Self-Advocacy and Social Awareness
Certificate of Achievement Black Studies · San Diego Mesa College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Summary
This certificate of achievement uses an interdisciplinary approach that starts with self-awareness, personal development, and communication skills, so that students can effectively communicate, convey, negotiate or assert their own interests, desires, needs and rights. Required courses in United States history from various perspectives and courses in multicultural studies, environmental and social justice develop awareness of these issues in the larger community. Students can then apply their self-advocacy and social awareness skills to make meaningful contributions as global citizens.
Learning Outcome(s): Students who complete the Self-Advocacy and Social Awareness Program will be able to:
- Display enhanced self-respect, positive self-image, and effective self-advocacy.
- Build cross-cultural, interpersonal, and professional communication skills.
- Apply communication skills, critical thinking, and knowledge of multicultural studies, and environmental and social justice as a global citizen.
Requirements
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Development and Self-Advocacy - Select 4.5 - 6 units (2 courses) from the following: | 4.5-6 | |
| PERG 110 | Introduction to College | 1.5 |
| PERG 120 | College Success and Lifelong Learning | 3 |
| PERG 130 | Career - Life Planning | 3 |
| PERG 140 | Life Skills and Personal Adjustment | 3 |
| PERG 160 | Stress Management & Well-Being in the Modern World | 3 |
| Communication Skills - Select 3 units (1 course) from the following: | 3 | |
| COMM C1000 | Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
| COMS 135 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COMS 170 | Small Group Communication | 3 |
| COMS 180 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| US History from Various Perspectives - Select 3 units (1 course) from the following: | 3 | |
| BLAS 140A | African American History to Reconstruction | 3 |
| BLAS 140B | African American History since Reconstruction to the Present | 3 |
| CHIC 141A | United States History from a Chicano Perspective | 3 |
| CHIC 141B | United States History from a Chicano Perspective | 3 |
| HIST 115A | History of the Americas I | 3 |
| HIST 115B | History of the Americas II | 3 |
| HIST 123 | U.S. History from the Asian Pacific American Perspective | 3 |
| HIST 150 | Native Americans in United States History I | 3 |
| HIST 151 | Native Americans in United States History II | 3 |
| Multicultural Studies and Environmental and Social Justice - Select 6 units (2 courses not selected above) from 2 different subject areas | 6 | |
| AAPI 124 | Introduction to Asian American and Pacific Islander Studies | 3 |
| AAPI 125 | Asian American and Pacific Islander Identities and Cultures | 3 |
| AAPI 130 | Asian American and Pacific Islander Women | 3 |
| AMSL 150 | Introduction to Deaf Culture | 3 |
| ANTH 103 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH 117 | Anthropology of Gender and Sexuality | 3 |
| ARTF 108 | Women in Art | 3 |
| ARTF 120 | Native American Art | 3 |
| ARTF 188 | Women and Gender in Photography | 3 |
| ARTF 191 | Cultural Influences on Photography | 3 |
| BIOL 120 | The Environment of Man | 3 |
| BLAS 100 | Introduction to Black Studies | 3 |
| BLAS 104 | Black Psychology | 3 |
| BLAS 110 | African American Art | 3 |
| BLAS 116 | Contemporary Social Problems from a Black Perspective | 3 |
| BLAS 125 | Dynamics of the Black Community | 3 |
| BLAS 130 | The Black Family | 3 |
| BLAS 140A | African American History to Reconstruction | 3 |
| BLAS 140B | African American History since Reconstruction to the Present | 3 |
| BLAS 150 | Black Women in Literature, Film and the Media | 3 |
| BLAS 155 | African American Literature | 3 |
| BLAS 165 | Sexuality and Black Culture | 3 |
| BLAS 175 | Psycho-History of Racism and Sexism | 3 |
| CHEM 111 | Chemistry in Society | 3 |
| CHIC 110A | Introduction to Chicana and Chicano Studies | 3 |
| CHIC 110B | Introduction to Chicana and Chicano Studies | 3 |
| CHIC 135 | Chicana/o Literature | 3 |
| CHIC 140 | Chicana/o Sociology | 3 |
| CHIC 141A | United States History from a Chicano Perspective | 3 |
| CHIC 141B | United States History from a Chicano Perspective | 3 |
| CHIC 170 | La Chicana | 3 |
| CHIC 190 | Chicano Images in Film | 3 |
| CHIC 210 | Chicano Culture | 3 |
| CHIC 230 | Chicano Art | 3 |
| CHIL 101 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| CHIL 141 | The Child, Family, and Community | 3 |
| COMS 180 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| ENGL 230 | Asian American Literature | 3 |
| ENGL 234 | Hip Hop Literature: A Poetry Class | 3 |
| FASH 122 | Ethnic Costume | 3 |
| FILI 100 | Filipino American Experience | 3 |
| HEAL 104 | Public Health and Social Justice | 3 |
| HIST 115A | History of the Americas I | 3 |
| HIST 115B | History of the Americas II | 3 |
| HIST 123 | U.S. History from the Asian Pacific American Perspective | 3 |
| HIST 141 | Women in United States History I | 3 |
| HIST 142 | Women in United States History II | 3 |
| HIST 150 | Native Americans in United States History I | 3 |
| HIST 151 | Native Americans in United States History II | 3 |
| HUMA 106 | World Religions | 3 |
| MUSI 117 | Music in the United States | 3 |
| MUSI 126 | Rap Music and Hip Hop Culture | 3 |
| NUTR 153 | Cultural Foods | 3 |
| PHIL 126 | Philosophy of Contemporary Gender Issues | 3 |
| PHIL 131 | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| POLI 121 | American Political Development | 3 |
| POLI 123 | Gender and Politics | 3 |
| PSYC 133 | Psychology of Women | 3 |
| PSYC 166 | Introduction to Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 230 | Psychology of Lifespan Development | 3 |
| SOCO 101 | Principles of Sociology | 3 |
| SOCO 110 | Contemporary Social Problems | 3 |
| SOCO 125 | Sociology of the Family | 3 |
| SOCO 150 | Sociology of Latinos/Latinas | 3 |
| SOCO 207 | Introduction to Race and Ethnicity | 3 |
| SOCO 223 | Globalization and Social Change | 3 |
| SUST 101 | Introduction to Sustainability | 3 |
| WMNS 101 | Introduction to Gender and Women's Studies | 3 |