Associate of Arts: Area of Emphasis

ADMINISTRATION AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS
AA494/AA494B/AA494C
Administration/Information Systems entails the study of theories, procedures and practices and the acquisition of skills necessary to function productively and effectively in an administrative work environment. Career paths chosen by students pursuing undergraduate studies in Administration/Information Systems typically include managerial positions in business and the public sector, administrative support positions, customer service, sales, accounting/bookkeeping and public relations.

Students completing associate degrees in Administration/Information Systems may obtain entry-level positions in the above career fields or may choose to transfer to a four-year college or university to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, public administration, management information systems or related fields.

Program Learning Outcomes
Students possessing an Associate Degree in Administration/ Information Systems can be expected to demonstrate achievement of the following learning outcomes:

  1. Categorize basic administrative terms, theories and principles.
  2. Demonstrate basic understanding of economic systems, i.e., the manner in which goods are produced and distributed in a society and theme and by which economic grow this achieved and sustained.
  3. Understand and apply fundamental management principles, such as profit/loss, balancing accounts, conflict resolution, effective customer relations and time management.
  4. Perform functions such as preparation of memoranda, utilization of spreadsheets, adherence to schedules and responding effectively to changes in the work environment.
  5. Implement the fundamental concepts from courses in business, public administration, economics and/or information systems
  6. Locate, process, and utilize information effectively.

The student must complete 18 units of study with a grade of “C” or better or a “P” if the course is taken on a “ pass-no pass” basis.

Included Disciplines and Courses
Required Courses (9 units, selected from the following):           
Accounting (ACC): 1A
Business Administration (BUS): 10, 10H, 18A
Computer Applications and Office Technology (CAT): 3
Computer Information Systems (CIS): 1A, 3
Economics (ECO): 7, 7H, 8, 8H
Political Science (POL): 8

Elective Courses (9 additional units, selected from the following):
Accounting (ACC): 1A, 1B, 38
Business Administration (BUS): 10, 10H, 18A, 18B, 20, 22, 80
Communications Studies (COM): 1, 1H, 6, 9, 9H, 12, 13
Computer Applications and Office Technology (CAT): 3, 31
Computer Information Systems (CIS): 1A, 1B, 2, 3, 5
Computer Science (CSC): 2, 5
Economics (ECO): 4, 6, 7, 7H, 8, 8H
Library (LIB): 1
Management (MAG): 44
Marketing (MKT): 20
Political Science (POL): 6, 8

AMERICAN STUDIES
AA492/AA492B/AA492C
American Studies examines the American experience from the colonial period of the United States to the present. Students will study, interpret, and evaluate events, cultural products, and trends in American economic, political, and social history as well as in American architecture, art, literature, music, religion, and they will evaluate questions to which there are multiple plausible interpretations. Students pursuing the program in American Studies will enhance their skills in critical thinking and both oral and written communication. The American Studies program prepares students for further study in the English/literature, history, political science, and sociology at a four-year baccalaureate institution and provides an excellent foundation for students interested in administration, communications, law, public service, and teaching.

Program Learning Outcomes
Students possessing an Associate Degree in American Studies can be expected to demonstrate achievement of the following learning outcomes:

  1. Critically analyze the history, culture, politics and society of the United States.
  2. Interpret American history, culture, politics and society orally and in written form.
  3. Understand of a range of academic disciplines around a core of American history, culture, politics and society.
  4. Describe and analyze of the diversity of the American people as a society of immigrants developing national traditions and culture.

The student must complete 18 units of study across a maximum of three disciplines including at least one two-semester sequence with a grade of “C” or better or a “P” if the course is taken on a “pass-no pass” basis.

