Law, Public Policy, and Society, Associate in Arts for Transfer
Law, Public Policy, and Society, Associate in Arts for Transfer
The Associate in Arts in Law, Public Policy, and Society for Transfer provides students with preparation for bachelor degree studies in American Studies, Communications, Criminal Justice, Criminology, Global Intelligence and National Security, International Relations, Philosophy, Political Science, Social and Behavioral Sciences (Political Economy Concentration) or a major that is deemed similar at a particular CSU campus. Each CSU campus determines which of its degrees are “similar” to the Associate in Arts in Law, Public Policy, and Society for Transfer. For a current list of the majors (and the options, areas of emphasis, or concentration within those majors) that have been designated as “similar” to this degree at each CSU campus, please refer to CSU’s Associate Degree for Transfer Major and Campus Search webpage. Students are also strongly encouraged to obtain guidance from a Ventura College counselor or the University Transfer Center. Students completing this degree are guaranteed admission to the CSU system, but not to a particular campus or major.
CSU campuses recognizing the Associate in Arts in Law, Public Policy, and Society for Transfer as similar to their Pre-Law bachelor’s degree are:
- Northridge: Political Science with an option in Law and Society
- Sonoma: Philosophy with Pre-Law and Ethics concentration
- Chico: Political Science with a Legal Studies emphasis
CSU campuses accepting the Associate in Arts in Law, Public Policy, and Society for Transfer as similar to their Public Administration degree are San Diego, Chico, and Fullerton.
Students transferring to a CSU campus that accepts the Associate in Arts in Law, Public Policy, and Society for Transfer 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. Many of the courses present in the Pathway to Law School Certificate of Achievement (COA) are also options for the completion of the Associate in Arts in Law, Public Policy, and Society for Transfer. 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 Law, Public Policy, and Society for Transfer at Ventura College, students must meet the following requirements:
- Complete 60 semester units that are eligible for transfer to the California State University, including both of the following:
- The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC for CSU) or the California State University General Educational-Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth) requirements.
- A minimum of 18 semester units in a major or area of emphasis, as determined by the Ventura County Community College District.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
| Course ID | Title | Units/Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core: Select one course from each Section (26 units) | ||
| A course may only be applied once to satisfy Core requirements | ||
| Section 1. Understanding the Law | ||
| BUS V33 | Business Law | 3 |
| CJ V01 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CJ V02 | Concepts of Criminal Law | 3 |
| CJ V05 | Criminal Procedures | 3 |
| POLS V17 | Introduction to American Law | 3 |
| Section 2. Ethics | ||
| PHIL V02 | Introduction to Ethics | 3 |
| Section 3. Oral Communication | ||
| COMM V01 | Introduction to Speech Communication | 3 |
| COMM V03 | Group Communication | 3 |
| COMM V10 | Critical Thinking in Oral Communication: Argumentation and Debate | 3 |
| Section 4. Written Communication | ||
| ENGL V01A | English Composition | 4 |
| Section 5. Critical Thinking | ||
| COMM V10 | Critical Thinking in Oral Communication: Argumentation and Debate | 3 |
| ENGL V01C | Critical Thinking and Writing | 3 |
| PHIL V04 | Introduction to Logic | 3 |
| Section 6. Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| MATH V44 | Elementary Statistics | 4 |
| PSY V04 | Introductory Statistics for the Social and Behavioral Sciences | 4 |
| Section 7. United States History | ||
| HIST V46 | United States History to 1877 | 3 |
| HIST V56 | United States History since 1865 | 3 |
| Section 8. American Government | ||
| POLS V01 | American Government | 3 |
| Total Required Core Units | 26 | |
| List A: Select two courses (not used above) from two Areas (6 units) | ||
| Area 1. Criminal Justice | ||
| CJ V01 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CJ V02 | Concepts of Criminal Law | 3 |
| CJ V03 | Community Relations and Diversity | 3 |
| CJ V04 | Legal Aspects of Evidence | 3 |
| CJ V05 | Criminal Procedures | 3 |
| CJ V14 | Juvenile Law and Procedures in California | 3 |
| CJ V25 | Introduction to Corrections | 3 |
| SOC V13 | Sociology of Deviance, Crime, and Society | 3 |
| Area 2. Business | ||
| BUS V33 | Business Law | 3 |
| Area 3. Economics | ||
| ECON V01A | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ECON V01B | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| Area 4. Political Science | ||
| POLS V02 | Comparative Government | 3 |
| POLS V03 | Introduction to Political Science | 3 |
| POLS V04 | Introduction to Political Theory | 3 |
| POLS V05 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| Area 5. Public Policy | ||
| HED V22 | Health and Social Justice | 3 |
| HED V24 | Drugs, Health, and Society | 3 |
| POLS V14 | Global Studies | 3 |
| SOC V02 | Social Problems | 3 |
| Area 6. Diversity | ||
| ANTH V02 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| COMM V12 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| ETHS V01 | Introduction to Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| ETHS V02 | History of Racism in the United States | 3 |
| GEOG V02 | Introduction to Human Geography | 3 |
| HIST V50 | United States History: Focus on Asian Americans | 3 |
| HIST V51 | United States History: Focus on African Americans Since Reconstruction | 3 |
| HIST V55 | United States History: Focus on Native Americans Since the Civil War | 3 |
| SOC V03 | Racial and Ethnic Group Relations | 3 |
| SOC V04 | Sociology of Gender Roles | 3 |
| Total List A Units | 6 | |
| ----------------------- | ||
| Total Required Major Units | 32 | |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
| CSU GE-Breadth Pattern | ||
| Required Major Units | 32 | |
| CSU GE-Breadth Units | 39 | |
| Double-Counted Units | (21-27) | |
| Elective (CSU Transferable) Units to reach 60 | 10-16 | |
| Total Units for the Associate Degree for Transfer | 60 | |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
| IGETC Pattern | ||
| Required Major Units | 32 | |
| IGETC Pattern Units | 37 | |
| Double-Counted Units | (18-24) | |
| Elective (CSU Transferable) Units to reach 60 | 9-15 | |
| Total Units for the Associate Degree for Transfer | 60 | |
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Describe the American legal system including its development, structure, and history.
- Articulate their views on legal and political issues.
- Evaluate diverse viewpoints.
- Demonstrate a working knowledge of research methods and identify research questions, hypothesize and analyze, critique, and integrate source materials.