Associate of Arts Degree for Transfer in Social Justice Studies
Students must complete the following requirements:
- 60 semester or 90 quarter CSU-transferable units
- the California State University-General Education-Breadth pattern (CSU GE-Breadth); OR the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) pattern.
- a minimum of 18 semester or 27 quarter units in the major or area of emphasis as determined by the community college district.
- obtainment of a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0.
- earn a grade of C or better in all courses required for the major or area of emphasis
Students are not required to complete the information competency requirements, PE requirements or cultural diversity requirements found in other degrees at the College.
Required Core Courses (9 units)
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
SOCI 20 |
Sociology of Race and Ethnicity |
3 units |
Select one course from the following:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
WGQS 1 |
Introduction to Women’s Studies |
4 units |
WGQS 3 |
Introduction to Gender Studies |
3 units |
SOCI 28 |
Sociology of Gender |
3 units |
Any Required Core Course above not already used OR one of the following:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
ARTS 7 |
The Art of Asia |
3 units |
ARTS 1J |
Survey of Non-Western Art: Africa Oceania, and Indigenous North Americas |
3 units |
WGQS 1 |
Introduction to Women’s Studies |
4 units |
ENGL 12 |
African-American Literature |
3 units |
ENGL 18 |
Asian American Literature |
3 units |
HIST 5B |
World History From 1500 |
units |
HUMN 1B |
Human Values in and from the Arts |
3 units |
PHIL 1 |
Introduction to Philosophy |
3 units |
PSYC 1 |
General Psychology |
3 units |
SOCI 1 |
Introduction to Sociology |
3 units |
FRNC 1A |
Beginning French |
5 units |
JPNS 1A |
Beginning Japanese |
5 units |
RUSS 1A |
Beginning Russian |
5 units |
SPAN 1A |
Beginning Spanish |
5 units |
List A: Select three course from at least two of the following areas (9 units)
Area 1: History or Government
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
HIST 12 |
African American History |
3 units |
HIST 14 |
History of the Native North American |
3 units |
HIST 16 |
Mexican-American History |
3 units |
Area 2: Arts and Humanities
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
ARTS 7 |
The Art of Asia |
3 units |
ARTS 10 |
American Art: A Multicultural Approach |
3 units |
ARTS 13 |
African-American Art History |
3 units |
ARTS 14 |
Women in Art History |
3 units |
WGQS 2 |
Women in The Arts: Multicultural Perspectives |
3 units |
WGQS 3 |
Introduction to Gender Studies |
3 units |
WGQS 4A |
Women in World Cultures from Prehistory to 1500 CE |
3 units |
Area 3: Social Science
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
ANTH 3/H |
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology or Honors |
3 units |
GEOG 2 |
Introduction to Cultural Geography |
3 units |
SOCI 28 |
Sociology of Gender |
3 units |
POLI 3 |
Introduction to Political Science |
3 units |
ECON 1A |
Principles of Macroeconomics |
3 units |
ECON 1B |
Principles of Microeconomics |
3 units |
Area 4: Quantitative Reasoning and Research Methods
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
MATH 10/H |
Elementary Statistics or Honors |
4 units |
PSYC 002/H |
Experimental Psychophysiology or Honors |
4 units |
Area 5: Additional Options
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
ARTS 7 |
Art of Asia |
3 units |
ARTS 1J |
Survey of Non-Western Art: Africa, Oceania, and Indigenous North Americas |
3 units |
WGQS 1 |
Introduction to Women’s Studies |
4 units |
ENGL 12 |
African-American Literature |
3 units |
ENGL 18 |
Asian American Literature |
3 units |
HIST 5B |
World History From 1500 |
3 units |
HUMN 1B |
Human Values in and from the Arts |
3 units |
PHIL 1 |
Introduction to Philosophy |
3 units |
PSYC 1 |
General Psychology |
3 units |
SOCI 1 |
Introduction to Sociology |
3 units |
FRNC 1A |
Beginning French |
5 units |
JPNS 1A |
Beginning Japanese |
5 units |
RUSS 1A |
Beginning Russian |
5 units |
SPAN 1A |
Beginning Spanish |
5 units |
Major Requirements: 18 – 26 units
CSU GE Breadth or IGETC for CSU Requirements: 37 – 39 units
Elective Units As Needed To Total 60 CSU Transferable Units
Associate of Arts Degree in Women, Gender and Queer Studies
The Women, Gender and Queer Studies Associate in Arts degree, which requires 22 units in the major, offers students an interdisciplinary, social justice approach to examining the complex ways that gender informs identity, with an emphasis on the intersection of gender with other identity markers such as race, class, sexuality, ability, ethnicity, nation, and religion, in cultures around the world. A field at the forefront of multicultural and transnational scholarship, Women, Gender and Queer Studies is dynamic and constantly evolving.
