The Associate in Arts in Social Justice Studies—Chicana/o Studies for Transfer degree (Social Justice Studies AA-T) empowers students’ sense of self, critical thinking, and civic responsibility.  The Social Justice Studies AA-T program applies a multi/interdisciplinary approach that focuses on the development of community-driven, politically, and socially engaged students whose goals are to examine institutional inequities and disparities while advocating for underrepresented communities. The program curriculum aims to expand student consciousness through historical and contemporary understandings of race/ethnicity, class, gender/sexuality, indigeneity representation, cultural responsiveness, self-improvement, self-determination, civic engagement, self-awareness, interpersonal skills, and global awareness.*

The Social Justice Studies—Chicana/o AA-T degree is intended for students who plan to complete a bachelor’s degree in Social Justice Studies or similar major (Chicana/o Studies, Ethnic Studies, etc.) at a CSU campus.  Students completing the degree are guaranteed admission to the CSU system but not to a particular campus or major; CSU Channel Islands and CSU Northridge provide particularly strong baccalaureate degrees in related fields. Graduates of the Social Justice Studies AA-T program can enter a wide range of career paths focused on but not limited to advocacy and activism in a variety of industries.

Students transferring to a CSU campus that accepts the Social Justice Studies AA-T will be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn a bachelor’s degree (unless the major is a designated “high-unit” major at a particular campus). This degree may not be the best option for students intending to transfer to a particular CSU campus or to a university or college that is not part of the CSU system. For a current list of what majors (and what options or areas of emphasis within that major) have been designated as “similar” to this degree at each CSU campus, please refer to California State University Associate Degree for Transfer website. Students should consult with a counselor when planning to complete the degree for more information on university admission and transfer requirements.

To earn an Associate in Arts in Social Justice Studies—Chicana/o Studies for Transfer (AA-T) degree, students must meet the following requirements:  

1. Complete 60 semester units or 90 quarter units that are eligible for transfer to the California State University, including both of the following: 
   1. The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC for CSU) or the California State University General Educational-Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth) requirements.
   2. A minimum of 18 semester or 27 quarter units in a major or area of emphasis, as determined by the community college district.
2. Obtain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 in all CSU transferable coursework. While a minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for admission, some transfer institutions and majors may require a higher GPA.  Please consult with a counselor for more information.
3. Obtain a grade of “C” or better, or “P,” in all courses required in the major or area of emphasis. Even though a “P” grade is allowed (Title 5, Section 55062), it is recommended that students complete their major courses with a letter grade (“A,” “B,” or “C”) due to unit limitations on “P/NP” courses.
4. Complete requirements in residency. For students in the Ventura County Community College District, a minimum of 12 units must be completed in residence within the college district.

* Core courses in the program satisfy Area F for CSU GE requirements.

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to: 

• Critical Thinking: Students will create and design approaches to local and global issues affecting the Chicana/o Community by assessing and analyzing historical, artistic, social, and literary factors that have contributed to the origins of the Chicano/a community in the United States, thereby identifying problems, theses, arguments, evidence and conclusions.
• Communication: Students will formulate and articulate ideas addressing the Chicana/o communities world view as expressed in history, literature and art, thereby addressing problems, formulating theses, making arguments, analyzing and weighing evidence, and deriving conclusions.
• Personal Actions and Civic Responsibilities: Demonstrate and understand the political nature of Chicana/o Studies by creating student led actions, designed to spread awareness of the Chicana/o influence and impact on American society.
• Self-awareness and Interpersonal Skills: Analyze one’s own actions, see others’ perspectives, and work effectively with others in groups.
• Global Awareness: Analyze the development of the contemporary Chicano/a community in the United States by articulating similarities and contrasts among cultures, times, and environments, and demonstrate an understanding of cultural pluralism.