Take one of these two-semester sequences (6 units):                 
English (ENG): 14 and 15
Ethnic Studies (ETS): 14 and 15, 28 and 29
History (HIS): 6, 6H and 7, 7H, 11 and 12, 14 and 15, 28 and 29

Elective courses: (12 additional units, selected from the following):
American Sign Language (ASL): 22 Economics (ECO): 7, 7H
English (ENG): 14, 15, 18, 20, 25
Ethnic Studies (ETS): 2, 14, 15, 18, 20, 25, 28, 29
Film, Television and Video (FTV): 12
History (HIS): 6, 6H, 7, 7H, 11, 12, 14, 15, 26, 28, 29, 31, 34
Humanities (HUM): 9, 11, 16
Military Science (MIL): 1, 2
Music (MUS): 23, 25, 26, 89, 89H
Philosophy (PHI): 19
Political Science (POL): 1, 1H, 5, 12, 13
Sociology (SOC): 2, 3, 15

COMMUNICATION, MEDIA AND LANGUAGES
AA495/AA495B/AA495C
Communications is the study of how humans construct meanings through interactions. Courses in this area may focus on the knowledge and skills needed to communicate effectively in oral, written, or visual forms; on the study of language and culture; and/or on a critical understanding of the structures and patterns of different kinds of communication as they affect individuals and society . Studies in Communication, Media and Languages is designed for students interested in pursuing further studies in English, Journalism, Mass Communication, Media Studies, Communication Studies and World Languages at four-year institutions. It may be useful for students interested in pursuing careers in communications, graphic design, journalism, law, marketing, public relations, radio and television, translating, and writing, among others.

Program Learning Outcomes
Students possessing an Associate Degree in Communication, Media and Languages can be expected to demonstrate achievement of the following learning outcomes:

  1. Analyze college level texts to understand and apply themes and evidence in appropriate communication formats.
  2. Evaluate purpose and audience to create well-developed, supported, and stylistically fluent responses in written or verbal form.
  3. Evaluate and apply appropriate evidence in support of arguments made in different forms of communication.
  4. Recognize and understand the role of nonverbal, verbal, interpersonal, visual, mass media, and cultural indicators inherent in different communication mediums.
  5. Understand how socioeconomic and cultural factors work in constructing knowledge in different forms of communication.
  6. Use a variety of research methods to collect and evaluate sources and evidence to apply in various forms of communication.

The student must complete 18 units of study across three disciplines; 9 units must be taken in a single discipline with a grade of “C” or better or a “P” if the course is taken on a “pass-no pass” basis.

Included Disciplines and Courses
Academic Literacy & Reading (ALR): 4
American Sign Language (ASL): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 20, 22
Anthropology (ANT): 8
Applied Digital Media (ADM): 1
Arabic (ARA): 1, 2, 3, 8, 11
Chinese (CHI): 1, 2, 11
Communication Studies (COM): 1, 1H, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 9H, 11, 12, 13, 19
English (ENG): 1A, 1AH, 1B, 1BH, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 23, 25, 30, 34, 35, 40, 41, 44, 45, 48, 49
Ethnic Studies (ETS): 20, 25
Film Studies (FST): 1, 1H, 2, 3, 4, 5
Film, Television and Video (FTV): 12, 44A, 45A, 65
French (FRE): 1, 2, 3, 8, 11
Italian (ITA): 1, 2, 3, 11
Japanese (JPN): 1, 2, 3, 4, 11
Journalism (JOU): 1, 2, 7, 12, 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 52A, 52B, 52C, 52D
Library (LIB): 1
Photography (PHO): 12
Portuguese (POR): 1, 2
Russian (RUS): 1, 2, 3, 11
Spanish (SPA): 1, 1H, 2, 2H, 3, 3N, 4, 8, 11, 12, 51

FINE AND APPLIED ARTS
AA496/AA496B/AA496C
The Associate Degree in Fine and Applied Arts offers a rich variety of courses to acquaint students with the creation of and performance in the arts from a global perspective. The courses in this area examine the nature of the fine and applied arts through analysis, synthesis, composition, performance and technical development. Students will develop techniques appropriate to the art form, engage in the production and performance of the arts, examine aesthetic valuing, and participate in creative expression.

This area of emphasis is designed for students interested in exploring a variety of art forms including digital media, creative writing, dance, film, graphic design, music, photography, communication studies, television, theatre, video and the visual arts.

