Law, Public Policy, and Society
A.A.-T Degree Public Safety Training · Bakersfield College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Law, Public Policy, and Society Associate of Arts for Transfer
The Law, Public Policy, and Society Associate in Arts for Transfer prepares students to transfer to CSU campuses that offer bachelor's degrees in Law, Public Policy, and Society. Ed Code Section 66746-66749 states students earning the Law, Public Policy, and Society AA-T degree will be granted priority for admission as a Law, Public Policy, and Society major to a local CSU, as determined by the CSU campus to which the student applies. The Law, Public Policy, and Society ADT focuses on the development of communication skills, introduces students to the legal field, and prepares students for transfer to a CSU. In the program, students will learn to analyze social science and theories, evaluate diverse viewpoints related to the human experience, and produce evidence-based arguments. Students who choose to pursue an ADT in Law, Public Policy, and Society will be prepared to go into a variety of majors such as Political Science, Communication Studies, Economics, Philosophy, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. This degree requires a total of 60 units. Upon completion of the following requirements, the student will be eligible for an Associate Degree for Transfer: (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. California General Education Transfer Curriculum (CalGETC). 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. (3) The completion of all courses required for the major with a “C” or better. A “P” (Pass) grade is acceptable for courses in the major.
Program Learning Outcomes
1. Upon successful completion of the program, the student will be able to analyze social science concepts and theories using critical thinking.
2. Upon successful completion of the program, the student will be able to assess diverse viewpoints related to human experience and produce evidence-based arguments.
3. Upon successful completion of the program, the student will be able to compare the institutions that make up the American political system including the legal fields.
Program Requirements
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Law, Public Policy, and Society Associate in Arts for Transfer: Complete all of the following | 31-34 | |
| Core Courses: Complete all of the following | 25-28 | |
| Understanding the Law | 3 | |
| ADMJ B40 | Law and Democracy | 3 |
| CRIM B1 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRIM B2 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| CRIM B4 | Constitutional Criminal Procedure | 3 |
| BSAD B18 | Business Law | 3 |
| Ethics | 3 | |
| PHIL B10 | Introduction to Ethics | 3 |
| Oral Communication | 3 | |
| COMM C1000 | Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
| COMM B5 | Argumentation and Debate | 3 |
| COMM B8 | Small Group Communication | 3 |
| COMM B15 | Argumentation and Rhetoric | 3 |
| Written Communication | 3-4.5 | |
| ENGL C1000 | Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
| ENGL C1000E | Academic Reading and Writing | 3.5 |
| EMLS B1A | Expository Composition | 4 |
| EMLS B1AL | Expository Composition with Supplemental Instruction | 4.5 |
| Critical Thinking | 3-4 | |
| COMM B4 | Persuasive Communication | 3 |
| COMM B5 | Argumentation and Debate | 3 |
| COMM B15 | Argumentation and Rhetoric | 3 |
| ENGL C1003 | Critical Thinking and Writing through Literature | 4 |
| PHIL B7 | Introduction to Logic | 3 |
| PHIL B8 | Logic and Critical Thinking | 3 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 4-4.5 | |
| PSYC B5 | Elementary Statistics for the Behavioral and Social Sciences | 4 |
| STAT C1000 | Introduction to Statistics | 4 |
| STAT C1000E | Introduction to Statistics | 4.5 |
| US History | 3 | |
| HIST C1001 | United States History to 1877 | 3 |
| HIST C1002 | United States History since 1865 | 3 |
| American Government | 3 | |
| POLS C1000 | American Government and Politics | 3 |
| List A: Select two courses (6 units) from two of the areas listed below: (NOTE: courses must not have been used above.): Complete the following number of rules: 2 | 6 | |
| Area 1: Administrative of Justice/Criminology | 3 | |
| CRIM B1 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRIM B2 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| CRIM B3 | Introduction to Evidence | 3 |
| CRIM B4 | Constitutional Criminal Procedure | 3 |
| CRIM B5 | Community Relations | 3 |
| CRIM B9 | The Juvenile Justice System | 3 |
| CRIM B21 | Introduction to Correctional Administration | 3 |
| Area 2: Business | 3 | |
| BSAD B18 | Business Law | 3 |
| Area 3: Economics | 3 | |
| ECON C2001 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECON C2002 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| Area 4: Political Science | 3 | |
| POLS B2 | Comparative Government | 3 |
| POLS B3 | International Politics | 3 |
| POLS B4 | Introduction to Political Theory | 3 |
| Area 5: Public Policy | 3 | |
| CRIM B6 | Introduction to Transformational Policing | 3 |
| JRNL B5 | Public Relations | 3 |
| PBHS B22 | Drugs, Health and Society | 3 |
| PBHS B23 | Health, Social Justice and Equity | 3 |
| SOCI B1 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Area 6: Diversity | 3 | |
| ANTH B2 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| COMM B6 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| GEOG B2 | Human Geography | 3 |
| SOCI B28 | Introduction to Gender | 3 |
| ETHN B45 | Sociology of Race and Ethnicity | 3 |