Do you have a passion for cultural awareness, community organizing, and social justice? Fuel your curiosity while developing research and analytical skills. Learn how to connect the past with the present and turn interests and concerns into action.
Departments Under This Area
Social Sciences
Ethnic Studies
African American Studies
Asian and Asian American Studies
Political Science
Mexican and Latin American Studies
Native American Studies
History
Geography
Humanities
Anthropology
Sociology
Psychology
Philosophy
Labor Studies
Recommended First Term Classes
Course meets a CSU or IGETC general education requirement
Math
MATH 13* Statistics OR
MATH 13* plus Math 213 (Support for Statistics) OR
Math 15* Mathematics for Liberal Arts
English
ENGL 1A* Reading and Composition OR
ENGL 1AS* Reading and Composition with Support
Explorer Course
Choose One
AFRAM 26*
ANTHRO 1*
ANTHRO 3*
HIST 7A*
M/LAT 33*
POSC 1*
PSYCH 1*
SOC 1
Description of Explorer Courses
African American Studies
AFRAM 26: African American Culture: Music, Art and Literature
Are you interested in exploring the origins of Black art and culture in the United States? Do you want to make connections between the past and present of Black art, culture, and literature, and how it has been used as timeless resistance, hope, and beauty? This course offers an opportunity to become riveted in exploring and unpacking the origins, and historical and contemporary significance of Black art, culture, and literature while building and improving critical thinking, writing, and reading comprehension skills that you can apply in your future endeavors.
All are welcome and encouraged to enroll in this class. Whether you are taking this class to fulfill the Arts and Culture requirement, to transfer, or are simply curious about the subject matter, this class and subject matter is guaranteed to be valuable. This class counts towards a transferable AA Degree in Social Justice, to a CSU or UC, and fulfills AA/AS area 3, 5; CSU area C1; IGETC area 3A.
Anthropology
ANTHRO 1: Introduction to Physical Anthropology
There are no other species quite like humans! Why is this the case? In this course, you will explore the human species through the lens of evolution, weaving together different threads of information to create a holistic view of why and how our species came to be. You will learn about Darwin’s theory of natural selection and the evidence for how evolution works provided by molecular biology and modern genetics. To understand our species in a larger context, you will also learn about our close relatives, the primates, and the many traits we share with them. Finally, this course tackles the evolutionary history of primates and our own species through a study of the fossil record. This class fulfills IGETC area 5B.
ANTHRO 3: Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology
Are you interested in exploring other cultures? Diving deeper into what culture means? Are you open-minded? Social and Cultural Anthropology is your introduction to the diverse world of human behaviors, beliefs, norms, and institutions. We will approach these topics through the unique anthropological perspective. This means that we employ a holistic point of view, where different aspects of culture—such as political systems, economies, belief systems, world views, language, etc. — are best understood when viewed in context of each other. We will also employ a comparative approach, studying a range of cultures around the world, from the recent past through modern times, from international contexts to local levels. This class fulfills AA/AS area 2; CSU area D; IGETC area 4.
History
HIST 7A: History of the United States to 1877
Are you interested in exploring the origins of History of the United States to 1877? This introductory course covers the history of the United States from colonial days to reconstruction (1877): It explores, surveys, and gives an interpretation of political, social, and economic factors contributing to the growth of the nation. This introductory course offers the opportunity to engage in critical thinking skills and will give you the needed foundation to become successful in reading and writing history. All are welcome and encouraged to enroll in the class. Whether you are taking this class to fulfill a history requirement, to transfer, or are simply curious about the subject matter, this class and subject matter is guaranteed to be valuable for your future endeavors. This course counts towards a transferable AA/AS area 2; CSU area D; IGETC area 4.
Mexican and Latin American Studies
M/LAT 33: Intro to Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies
Are you interested in learning about the diverse experiences, cultures, identities, struggles, and histories of Latinxs in the United States? Do you want to understand why and how Latinxs have made significant political and demographic shifts in the United States? Are you interested in analyzing how racism evolves in the U.S. and how it shapes Latinx racial formation and resistance? This course offers an opportunity to unpack Latinx identities, U.S. empire, racism, colonialism, class relationships, and community resistance. We will engage in current events, cultural controversies, elections, and social movements and consider how ethnoracial status, socioeconomic position, gender, citizenship, education and (im)migration statuses intersect to shape Latinxs’ access to opportunity and civil rights. All are welcome and encouraged to enroll in this class. Whether you are taking this class to fulfill the Ethnic Studies requirement, in order to transfer, or are simply curious about the subject matter, this class and subject matter is guaranteed to be valuable. This class counts towards a transferable AA Degree in Social Justice, to a CSU or UC, and fulfills AA/AS area 2, 5 ; CSU area D; IGETC area 4.
Political Science
POSCI 1: Government and Politics in the US
Are you interested in exploring the origins of Government and Politics in the US? This introductory course to principles and the political process of national, state, and local government will enhance your knowledge in the governmental process. This introductory course offers the opportunity to engage in critical thinking skills and will give you the needed foundation to become successful in reading and writing law and becoming an active member of the political process. Learn about the structure and principles of the United States government to better understand how government is structured and functions in the past, present, and future and how this impacts the World in which we live. With an emphasis on national, state, and local government and the Constitution, you will be able to engage in the political process at every level of the government including the constitution and legislative bodies. Job opportunities include congressional, legislative, state, and local government. All are welcomed and encouraged to enroll in the class. Whether you are taking this class to fulfill a Political Science requirement, in order to transfer, or are simply curious about the subject matter, this class and subject matter is guaranteed to be valuable for your future endeavors. This course counts towards a transferable AA/AS area 2; CSU area D and IGETC area 4.
Psychology
PSYCH 1A: Intro to General Psychology
Are you interested in pursuing the scientific principles of psychology? This introductory course covers the application of scientific research in understanding learning, human development, biological processes, personality, behavior disorders, social psychology, and adjustment of the human organism. Learn about the fundamental elements of psychology and the theories of how and why people think and act as they do and how this impacts you and others. This introductory course offers the opportunity to engage in critical thinking skills and will give you the needed foundation to become successful reading and writing in the scientific principles of psychology. All are welcomed and encouraged to enroll in the class. Whether you are taking this class to fulfill a Psychology requirement, in order to transfer, or are simply curious about the subject matter, this class and subject matter is guaranteed to be valuable for your future endeavors. This course counts towards a transferable AA/AS area 2; CSU area D and IGETC area 4.
Sociology
SOSC 1: Introduction to Sociology
Are you interested in pursuing a career in Sociology? This introductory course covers basic concepts, theoretical approaches, and methods of sociology. You will learn the analysis and explanation of social structure, group dynamics, socialization and the self, social stratification, culture and diversity, social change, and global dynamics. Also, learn about the fundamental elements of sociology and the theories of how and why people and communities think and act as they do and their impacts on all of us. This introductory course offers the opportunity to engage in critical thinking skills and will give you the needed foundation to become successful in reading and writing in the field of sociology. All are welcomed and encouraged to enroll in the class. Whether you are taking this class to fulfill a Sociology requirement, to transfer, or are simply curious about the subject matter, this class and subject matter is guaranteed to be valuable for your future endeavors. This course counts towards a transferable AA/AS, CSU area D, IGETC area 4.
