Program Summary

LAW, PUBLIC POLICY, AND SOCIETY - Associate in Arts for Transfer

The Associate in Arts in Law, Public Policy and Society for Transfer degree (AA-T in Law, Public Policy and Society) has been identified as good preparation for law school upon completion of a bachelor’s degree. This interdisciplinary area of emphasis emphasizes the development of communication skills, introduces students to the legal field, and prepares students for further study in a variety of majors.  Students who opt to pursue this course of study are encouraged to engage in further exploration of one or more specific majors as they select electives for degree completion.

This inter-disciplinary area of emphasis allows students to explore the role of institutions and the subsequent policies that frame society.  Society is a reflection of the framework of many influences, and this degree reflects that.  Students can choose an area of influence such as, but not limited to: economic institutions, the role of politics and government, the judicial system, or how diverse populations experience such institutions. 

The Associate Degree for Transfer (AA-T or AS-T) is a special degree offered at California Community Colleges. Students who earn an AA-T or AS-T degree are guaranteed admission to a campus within the California State University (CSU) system in a similar major, although not necessarily to a specific campus. Students who complete an AA-T or AS-T are given priority consideration when applying to a particular program that is similar to the student’s community college major and will be given a special GPA advantage when applying to CSU impacted campuses or majors. Students who are planning to pursue an AA-T or AS-T are strongly advised to meet with a counselor for additional information about this transfer program.

The Cuesta College AA-T degree in Law, Public Policy and Society require

(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) General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC).

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) A grade of “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.

Career Opportunities
Corporate Legal Departments Government - Health Care lobbyist Insurance offices Non-Profit corporations Federal Agencies Local Government - policy setting and education
Required Core: (8 courses)
Units: 26.0-28.0
PHIL 213
PHILOSOPHICAL CLASSICS IN ETHICS AND SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY
3.0
ENGL C1000
ACADEMIC READING AND WRITING
4.0
STAT C1000
INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS
4.0
POLS C1000
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
3.0
Choose one from:
 
 
3.0-4.0
LGL 217
INTRODUCTION TO LAW
3.0
OR
CJ 202
INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE
3.0
OR
CJ 204
PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM
3.0
OR
CJ 206
CONCEPTS OF CRIMINAL LAW
3.0
OR
BUS 218
BUSINESS LAW
4.0
Choose one from:
 
 
3.0
COMM C1000
INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC SPEAKING
3.0
OR
COMM 210
SMALL GROUP SPEAKING AND COMMUNICATING
3.0
OR
COMM 215
ARGUMENTATION AND DEBATE
3.0
Choose one from:
 
 
3.0-4.0
ENGL C1001
CRITICAL THINKING AND WRITING
4.0
OR
COMM 215
ARGUMENTATION AND DEBATE
3.0
OR
PHIL 208
CRITICAL REASONING AND WRITING
3.0
Choose one from:
 
 
3.0
HIST 207A
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES
3.0
OR
HIST 207B
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES
3.0
List A: Complete two courses (6-7 units total), each from a different Area. Choose from courses that have not been completed as part of the Required Core.
Units: 6.0-7.0
Area 1: Administrative of Justice/Criminal Justice/Criminology
 
 
3.0
CJ 202
INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE
3.0
OR
CJ 204
PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM
3.0
OR
CJ 206
CONCEPTS OF CRIMINAL LAW
3.0
OR
CJ 208
LEGAL ASPECTS OF EVIDENCE
3.0
OR
CJ 224
COMMUNITY, DIVERSITY AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM
3.0
OR
CJ 228
INTRODUCTION TO CORRECTIONS
3.0
Area 2: Business
 
BUS 218
BUSINESS LAW
4.0
Area 3: Economics
 
 
3.0
ECON 201A
PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS
3.0
OR
ECON 201B
PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS
3.0
Area 4: Political Science
 
 
3.0
POLS 201
INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE
3.0
OR
POLS 204
WORLD POLITICS
3.0
OR
POLS 206
COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT
3.0
OR
POLS 209
INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL THEORY
3.0
Area 5: Public Policy
 
 
3.0
GLST 210
INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL STUDIES
3.0
OR
GLST 220
GLOBAL PROBLEMS AND ISSUES
3.0
OR
SOC 202
SOCIAL PROBLEMS
3.0
OR
PHS 206
PUBLIC HEALTH SCIENCE - ASPECTS OF DRUG USE
3.0
Area 6: Diversity
 
 
3.0
ANTH 203
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
3.0
OR
ANTH 220
CALIFORNIA INDIANS
3.0
OR
ANTH 221
NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS
3.0
OR
CJ 224
COMMUNITY, DIVERSITY AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM
3.0
OR
COMM 212
INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
3.0
OR
GEOG 202
CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY
3.0
OR
HSCI 208
MULTICULTURAL HEALTH SCIENCE
3.0
OR
HSCI 203
WOMEN'S HEALTH SCIENCE
3.0
OR
HIST 212
HISTORY OF MEXICAN AMERICANS
3.0
OR
HIST 233
HISTORY OF AFRICAN AMERICANS
3.0
OR
HIST 237
HISTORY OF AMERICAN WOMEN
3.0
OR
SOC 206
INTRODUCTION TO RACE AND ETHNICITY
3.0
OR
SOC 208
INTRODUCTION TO GENDER STUDIES
3.0
Area 7: College Success
 
CSS 225
COLLEGE SUCCESS
3.0
Area 8: Internship/Fieldwork
 
PLGL 203
PARALEGAL INTERNSHIP
3.0
Total: 32.0-35.0
Program Outcomes
Describe the framework that public policy and societal institutions play in the human experience.
Write an essay that or research paper that chooses one institution and describe the ways that the institution frames the human experience.
Describe the ethical challenges faced by civic institutions.
As a group project or individual essay, identify a situation in which a civic institution, such as but not limited to prisons, land use commissions, or courtroom experience, that could pose an ethical dilemma on the civic authority and what regulations could help minimize ethical violations.
Evaluate the role that diversity plays in the challenge of representative governance.
As an essay, research paper, or group project, identify challenges of the democratic system in responding to needs of various constituent groups, and identify possible groups that have been historically overlooked in the governance process.