Program Learning Outcomes
Students possessing an Associate of Arts Degree in Fine and Applied Arts can be expected to demonstrate achievement of the following program learning outcomes:

  1. Demonstrate basic knowledge and skills (technique) one discipline of the fine and applied arts. These include fundamentals of the field in terms of practice, history, analysis and their applications and technical ability in one discipline to create, sustain, and evolve a personal vision and/or purpose.
  2. Develop a personal vision and/or purpose-sometimes called “artistic voice”-that is evident in terms of work produced and manifested in a portfolio, performance, exhibition, or other presentation.
  3. Generate and apply original ideas and methods to discover, create and communicate specific artistic content.
  4. Demonstrate conceptual acuity, clarity, imagination, and technical ability to combine, integrate, and synthesize elements into works in ways that enhance their communicative powers.

The student must complete 18 units of study across a maximum of three disciplines with 9 units from a single discipline and with a grade of “C” or better or a “P” if the course is taken on a “pass-no pass” basis.

Included Disciplines and Courses
Applied Digital Media (ADM): 1, 2C, 67, 68A, 68B, 70, 71A, 71B, 74A, 74B, 77A, 77B, 200
Art (ART): 6, 6H, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25A, 25B, 26, 27, 28A, 28B, 30A, 30B, 34, 35A, 35B, 36A, 36B, 38, 39, 40A, 40B, 41A, 41B, 42A, 42B, 43A, 43B, 44A, 44B, 44C, 45, 46, 47, 48A, 48B, 49A, 49B, 200
Art History (AHS): 1, 1H, 2, 2H, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6H, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
Communication Studies (COM): 1, 1H, 2, 3, 7, 11
Dance (DAN): 6, 6H, 7, 8, 9, D9, D10, D13, D14, D15, D16, D17, D19, D20, D21, D22, D23, D25, D29, D31, D32, D33, D34, D37, D38, D39, D43, D44, D46, D47, D48, D49, D50, D51, D60
English (ENG): 11, 12, 17A, 17B, 17C
Film, Television, and Video (FTV): 38A, 38B, 41, 42, 44A, 45A, 48, 51A, 51B, 52, 53, 64A, 65, 66, 67, 68, 72
Music (MUS): 3, 4, 5, 6, 8A, 8B, 9, 10, 19, 19H, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32A, 32B, 32C, 32D, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43A, 43B, 43C, 44, 48, 49, 50, 52, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 61, 65, 68, 69, 70, 73, 77, 81, 82, 83, 84, 87, 89, 89H, 92, 93, 94, P12, P36, P44, P84
Photography (PHO): 8, 9, 20, 200
Theatre (THE): 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 25, 26, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41, 44, 46, 48, 49, 54

HUMANITIES, PHILOSOPHY AND ARTS
AA497/AA497B/AA497C
Humanities, Philosophy, and Arts examines human values and experience within a wide range of cultures, across the globe, and over the course of history. Students will study, interpret, and evaluate classic works in architecture, art, literature, music, philosophy, religion, rhetoric and the theater, and they will encounter questions to which there are multiple plausible answers. The study of language, philosophy, and rhetoric provides crucial tools for understanding and interpreting human knowledge and experience. Students pursuing the program in the Humanities, Philosophy, and Arts will enhance their skills in critical thinking and both oral and written communication. The Humanities, Philosophy, and Arts program prepares students for further study in the arts, history, humanities, literature, philosophy, communication studies and/or world languages at a four-year baccalaureate institution and provides an excellent foundation for students interested in administration, communications, law, public service, and teaching.

Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion, students will be able to:

  1. Interpret key philosophical, religious and literary texts, as well as creative works, in historical and cultural contexts and express that interpretation persuasively in oral and/or written form.
  2. Analyze the role and use of language, rhetoric and/or the arts in informing and contextualizing human experience.
  3. Analyze the role and use of the arts (literature, music, theatre, dance, and the fine arts) as a reflection of the culture in which it appears.
  4. Evaluate the role of individual human agency in history.
  5. Research and write critical interpretive essays demonstrating a high skill level.

The student must complete 18 units of study across three disciplines; 9 units must be taken in a single discipline. Up to three units may be taken in a studio course. The 18 units must be completed with a grade of “C” or better or a “P” if the course is taken on a “pass-no pass” basis.