In WGQS core courses, students have the opportunity to study the history of women in various world cultures through the millennia, as well as historical changes in Western culture forged by the suffrage, civil rights, gay liberation, and labor movements of the 19th and 20th centuries. Students also have the opportunity to examine contemporary social justice movements and activism in their local communities and around the globe on topics ranging from voting rights to representation in government, from sex work to human trafficking, and from the wage and education gaps to the division of labor.
Drawing on concepts from Global Feminist Studies and Queer Theory, WGQS courses prepare students to analyze gender and sexuality as social constructs both performative and fluid; to think critically about power dynamics based on race, gender, sexuality, social class, ability, and nation; and to develop global perspectives on inequality, development, and human rights issues. The A.A. degree in Women, Gender and Queer Studies also prepares students to contribute to dialogue on issues of fairness and justice locally, nationally, and globally.
The WGQS AA program of study offers lower division courses that help students prepare for transfer to four-year institutions where students have opportunities to engage in advanced scholarship in the vibrant, expanding fields of Social Justice, Gender, Ethnic, and Global Studies leading to careers in professional fields such as humanities, law, education, psychology, administration of justice, and social work; for positions in government agencies and non-governmental organizations focused on human rights and social justice. After completing the Women, Gender and Queer Studies AA, students will be able to:
- Examine women’s access to political, social, and economic power throughout history and across cultures.
- Analyze gender roles using intersectional analysis, via lenses of race, ethnicity, sex identity, gender, sexuality, social class, and ability, in various cultural and historical contexts.
- Compare the social construction of gender, race, class, sexuality, and disabilities in different cultures and historical periods; analyze the intersection of these social constructs in the lives of women, men, and gender variant individuals in different global societies.
- Describe gender and sexuality as existing on a continuum rather than as static identities, using historical, psychological, sociological, and semantical language analysis as evidence.
- Analyze cultural attitudes about sexuality using intersectional, feminist, and historical perspectives.
- Analyze and critique the social construction of sexuality and gender categories such as woman, man, non-binary, lesbian, gay, straight, bisexual, trans, and queer.
- Analyze and critique gender images in literature, visual and performing arts, media, and popular culture.
- Participate in dialogue about fairness and justice in matters related to sex identity, gender, race, ethnicity, class, sexuality, ability, culture and religion.
Required Core Courses: 10 units
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
WGQS 1 |
Introduction to Women’s Studies |
4 units |
WGQS 2 |
Women in the Arts: Multicultural Perspectives |
3 units |
WGQS 3 |
Introduction to Gender Studies |
3 units |
WGQS 4A |
Women in World Cultures from Prehistory to 1500 CE |
3 units |
Complete at least 9 units from the following:
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
ARTS 14 |
Women in Art History |
3 units |
BIOL 55 |
Biology of Sex |
3 units |
HEDU 10 |
Human Sexuality |
3 units |
PSYC 9 |
Psychology Women: A Multicultural |
3 units |
WGQS 4A |
Women in World Cultures from Prehistory to 1500 CE |
3 units |
WGQS 2 |
Women in the Arts: Multicultural Perspectives |
3 units |
ANTH 3 |
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology |
3 units |
ANTH 3H |
General Psychology |
3 units |
PSYC 1 |
English Composition |
3 units |
SOCI 2 |
Social Problems |
3 units |
ENGL 1B |
English Composition |
3 units |
ENGL 41 |
Literature and Film |
3 units |
ENGL 43 |
Classical Mythology |
3 units |
ENGL 43H |
Honors Classical Mythology |
3 units |
ENGL 46 |
Contemporary American MultiCultural Literature |
3 units |
ENGL 46H |
Honors Contemporary American Multi-Cultural |
3 units |
ENGL 49 |
Modern Fiction |
3 units |
ENGL 49H |
Honors Modern Fiction |
3 units |
ENGL 1A |
English Composition |
3 units |
ENGL 1C |
Critical Thinking and Writing |
3 units |
ENGL 1CH |
Honors Critical Thinking and Writing |
3 units |
CHST 5 |
Diversity: Childhood and Culture |
3 units |
SOCI 28 |
Sociology of Gender |
3 units |
OR
Complete other English courses identified in the Schedule of 3 Classes as having a Women’s Studies, Gender Studies, or Queer Studies emphasis. Students should consult with the Chair of WGQS to determine which courses qualify in a given semester.
Total Major Units: 22 units
To be awarded an A.A. Degree, a student must complete:
- All the major requirements
- Additional units to meet the college graduation requirement
Fall, Year 1 (4 units)
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
WGQS 1 |
Introduction to Women’s Studies |
4 units |
Spring, Year 1 (6 Units)
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
WGQS 3 |
Introduction to Gender and Queer Studies |
3 units |
Electives |
(Any Course) |
3 units |
Fall, Year 2 (6 Units)
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
WGQS 2 |
Women in the Arts: Multicultural Perspectives |
3 units |
Electives |
(Any Course) |
3 units |
Fall or Spring, Year 2 (6 Units)
Course Number |
Course Title |
Units |
WGQS 4A |
Women in World Cultures |
3 units |
Electives |
(Any Course) |
3 units |