and social work.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate the ability to identify and communicate the significance of age, class and socioeconomic status, criminal history, ethnicity, family and marital status, gender identity, immigrant status, nationality, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, political beliefs and ideological viewpoints, race, religion, and sexual orientation inequality in the distribution of life chances, such as education, health, housing, freedom, employment and career opportunities and environment.
2. Understand and demonstrate the ability to explain the historical and contemporary impact, methods, and potential of legal, political, and social action, movements, and resistance on social justice, liberation, and social change of oppressive structures, systems, and institutions within law and society.
3. Demonstrate the ability to identify and explain categories of discrimination and their effects, such as related social justice issues of ableism, ageism, anti-Semitism, censorship, classism, heterosexism, intolerance, poverty, prejudice, privilege, racism, religionism, subordination, the school-to-prison pipeline, sexism, sectarianism, xenophobia, and other oppressive structures, systems, and institutions within society. Additionally, students will demonstrate an understanding of historical and contemporary efforts and methods to remediate, heal and overcome such issues in law and society.
4. Demonstrate the ability to engage in conflict analysis and transformation for social justice while understanding and defending concepts and values of civil rights and liberties, community, cooperation and collaboration, culture, diversity, ethics, equity, freedom, heterodoxy, human rights, inclusivity, justice, love, peace and non-violence, and solidarity.