SOCIAL JUSTICE: ETHNIC STUDIES
Associate in Arts for Transfer
Program Details
An Associate in Arts in Social Justice: Ethnic Studies for Transfer degree can provide students with a comparative and interdisciplinary examination of the histories, cultures, and experiences of African Americans, Native Americans and Indigenous peoples, Latina/o/x peoples, and Asian and Pacific Islander Americans in the United States. Graduates of Ethnic Studies will demonstrate effective leadership skills, critical awareness of race and ethnicity, media literacy, and an ability to work collaboratively with diverse populations. The program prepares students for both transfer and graduate studies, as well as work with marginalized communities in fields like public administration and law, human services, social work, counseling, entrepreneurship, marketing, communications, education, politics, fine and performing arts, multicultural leadership, and more. The Associate Degree for Transfer is a special degree offered at California Community Colleges. Students who earn an AA-T degree in Social Justice: Ethnic Studies will be prepared to transfer and are guaranteed admission to a campus within the California State University (CSU) system in Ethnic 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: Ethnic 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.
SOCIAL JUSTICE: ETHNIC STUDIES Pathways
Pathways listed below are for the catalog year 2026-2027. Maps for previous years are available on each pathway page. What is a catalog year?
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Learning Outcomes
Learning outcomes help you work towards your educational goals.
- Critically analyze the intersection of race, ethnicity, Indigeneity, gender, sexuality, class, immigration status, disability, and age.
- Document and recall the social, political, cultural, and economic legacies of communities of color, including African Americans, Native Americans and Indigenous peoples, Latina/o/x peoples, and Asian and Pacific Islander Americans in the United States.
- Identify and articulate the lived experiences of four historically racialized core groups in the United States: Native Americans and Indigenous Peoples, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Latina/o/x Peoples.
- Interpret primary and secondary sources using theories and concepts from the interdisciplinary field of Ethnic Studies.
- Practice skills for action through meaningful collaborative relationships with campus and community organizations working toward positive social change.
- Present and explain the struggles faced by communities of color in the United States, including African Americans, Native Americans and Indigenous peoples, Latina/o/x peoples, and Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, with an emphasis on social movements and collective action.
- Recognize the interdisciplinary nature of Ethnic Studies through the lenses of Chicana and Chicano Studies, Latina and Latino Studies, African-American Studies, Black Studies, Asian-American Studies, Native-American Studies, Africana Studies, Mexican-American Studies, Indigenous Studies, Filipino Studies, La Raza Studies, and Central American Studies.