Associate Degree
A.A. in Social Science
The Social Science department offers classes in law and society and special studies in the areas of Mexican-American, Asian, and Native American experiences. These classes provide an excellent background for further study.
The program includes 21 units of coursework in the following areas: anthropology, economics, geography, history, philosophy, political science, psychology, social science, or sociology.
This degree enables the student to experience a wide range of diverse social science disciplines. To verify the transferability of specific courses and their university application, please consult your CRC counselor. Students who wish to transfer to a four-year college or university should plan their programs to meet general education and lower division major requirements. All students are encouraged to consult with a counselor.
Highlights include:
* Opportunities to build a foundation for interdisciplinary studies
* Overview of theoretical, methodological, analytical, and cultural principles
Note to Transfer Students:
If you are interested in transferring to a four-year college or university to pursue a bachelor’s degree in this major, it is critical that you meet with a CRC counselor to select and plan the courses for your major. Schools vary widely in terms of the required preparation. The courses that CRC requires for an Associate’s degree in this major may be different from the requirements needed for the Bachelor’s degree.
Catalog Date: August 1, 2023
Course Code |
Course Title |
Units |
A minimum of 21 units from the following: |
21 |
Twenty-one (21) units must be completed in at least three different subject areas from those listed: Anthropology, Economics, Geography 310, History, Political Science, Philosophy 360, Psychology, Social Science, Sociology.
|
Total Units: |
|
21 |
The Social Science Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree may be obtained by completion of the required program, plus general education requirements, plus sufficient electives
to meet a 60-unit total. See CRC graduation requirements.
Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:
- Identify and comprehend an individual's relationship to structures in the larger society.
- Apply effective critical thinking skills to interpret sociological phenomena.
- Assess the significance of important social movements in American society.
- Define and identify various theoretical perspectives across the discipline of Sociology.
- Comprehend how social practices facilitate the functioning of social structures as they are responsible for maintaining the society as a whole.
- Analyze, interpret, and critically think about sociological ascriptions to race, gender, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, political affiliation, and other sociological concepts.
Instructor; Social Worker; Researcher;Criminal Justice; Social Services; Business and Corporate employment.
Some career options may require more than two years of college study.
Ethnic Studies (ETHNS) Courses
ETHNS 300 Introduction to Ethnic Studies
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:Eligibility for ENGWR 300
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area V(b); AA/AS Area VI; CSU Area D; CSU Area F; IGETC Area 4
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2023
This course introduces students to Ethnic Studies and the diverse institutional, cultural, and historical issues relating to the past and present life circumstances and intersectional identities of the four core Ethnic populations of Asian Americans, Chicana/o and Latina/o Americans, African Americans, and Native/Indigenous Americans within the United States.
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Analyze and articulate concepts such as race and racism, racialization, ethnicity, equity, ethno-centrism, eurocentrism, white supremacy, self-determination, liberation, decolonization, sovereignty, imperialism, settler colonialism, and anti-racism as analyzed in any one or more of the following: Native American Studies, African American Studies, Asian American Studies, and Latina and Latino American Studies.
- Apply theory and knowledge produced by Native American, African American, Asian American, and/or Latina and Latino American communities to describe the critical events, histories, cultures, intellectual traditions, contributions, lived-experiences and social struggles of those groups with a particular emphasis on agency and group-affirmation.
- Critically analyze the intersection of race and racism as they relate to class, gender, sexuality, religion, spirituality, national origin, immigration status, ability, tribal citizenship, sovereignty, language, and/or age in Native American, African American, Asian American, and/or Latina and Latino American communities.
- Critically review how struggle, resistance, racial and social justice, solidarity, and liberation, as experienced and enacted by Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans and/or Latina and Latino Americans are relevant to current and structural issues such as communal, national, international, and transnational politics as, for example, in immigration, reparations, settler-colonialism, multiculturalism, language policies.
- Describe and actively engage with anti-racist and anti-colonial issues and the practices and movements in Native American, African American, Asian American and/or Latina and Latino communities to build a just and equitable society.
ETHNS 320 Introduction to African American Studies
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:Eligibility for ENGWR 300
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area V(b); AA/AS Area VI; CSU Area D; CSU Area F; IGETC Area 4
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2023
This course introduces students to Ethnic Studies and the diverse institutional, cultural, and historical issues relating to the past and present life circumstances of African Americans within the United States. This course is interdisciplinary in nature and presents an overview of the cultural, economic, historic, social, and political issues in the life of African Americans in the United States. It will expose students of all ethnic backgrounds to the issues germane to the experience of African Americans in the United States. This course was formerly known as ETHNS 320 The African American Experience.
