Social Justice Studies
Associate Degrees for Transfer
A.A.-T. in Social Justice Studies: Race and Ethnicity
The Associate in Arts in Social Justice Studies: Race and Ethnicity for Transfer (AA-T) program provides students with a major that fulfills the general requirements for transfer to a California State University. Students with this degree will receive priority admission with junior status to the California State University system. Students should work closely with their American River College counselor to ensure that they are taking the appropriate coursework to prepare for majors related to Race and Ethnicity at the institution they wish to transfer to because major and general education requirements may vary for each CSU and the degree may only transfer to specific institutions.
Students must complete the following Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) requirements (pursuant to SB1440, §66746):
• 60 semester or 90 quarter CSU-transferable units
• the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) pattern
• a minimum of 18 semester or 27 quarter units in the major or area of emphasis as determined by the community college district
• obtain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0
All 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, 2025
Degree Requirements
| Course Code | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core: | ||
| SJS 300 | Introduction to Social Justice Studies | 3 |
| SJS 310 | Introduction to LGBTQ Studies | 3 |
| SOC 321 | Race, Ethnicity and Inequality in the United States | 3 |
| List A: | ||
| 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) | |
| HIST 321 | History of the United States: African-American Emphasis (3) | |
| HIST 323 | History of the United States: The American Indian Experience (3) | |
| HIST 325 | History of Asian/Pacific Americans (3) | |
| HIST 327 | History of the Chicano/Mexican American (3) | |
| Area 2: Arts and Humanities | ||
| ENGLT 330 | African American Literature (3) | |
| or ENGLT 486 | Honors African American Literature (3) | |
| ENGLT 334 | Asian-American Literature (3) | |
| ENGLT 335 | Latino, Mexican-American, and Chicano Literature (3) | |
| ENGLT 338 | Native American Literature (3) | |
| HUM 320 | Asian Humanities (3) | |
| Area 3: Social Sciences | ||
| ANTH 334 | Native Peoples of North America (3) | |
| HSER 330 | Issues of Diverse Populations (3) | |
| or PSYC 365 | Issues of Diverse Populations (3) | |
| JOUR 320 | Race and Gender in the Media (3) | |
| SOC 342 | Gender Relations in American Society (3) | |
| Area 4: Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| PSYC 330 | Introductory Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (3) | |
| or STAT C1000 | Introduction to Statistics (4) | |
| or STAT C1000H | Introduction to Statistics - Honors (4) | |
| Area 5: Major Preparation | ||
| PSYC C1000 | Introduction to Psychology (3) | |
| or PSYC C1000H | Introduction to Psychology - Honors (3) | |
| SOC 300 | Introductory Sociology (3) | |
| or SOC 480 | Introductory Sociology - Honors (3) | |
| Total Units: | 18 | |
The Associate in Arts in Social Justice Studies: Race and Ethnicity for Transfer (AA-T) degree may be obtained by completion of 60 transferable, semester units with a minimum 2.0 GPA, including (a) the major or area of emphasis described in the Required Program, and (b) the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) Requirement.
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, institutional, and systemic levels.
- explain how intersectional formations of social identity reflecting various levels of power and privilege impact social justice at the individual, cultural, institutional, and systemic levels.
- recognize the historical origins and similarities and differences 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, social science, politics, business, education, or public policy.
A.A.-T. in Social Justice Studies: Women, Gender, and LGBTQ Studies
The Associate in Arts in Social Justice Studies: Women, Gender, and LGBTQ Studies for Transfer (AA-T) program provides students with a major that fulfills the general requirements for transfer to a California State University. Students with this degree will receive priority admission with junior status to the California State University system. Students should work closely with their American River College counselor to ensure that they are taking the appropriate coursework to prepare for majors related to Women’s Studies, Gender Studies, and/or Queer Studies at the institution they wish to transfer to because major and general education requirements may vary for each CSU and the degree may only transfer to specific institutions.
Students must complete the following Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) requirements (pursuant to SB1440, §66746):
• 60 semester or 90 quarter CSU-transferable units
• the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) pattern
• a minimum of 18 semester or 27 quarter units in the major or area of emphasis as determined by the community college district
• obtain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0
All 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, 2025
Degree Requirements
| Course Code | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core: | ||
| SJS 300 | Introduction to Social Justice Studies | 3 |
| SJS 310 | Introduction to LGBTQ Studies | 3 |
| SOC 342 | Gender Relations in American Society | 3 |
| List A: | ||
| 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 330 | Women in American History (3) | |
| POLS 342 | Women and Politics from a Global Perspective (3) | |
| Area 2: Arts and Humanities | ||
| ENGLT 360 | Women in Literature (3) | |
| ENGLT 365 | Introduction to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Literature (3) | |
| Area 3: Social Sciences | ||
| ANTH 336 | Anthropology of Sex, Sexuality and Gender (3) | |
| HSER 330 | Issues of Diverse Populations (3) | |
| or PSYC 365 | Issues of Diverse Populations (3) | |
| JOUR 320 | Race and Gender in the Media (3) | |
| PSYC 356 | Human Sexuality (3) | |
| PSYC 361 | Psychology of Women in a Multicultural Society (3) | |
| SOC 321 | Race, Ethnicity and Inequality in the United States (3) | |
| Area 4: Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| PSYC 330 | Introductory Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (3) | |
| or STAT C1000 | Introduction to Statistics (4) | |
| or STAT C1000H | Introduction to Statistics - Honors (4) | |
| Area 5: Major Preparation | ||
| HIST 308 | History of World Civilizations, 1500 to Present (3) | |
| PSYC C1000 | Introduction to Psychology (3) | |
| or PSYC C1000H | Introduction to Psychology - Honors (3) | |
| SOC 300 | Introductory Sociology (3) | |
| or SOC 480 | Introductory Sociology - Honors (3) | |
| Total Units: | 18 | |
The Associate in Arts in Social Justice Studies: Women, Gender, and LGBTQ Studies for Transfer (AA-T) degree may be obtained by completion of 60 transferable, semester units with a minimum 2.0 GPA, including (a) the major or area of emphasis described in the Required Program, and (b) the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) Requirement.
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 gender, sexuality, and race 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, institutional, and systemic levels.
- explain how intersectional formations of social identity reflecting various levels of power and privilege impact social justice at the individual, cultural, institutional, and systemic levels.
- recognize the historical origins and similarities and differences in struggles for social justice among diverse groups.
- assess artistic works and political achievements that expose oppression and injustice as they relate to women, gender, or the LGBTQ community.
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, any social science, politics, business, education, or public policy.
Check Out Degree Planner
If you're interested in a transfer degree (AA-T or AS-T), then check out Degree Planner, a tool that helps you complete your degree efficiently by mapping out what courses to take and when to take them.