The Associate in Arts Degree in Black Studies is intended to provide students with a comparative, trans-disciplinary, multisectoral, and multidimensional analysis of the experiences of persons of African descent in the United States. Students will analyze issues relating to the African/ Black American community while developing a critical understanding of American society’s African/Black American communities. Students study the social, cultural, political, economic, and historical narrative of African/Black American communities in the United States to critically analyze issues distinct to race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality, religion, spirituality, national origin, immigration status, ability, and/or age while developing a consciousness of the cultural pluralism in American society.

This degree’s primary purpose is to present the African/Black American narrative due to being excluded from the overall American experience, American identity, and American definition. The degree provides insight into how African/Black American endured the “American Experience” based on hierarchy, oppression, racialization, ethnocentrism, Eurocentrism, and White supremacy and their continued resistance, social justice, liberation, progression, evolution, healing, resiliency, emphasizing
agency and self-affirmation.

Learning Outcome(s):

🗸 Students will apply a trans-disciplinary approach to the study of African/Black Americans.

🗸 Students shall analyze and evaluate the social, cultural, and political concepts central to the experiences of African/Black Americans.

🗸 Students will assess the historical, literary, and artistic contributions of African/Black Americans to American society and culture.

🗸 Students shall compare and contrast the various approaches and methodologies employed to study the experiences of African/Black Americans.

🗸 Students will analyze the concepts of economic empowerment and self-determination in relation to the African/Black American
community.

🗸 Students shall analyze the impact of public policy on the African/Black American family, past and present.

🗸 Students will examine trends in the organization of Black Studies, patterns in courses on the Black experience, African American Studies, the African American experience, issues of Afro-centricity, Africology, Black Power, et cetera.

🗸 Students shall develop and foster research techniques founded on anti-oppressive, anti-racist, anti-colonial, anti-suppressive, and anti-repressive methodologies for participatory research within the African/Black American communities.

🗸 Students will actively engage with anti-oppressive, anti-racist, anti-colonial, anti-suppressive, anti-repressive, self-determination, liberation, decolonization, sovereignty, and resiliency issues to create practices and movements founded on these ideals within the African/ Black American communities.

🗸 Students shall develop an awareness of resistance, social justice, liberation, progression, evolution, healing, and resiliency, emphasizing agency, and self-affirmation.

The Law, Public Policy, and Society Associate in Arts Degree for Transfer, also called the Law, Public Policy, and Society AA-T or ADT, prepares students to transfer to CSU campuses that offer bachelor's degrees in Law, Public Policy, and Society. Ed Code Section 66746-66749 states students earning the Law, Public Policy, and Society AA-T degree will be granted priority for admission as a Law, Public Policy, and Society major to a local CSU, as determined by the CSU campus to which the student applies. The Law, Public Policy and Society ADT focuses on the development of communication skills, introduces students to the legal field, and prepares students for transfer to a CSU. In the program, students will learn to analyze social science and theories, evaluate diverse viewpoints related to the human experience, and produce evidence-based arguments. Students who choose to pursue an ADT In Law, Public Policy and Society will be prepared to go into a variety of majors such as Political Science, Communication Studies, Economics, Philosophy, and Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Program Student Learning Outcomes:

🗸 Assess correlates of crime, including demographic correlates of crime and crime victimization, such as gender, age, race/ethnicity, social status, social ecology, family, schools, peers, religion and work.

🗸 Explain the basic ethical structures of act based, intention based and outcome based constructs.

🗸 Compose an argument and provide ideas and information suitable to the topic, purpose, and audience.

🗸 Explain the internal and external processes of a) government, (e.g, separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism) b) interest groups, (e.g., the behavioral school, the Madisonian dilemma) c) public policy (e.g., bureaucratic theory, division of labor).

The Latin-American Studies Associate in Arts Degree is an interdisciplinary degree which combines courses from multiple academic disciplines to give students a broad background encompassing historical, political, social, cultural, and geographic aspects of Latin America. A degree in Latin American Studies affords students access to a wide range of career opportunities in the United States and abroad. The continuing importance of Latin America for the U.S. and the growing Latin population in the U.S. has produced an increasing need for trained persons with a knowledge of the region to work in government, teaching, business and other fields. The Latin-American Studies Associate in Arts Degree requires a total of 19-20 units.

Program Student Learning Outcomes:

🗸 Show proficiency in intermediate Spanish.

🗸 Identify important events, themes, and concepts of Latin American history and society.

🗸 Examine problems and issues relating to Latin America by consulting primary and secondary sources, and formulating a thesis.

The Landscape Management Associate in Science Degree is designed to prepare students for possible careers in landscape management and/or employment in parks, golf courses, landscape contracting, and landscape gardening. This degree will also prepare the student to transfer to an appropriate four-year college or university. This degree requires a total of 18-21 units.

Program Student Learning Outcomes:

🗸 Apply horticultural concepts to real-world problems and solutions.


🗸 Identify plants, abiotic components, and horti­culturally-significant insects.


🗸 Demonstrate an understanding of the biology of plants, abiotic components, and horticulturally-significant insects. 