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Analyze and articulate concepts such as race and racism, racialization, ethnicity, equity, ethno-centrism, eurocentrism, white supremacy, self-determination, liberation, decolonization, sovereignty, imperialism, settler colonialism, and anti-racism as analyzed in African American Studies.
- Apply theory and knowledge produced by African American communities to describe the critical events, histories, cultures, intellectual traditions, contributions, lived-experiences and social struggles of those groups with a particular emphasis on agency and group-affirmation.
- Critically analyze the intersection of race and racism as they relate to class, gender, sexuality, religion, spirituality, national origin, immigration status, ability, tribal citizenship, sovereignty, language, and/or age in African American communities.
- Critically review how struggle, resistance, racial and social justice, solidarity, and liberation, as experienced and enacted by African Americans are relevant to current and structural issues such as communal, national, international, and transnational politics as, for example, in immigration, reparations, settler-colonialism, multiculturalism, language policies.
- Describe and actively engage with anti-racist and anti-colonial issues and the practices and movements in African American communities to build a just and equitable society.
ETHNS 330 Introduction to Asian American Studies
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:Eligibility for ENGWR 300.
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area V(b); AA/AS Area VI; CSU Area D; CSU Area F; IGETC Area 4
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2023
This course introduces students to Asian American Studies and the diverse institutional, cultural, and historical issues relating to the past and present life circumstances and intersectional identities of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. This course was formerly known as ETHNS 330 The Asian American Experience in America.
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Analyze and articulate concepts such as race and racism, racialization, ethnicity, equity, ethno-centrism, eurocentrism, white supremacy, self-determination, liberation, decolonization, sovereignty, imperialism, settler colonialism, and anti-racism as analyzed in Asian American Studies.
- Apply theory and knowledge produced by Asian American communities to describe the critical events, histories, cultures, intellectual traditions, contributions, lived-experiences and social struggles of those groups with a particular emphasis on agency and group-affirmation.
- Critically analyze the intersection of race and racism as they relate to class, gender, sexuality, religion, spirituality, national origin, immigration status, ability, tribal citizenship, sovereignty, language, and/or age in Asian American communities.
- Critically review how struggle, resistance, racial and social justice, solidarity, and liberation, as experienced and enacted by Asian Americans are relevant to current and structural issues such as communal, national, international, and transnational politics as, for example, in immigration, reparations, settler-colonialism, multiculturalism, language policies.
- Describe and actively engage with anti-racist and anti-colonial issues and the practices and movements in Asian American communities to build a just and equitable society.
ETHNS 340 Introduction to Chicana/o/x Studies
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:Eligibility for ENGWR 300
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area V(b); AA/AS Area VI; CSU Area D; CSU Area F; IGETC Area 4
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2023
This course introduces students to the diverse institutional, cultural, and historical issues relating to the past and present life circumstances and intersectional identities of Chicana/o/x Americans within the United States. Specifically, this course examines and redefines the lives of Chicana/o/x Americans through their own experiences from the inside looking out at the world. This course was formerly known as ETHNS 340 Chicanos/Mexican Americans in the U.S.
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Analyze and articulate concepts such as race and racism, racialization, ethnicity, equity, ethno-centrism, eurocentrism, white supremacy, self-determination, liberation, decolonization, sovereignty, imperialism, settler colonialism, and anti-racism as analyzed in Latina and Latino American Studies.
- Apply theory and knowledge produced by Latina and Latino American communities to describe the critical events, histories, cultures, intellectual traditions, contributions, lived-experiences and social struggles of those groups with a particular emphasis on agency and group-affirmation.
- Critically analyze the intersection of race and racism as they relate to class, gender, sexuality, religion, spirituality, national origin, immigration status, ability, tribal citizenship, sovereignty, language, and/or age in Latina and Latino American communities.
- Critically review how struggle, resistance, racial and social justice, solidarity, and liberation, as experienced and enacted by Latina and Latino Americans are relevant to current and structural issues such as communal, national, international, and transnational politics as, for example, in immigration, reparations, settler-colonialism, multiculturalism, language policies.
- Describe and actively engage with anti-racist and anti-colonial issues and the practices and movements in Latina and Latino American communities to build a just and equitable society.
