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Social Justice Studies

Overview Degrees/Certificates Courses

Social Justice Studies introduces students to the theoretical and practical foundations of social justice and the social processes that create and resist oppression.

Degrees Offered

A.A.-T. in Social Justice Studies, Ethnic Studies

Dean Dennis Lee
Department Chair Robert Unzueta
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: August 1, 2025

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 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 Policy and Law (3)
ETHNS 360	Introduction to Chicana/o/x Studies (3)
GLST 301	Introduction to Global Studies (3)
GLST 302	Global Issues (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 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)
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:August 1, 2025

This is the experimental courses description.

SJS 300 Introduction to Social Justice Studies

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Advisory:ENGL C1000 or ESLW 340 with a grade of "C" or better
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:Local GE L4 (effective Fall 2025); Cal-GETC Area 4 (effective Fall 2025)
C-ID:C-ID SJS 110
Catalog Date:August 1, 2025

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.

SJS 310 Introduction to LGBTQ Studies

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Advisory:ENGL C1000 or ESLW 340 with a grade of "C" or better
Transferable:CSU; UC (For Fall 2023 start)
General Education:Local GE L4 (effective Fall 2025); Cal-GETC Area 4 (effective Fall 2025)
Catalog Date:August 1, 2025

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.

SJS 499 Experimental Offering in Social Justice Studies

Units:0.5 - 4
Prerequisite:None.
Catalog Date:August 1, 2025

This is the experimental courses description.