The Kinesiology Associate in Arts Degree for Transfer (AA-T), also called the Kinesiology AA-T Degree, prepares students to transfer to CSU campuses that offer a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. Ed Code Section 66746-66749 states students earning the Kinesiology AA-T degree will be granted priority for admission as a Kinesiology major to a local CSU, as determined by the CSU campus to which the student applies. Students with a degree in Kinesiology may pursue careers in a variety of health science professions including physical training, physical therapy, fitness instruction, coaching and athletics. The completion of this curriculum will demonstrate commitment to the field and provide comprehensive preparation for upper-division work. The Kinesiology AA-T Degree requires a total of 22-26.5 units in required courses and restricted electives from the categories below as indicated. The following is required for all AA-T or AS-T degrees, and there are no additional graduation requirements: (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) The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or the California State University General Education – Breadth Requirements. (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) ADTs also require that students must earn a C or better in all courses required for the major or area of emphasis. A P (Pass) grade is an acceptable grade for courses in the major only if the P is defined to be equivalent to a C or better.

Program Student Learning Outcomes:

🗸 Examine and evaluate how anatomical and physiological systems impact human movement by analyzing, observing, and/or demonstrating a variety of physical exercises.

🗸 Distinguish major concepts, theoretical principles, empirical findings, and historical and current trends in Kinesiology.

🗸 Understand, analyze and apply scientific principles to movement, exercise and sport, including the demonstration and evaluation of knowledge and skills in fitness activities, aquatics, combative, and individual sports.
 

The Associate in Arts in Journalism for Transfer, also called the Journalism AA-T Degree, prepares students to transfer to CSU campuses that offer bachelor's degrees in Journalism or Communications. Ed Code Section 66746-66749 states that students earning the Journalism AA-T Degree will be granted priority for admission as a Journalism or Communications major to a local CSU, as determined by the CSU campus to which the student applies. Journalism relates to print, broadcast, visual and multimedia reporting as well as public relations. This degree is designed for students who want to develop skills in communication and reporting for today’s media or working in the public relations field. The Journalism AA-T Degree requires a total of 18-20 units of required courses and restricted electives as listed below. The following is required for all AA-T or AS-T degrees, and there are no additional graduation requirements: (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) The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or the California State University General Education – Breadth Requirements. (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) ADTs also require that students must earn a C or better in all courses required for the major or area of emphasis. A “P” (Pass) grade is not an acceptable grade for courses in the major.

Program Student Learning Outcomes:

🗸 Assess the news value and impact of news media content on the public.

🗸 Produce timely, accurate and thorough news or feature articles that result in publication.

🗸 Employ the latest techniques and tools in media technology to produce engaging multimedia content for publication.

🗸 Identify various legal issues and apply professional journalism ethics codes in both print and broadcast content.
 

The associate degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation is designed to give students a thorough understanding of the process of entrepreneurship. It is designed for those who have thought about starting their own ventures, as well as for those new to business. Students learn to develop and commercialize ideas for new ventures. Small business owners learn to develop resources to be more profitable and sustainable. Classes are practical and hands on. They provide real-world exposure to cutting-edge innovation and entrepreneurship. Specialized topics include: building a team, bootstrap marketing, finances and resources, opportunity assessment, design techniques, powerful presentations and more.

Learning Outcome(s):

🗸 Demonstrate the necessary knowledge to start their own businesses either as entrepreneurs or freelance independent contractors

The International Business concentration is designed to prepare students for a career in business by providing a broad exposure to the areas of international business, competency in a functional area of business, and an awareness of foreign cultural differences.

The Emphasis in Sustainability Business is designed to introduce students to the emerging field of sustainability in business and the growing focus on the social, environmental, and economic performance of businesses in global economy. The coursework presents the scientific, moral, and business cases for adopting sustainability.

The General Management concentration permits a focus upon the skills of the manager, whether the manager is an entrepreneur or operating at the corporate or agency level, with emphasis on the skills of decision making as taught through the case method. Managerial skills in planning, organizing, and controlling are highly transferable within private industry and within the public and nonprofit sector as well, thus permitting a wide variety of career goals.

The associate degree curriculum in English is designed to develop proficiency in written communication and in the understanding of human nature through the study of language and literature. Completion of the A.A. degree in English prepares students to pursue upper-division studies as an English major focusing on literature, writing, criticism or other related fields. Students wanting to pursue a career in law, politics, education, or communications often choose the A.A. degree in English because of the emphasis on close reading of texts, strategic employment of language, and strengthened writing skills the program promotes. Because the critical thinking and analytical skills developed as an English major are so versatile, students who may not be sure of their career and/or academic goals might want to consider it.

Learning Outcome(s):

🗸 employ active reading and critical thinking skills to analyze, respond to, and evaluate various texts.

🗸 use the writing process to develop polished compositions that align with the intended purpose and audience.

🗸 use language, sentence structure, and punctuation effectively to convey the intended meaning and tone.

🗸 locate both primary and secondary sources of information (using the web, the library, and the library databases) and evaluate them for credibility and accuracy.

🗸 correctly integrate and document sources in MLA format to avoid plagiarism.

🗸 demonstrate familiarity with major authors, works, genres, literary styles, and literary critical paradigms.