ETHNS 344 The Latino Experience in America
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:Completion of ENGWR 101 or ESLW340 with a grade of "C" or better
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area V(b); AA/AS Area VI; CSU Area D; IGETC Area 4
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2023
This interdisciplinary course examines the social, political, economic, and cultural experience of racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States using concepts, theories, and terminology from distinct disciplines within the social sciences. As an ethnic studies course, it has a culturally relativistic approach. Specifically, this course redefines the lives of Latino American subgroups through their own experiences: from the inside looking out at the world.
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- DEVELOP A VOCABULARY THAT DESCRIBES THE UNIQUE EXPERIENCES OF LATINO AMERICAN SUBGROUPS IN THE U.S. (SLO 1).
- Apply interdisciplinary vocabulary to understand the developing historical, political, cultural, psychological conditions under which Latino American subgroups have lived in the U.S.
- Describe the push and pull factors that lead to both immigration and emigration for Latino subgroups.
- Describe the various forms of nativism experienced by Latino subgroups as they settled in the U.S.
- EXAMINE THE CULTURAL AND RACIAL STRUCTURE OF AMERICAN SOCIETY. (SLO 2).
- Explain the ideological development of white supremacy as a means to understanding it (white supremacy) as the organizing social system of race relations in the U.S.
- Understand the relationship between institutional power and social power within a social system.
- Explain the relationship between the ideological development of white supremacy and its effect on Latino subgroups' agency in the U.S.
- UNDERSTAND THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH LATINO SUBGROUPS BOTH ASSIMILATE AND ACCULTURATE AND FORM A LATINO AMERICAN IDENTITY. (SLO 3).
- Explore and apply Social Identity Theory to describe identity formation for Latino American subgroups.
- Explore and apply Ethnic Identity Theory to describe identity formation for Latino American subgroups.
- Explore and apply stereotype threat to describe its impact in the unique experiences of Latino American subgroups brought on by dominant group perception in the U.S.
- Describe the role of the institution of slavery in the development of the dominant group's social perception of Latino subgroups in the U.S.
- Describe the role of Native American land encroachment in the development of the dominant group's social perception of Latino subgroups.
- Describe the era of scientific racism and its role in the development of the dominant group's perception of Latino subgroups in the U.S.
- Describe the role and process of ethnogenesis undertaken by Latino subgroups as they develop a Latino American identity in the U.S.
- CRITICALLY EXAMINE THE ECONOMIC, PSYCHOLOGICAL, POLITICAL, AND CULTURAL PROGRESS OF LATINO AMERICAN SUBGROUPS IN THE U.S. (SLO 4).
- Use a historical comparative approach to explain the dimensions of progress for Latino American subgroups in the U.S.
- List and describe contemporary social issues facing Latino American subgroups in the U.S.
- Use the vocabulary developed throughout the course to discuss the likelihood of developing concrete solutions to address the contemporary issues uniquely facing Latino American subgroups in the U.S.
ETHNS 350 Introduction to Native American Studies
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:ENGWR 300 (College Composition) with a grade of "C" or better.
- Transferable:CSU; UC (effective Fall 2023)
- General Education:AA/AS Area V(b); AA/AS Area VI; CSU Area D; CSU Area F
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2023
This course introduces students to Ethnic Studies and the diverse institutional, cultural, and historical issues relating to the past and present life circumstances and intersectional identities of Native Americans/American Indians within the United States. This course is a survey of traditional cultures of Native Americans/American Indians focusing on the social, religious, economic, and artistic practices. The antiquity, distribution, and linguistic histories of Native American/American Indian cultures are integrated with the contemporary status of Native peoples regarding social change and adaptation.
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Analyze and articulate concepts such as race and racism, racialization, ethnicity, equity, ethno-centrism, eurocentrism, white supremacy, self-determination, liberation, decolonization, sovereignty, imperialism, settler colonialism, and anti-racism as analyzed in Native American Studies.
- Apply theory and knowledge produced by Native American communities to describe the critical events, histories, cultures, intellectual traditions, contributions, lived-experiences and social struggles of those groups with a particular emphasis on agency and group-affirmation.
- Critically analyze the intersection of race and racism as they relate to class, gender, sexuality, religion, spirituality, national origin, immigration status, ability, tribal citizenship, sovereignty, language, and/or age in Native American communities.
- Critically review how struggle, resistance, racial and social justice, solidarity, and liberation, as experienced and enacted by Native Americans are relevant to current and structural issues such as communal, national, international, and transnational politics as, for example, in immigration, reparations, settler-colonialism, multiculturalism, language policies.
- Describe and actively engage with anti-racist and anti-colonial issues and the practices and movements in Native American communities to build a just and equitable society.