Included Disciplines and Courses
American Sign Language (ASL): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 20, 22
Anthropology (ANT): 7, 8
Arabic (ARA): 1, 2, 3, 8, 11, 11H
Architecture (ARE): 36
Art (ART): 6, 6H
Art History (AHS): 1, 1H, 2, 2H, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6H, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
Chinese (CHI): 1, 2, 11
Communication Studies (COM): 1, 1H, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 9H, 11, 12, 13
Dance (DAN): 6, 6H
English (ENG): 1B, 1BH, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 30, 34, 35, 40, 41, 44, 45, 48
Ethnic Studies (ETS): 2, 13, 14, 15, 18, 20, 25, 28, 29
Film, Television and Video (FTV): 12, 65
Film Studies (FST): 1, 1H, 2, 3, 4, 5
French (FRE): 1, 2, 3, 8, 11
Game Development (GAM): 2
History (HIS): 1, 2, 2H, 4, 5, 6, 6H, 7, 7H, 14, 15, 25, 26, 28, 29, 31, 32, 34, 35
Humanities (HUM): 4, 4H, 5, 5H, 8, 9, 10, 10H, 11, 16, 18, 23, 35
Italian (ITA): 1, 2, 3, 11
Japanese (JPN): 1, 2, 3, 4, 11
Library (LIB): 1
Music (MUS): 19, 19H, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 89, 89H, 93
Philosophy (PHI): 10, 10H, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 22, 32, 33, 35
Political Science (POL): 11 Portuguese (POR): 1, 2
Russian (RUS): 1, 2, 3, 11
Spanish (SPA): 1, 1H, 2, 2H, 3, 3N, 4, 8, 11, 12, 51
Theatre (THE): 3, 29

Applicable Studio Courses Include:
(Note that some classes are less than 3 units)
Art (ART): 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25A, 25B, 26, 27, 28A, 28B, 30A, 30B, 34, 35A, 35B, 36A, 36B, 38, 39, 40A, 40B, 41A, 41B, 42A, 42B, 43A, 43B, 44A, 44B, 44C, 45, 46, 47, 48A, 48B, 49A, 49B, 200
Dance (DAN): 7, 8, 9, D9, D10, D13, D14, D15, D16, D17, D19, D20, D21, D22, D23, D25, D29, D31, D32, D33, D34, D37, D38, D39, D43, D44, D46, D47, D48, D49, D50, D51, D60
English (ENG): 11, 12, 17A, 17B, 17C
Music (MUS): 8A, 8B, 9, 10, 12, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32A, 32B, 32C, 32D, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43A, 43B, 43C, 44, 48, 49, 50, 52, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 61, 65, 68, 69, 70, 71, 73, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 84, 92, 94, P12, P36, P44, P84
Theatre (THE): 2, 4, 5, 6, 25, 26, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 41, 54

KINESIOLOGY, HEALTH AND WELLNESS
AA498/AA498B/AA498C
Kinesiology, Health and Wellness is a collection of courses that emphasize the principles for the growth and development of a healthy lifestyle. Students will acquire the knowledge and understanding problem solving strategies of these principles to integrate, apply and promote personal, individual or group behavior conducive to the maintenance or restoration of mental and physical wellness. This emphasis will provide students with an understanding of physical skills and their development related to physical activity, exercise and sport. This area of emphasis is designed for students interested in making positive life choices and in the study of health, nutrition, and wellness; physical education/kinesiology; athletic training; sport performance, officiating and coaching; career planning and life management; and the biology, anatomy and physiology of the human body.

Students who work closely with their counselor may use this emphasis area to prepare to transfer to four year institutions in majors such as Health Science, Nutrition, Physical Education/Kinesiology, Exercise Science, and Recreation and Leisure Studies. Some careers such as Athletic Trainer, Physical Therapist, Exercise Physiologist, Sport Nutritionist and Physical Education and Health Education teachers may require education beyond a bachelor’s degree.

Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion, a student will be able to:

  1. Analyze understanding of the impact life choices have on overall human health and apply this knowledge to maintain healthful living appropriate to the situation.
  2. Recognize the positive impact of physical activity in fostering optimal health and apply this knowledge to lifestyle choices.
  3. Identify and interpret the role of individual decision-making processes to the development of strategies concerning personal health and wellness.

The student must complete 18 units of study with a grade of “C” or better or a “P” if the course is taken on a “pass-no pass” basis.

