SOCIAL JUSTICE STUDIES
Associate in Arts for Transfer Ethnic Studies · Cuesta College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Social Justice Studies is an interdisciplinary program with an emphasis on equity and social change. The Associate in Arts in Social Justice Studies for Transfer degree at Cuesta College prepares students for transfer into a range of majors, including Ethnic Studies, Black Studies / African American Studies, Chicanx and Latinx Studies, Asian American and Pacific Islander Studies, Native American and Indigenous Studies, Gender / Queer Studies, and Women's Studies. This course of study explores the experiences of individuals from marginalized populations and their complex relations as well as the phenomena of culture, power, oppression, equity, and social change.
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The Associate Degree for Transfer is a special degree offered at California Community Colleges. Students who earn an AA-T degree in Social Justice Studies will be prepared to transfer and are guaranteed admission to a campus within the California State University (CSU) system in Social Justice Studies or a similar major, although not necessarily to a specific campus. Students who complete an AA-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 are strongly advised to meet with a counselor for additional information about this transfer program.
The Cuesta College AA-T degree in Social Justice Studies requires:
(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 (Cal-GETC).
(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) Earn a 'C' or better grade in all courses required for the major area of emphasis. A "P" (Pass) grade is an acceptable grade for courses in the major
Learning Outcome(s):
- Identify and analyze the ways injustices are institutionalized in social, political, economic, and interpersonal structures.
- Articulate the ways individuals and institutions may be beneficiaries and/or victims of social injustices.
- Identify and apply methods used to promote social justice at the local, national, and international levels.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core: (3 courses, 9 credits) | 9 | |
| ETHN 230 | INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ETHNIC STUDIES | 3 |
| orSOC 206 | INTRODUCTION TO RACE AND ETHNICITY | 3 |
| ETHN 219 | INTRODUCTION TO QUEER STUDIES | 3 |
| orSOC 208 | INTRODUCTION TO GENDER STUDIES | 3 |
| And, choose one course from: | 3 | |
| COMM 212 | INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION | 3 |
| orENGL 217 | WOMEN AND GENDER IN LITERATURE | 3 |
| orHSCI 203 | WOMEN'S HEALTH SCIENCE | 3 |
| orHSCI 208 | MULTICULTURAL HEALTH SCIENCE | 3 |
| orHIST 203B | HISTORY OF WORLD CIVILIZATIONS | 3 |
| orHIST 233 | HISTORY OF AFRICAN AMERICANS | 3 |
| orHIST 237 | HISTORY OF AMERICAN WOMEN | 3 |
| orMUS 238 | MUSIC APPRECIATION: JAZZ HISTORY | 3 |
| orPOLS 204 | WORLD POLITICS | 3 |
| List A: Select three courses from at least two of the following Areas. Choose courses that are the best fit for your desired CSU campus and major, and that have not already been completed as part of the Required Core. | 9-10 | |
| Area 1: History or Government | 0 | |
| HIST 203B | HISTORY OF WORLD CIVILIZATIONS | 3 |
| HIST 212 | HISTORY OF MEXICAN AMERICANS | 3 |
| HIST 233 | HISTORY OF AFRICAN AMERICANS | 3 |
| HIST 237 | HISTORY OF AMERICAN WOMEN | 3 |
| POLS 204 | WORLD POLITICS | 3 |
| Area 2: Arts and Humanities | 0 | |
| ARTH 207 | LATIN AMERICAN ART HISTORY I: ANCIENT | 3 |
| ARTH 208 | SURVEY OF MEXICAN ART HISTORY | 3 |
| ART 209 | ART OF AFRICA, OCEANIA, AND INDIGENOUS NORTH AMERICA | 3 |
| ARTH 210 | SURVEY OF ASIAN ART HISTORY | 3 |
| ARTH 211 | SURVEY OF AFRICAN ART HISTORY | 3 |
| ENGL 213 | ETHNIC LITERATURE OF THE UNITED STATES | 3 |
| ETHN 213 | ETHNIC LITERATURE OF THE UNITED STATES | 3 |
| ENGL 217 | WOMEN AND GENDER IN LITERATURE | 3 |
| MUS 236 | MUSIC APPRECIATION: WORLD MUSIC | 3 |
| MUS 238 | MUSIC APPRECIATION: JAZZ HISTORY | 3 |
| Area 3: Social Science | 0 | |
| ANTH 220 | CALIFORNIA INDIANS | 3 |
| ANTH 221 | NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS | 3 |
| ANTH 225 | CONTEMPORARY CULTURES OF THE WORLD | 3 |
| ASHS 218 | HUMAN SEXUALITY: EXPERIENCE & EXPRESSION | 3 |
| CDFS 215 | CHILDREN IN A DIVERSE SOCIETY | 3 |
| CJ 224 | COMMUNITY, DIVERSITY AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM | 3 |
| COMM 212 | INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION | 3 |
| ETHN 210 | ETHNIC STUDIES FOR EDUCATORS | 3 |
| EDUC 210 | ETHNIC STUDIES FOR EDUCATORS | 3 |
| ETHN 211 | CRITICAL WHITENESS STUDIES | 3 |
| ETHN 231 | DECOLONIZATION AND RACIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENTS | 3 |
| ETHN 234 | WOMEN OF COLOR | 3 |
| ETHN 235 | RACE, ETHNICITY, AND POP CULTURE | 3 |
| ETHN 240 | INTRODUCTION TO NATIVE AMERICAN AND INDIGENOUS STUDIES | 3 |
| ETHN 250 | INTRODUCTION TO BLACK STUDIES | 3 |
| ETHN 260 | INTRODUCTION TO CHICANX AND LATINX STUDIES | 3 |
| ETHN 270 | INTRODUCTION TO ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES | 3 |
| GLST 210 | INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL STUDIES | 3 |
| GLST 220 | GLOBAL PROBLEMS AND ISSUES | 3 |
| SOC 202 | SOCIAL PROBLEMS | 3 |
| Area 4: Quantitative Reasoning and Research Methods | 0 | |
| STAT C1000 | INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS | 4 |
| PSYC 200 | RESEARCH METHODS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES | 3 |
| Total | 18-19 | |