LAW, PUBLIC POLICY, AND SOCIETY

The Associate in Arts in Law, Public Policy and Society for Transfer degree (AA-T in Law, Public Policy and Society) has been identified as good preparation for law school upon completion of a bachelor’s degree. This interdisciplinary area of emphasis emphasizes the development of communication skills, introduces students to the legal field, and prepares students for further study in a variety of majors. Students who opt to pursue this course of study are encouraged to engage in further exploration of one or more specific majors as they select electives for degree completion.

This inter-disciplinary area of emphasis allows students to explore the role of institutions and the subsequent policies that frame society. Society is a reflection of the framework of many influences, and this degree reflects that. Students can choose an area of influence such as, but not limited to: economic institutions, the role of politics and government, the judicial system, or how diverse populations experience such institutions.

The Associate Degree for Transfer (AA-T or AS-T) is a special degree offered at California Community Colleges. Students who earn an AA-T or AS-T degree are guaranteed admission to a campus within the California State University (CSU) system in a similar major, although not necessarily to a specific campus. Students who complete an AA-T or AS-T are given priority consideration when applying to a particular program that is similar to the student’s community college major and will be given a special GPA advantage when applying to CSU impacted campuses or majors. Students who are planning to pursue an AA-T or AS-T are strongly advised to meet with a counselor for additional information about this transfer program.

The Cuesta College AA-T degree in Law, Public Policy and Society require

(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) General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC).

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) A grade of “C” or better in all courses required for the major or area of emphasis. A "P" (Pass) grade is an acceptable grade for courses in the major.

Learning Outcome(s):

1. Describe the framework that public policy and societal institutions play in the human experience.
2. Describe the ethical challenges faced by civic institutions.
3. Evaluate the role that diversity plays in the challenge of representative governance.