Included Disciplines and Courses
Required Courses (take 3 units in each of the two disciplines):

Health Science (HES):1 (or BIO 35)
Kinesiology/academic courses (KIN): 4, 6, 10, 12, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38

Elective Courses (12 additional units, selected from the following)
Biology (BIO): 4, 6, 18, 45, 50A, 50B
Early Childhood Education (EAR): 26
Guidance (GUI): 45, 46, 47, 48
Kinesiology/academic courses (KIN): 4, 6, 10, 12, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38
Kinesiology/activity courses (KIN): A03, A04, A07, A11, A12, A13, A20, A21, A28, A29,A30, A31A, A31B, A31C, A40, A41, A43, A44, A46, A47, A54A, A54B, A55, A57A, A57B, A57C, A64, A64A, A64B, A64C, A67, A68, A69, A71, A75A, A75B, A77A, A77B, A77C, A81A, A81B, A81C, A83, A86, A87, A88, A89A, A89B, A89C, A90A, A90B, A90C
Kinesiology/varsity courses (KIN): V01, V02, V04, V05, V06, V07, V08, V09, V10, V11, V12, V14, V18, V19, V20, V21, V22, V23, V24, V25,V26, V27, V33, V34, V50, V51, V52, V53, V60, V61, V70, V78, V82, V92, V94, V95

A course may only be counted once except for varsity courses.

SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL STUDIES
AA499/AA499B/AA499C
Social and Behavioral Studies is a collection of academic disciplines dedicated to the scholarly study of the human experience. As a com- prehensive and multidisciplinary area of study, Social and Behavioral Studies will afford the student an opportunity to explore and examine the nature and multitude of interactive relationships amongst and between individuals and between the individual and their social environment; ranging from the development of the individual, to the nuances of interpersonal interaction, to the dynamic structures of national and global communities. Ultimately, the student of Social and Behavioral Studies will gain a heightened awareness of the nature of their individuality, attain a greater understanding and appreciation of the complexities and diversity of the world in which they live and, become better equipped to succeed in an increasingly diverse and complex society.

Career paths typically chosen by undergraduate students emphasizing Social and Behavioral Studies include: Law Enforcement, Law, Human Relations, Human Resources, Social Work, Professional Childcare and Public Service Agencies, Teaching across the educational and academic spectrum, Consultation in the public and private sectors, Governmental Advisors, Speechwriting, and both domestic and international business professions.

Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this area of emphasis, the successful student should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding that the development, maintenance, and adaptation of the individual self and the personality is a product of the interaction between the individual and their social environment.
  2. Demonstrate a breadth of knowledge of the social and cultural environments at the local, regional and global levels.
  3. Demonstrate a working knowledge of the many facets and intricacies of social interaction from the intrapersonal, to the interpersonal to the societal levels.
  4. Demonstrate an ability to apply the theories and principles of human development, human interaction, cultural diversity, and global awareness to their everyday lives.

The student must complete 18 units of study across a minimum of three disciplines listed below with a grade of “C” or better or a “P” if the course is taken on a “pass-no pass” basis.

Included Disciplines and Courses
Administration of Justice (ADJ): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 9H, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 25
American Sign Language (ASL): 22
Anthropology (ANT): 1, 1H, 2, 2H, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10
Communication Studies (COM): 1, 1H, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 9H, 12, 13
Early Childhood Education (EAR): 19, 20, 25, 28, 33, 40 42, 43, 47
Economics (ECO): 4, 5, 6, 7, 7H, 8, 8H, 9, 9H, 10
Ethnic Studies (ETS): 27
Geography (GEG): 2, 3, 4, 6
Guidance (GUI): 47, 48
History (HIS): 1, 2, 2H, 4, 5, 6, 6H, 7, 7H, 35
Human Services (HMS): 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19
Library Science (LIB): 1
Political Science (POL): 1, 1H, 2, 2H, 3, 4, 4H, 5, 6, 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, 8, 10A, 10B, 10C, 11, 12, 13, 14
Psychology (PSY): 1, 1H, 2, 8, 9, 33, 35, 35H, 48, 50
Sociology (SOC): 1, 1H, 2, 3, 10, 10H, 12, 15, 20, 25, 48