Social Justice

Social Justice with Emphasis

A.A.

The 60-credit A.A. with Emphasis in Social Justice program prepares you to articulate conceptions of social justice across multiple perspectives, understand forms of oppression, and develop skills and knowledge to become an effective agent of positive social change.

As a student in this A.A. program, you will complete the Required Social Justice Curriculum (15–16 credits), General Electives (18 credits), Health/Physical Education coursework (2 credits), and General Education Requirements (24–25 credits) for a credit total of 60.

This A.A. with Emphasis degree prepares you for transfer to a four-year school to pursue a wide variety of majors, including:

Anthropology
Communication studies
Gender and women’s studies
Ethnic studies
Social justice
Public policy
Political science
Sociology
Criminal justice
Pre-law
And much more!

Full-time schedule recommendation

See how to schedule your classes each semester to complete your degree in two years.

Full-Time Recommended Course of Study

Part-time schedule recommendation

Recommendations for a part-time schedule are included in the Social Justice Program Planning Guide (see below).

Social Justice Program Planning Guide

2024-2025 Required Courses

Required Social Justice Curriculum

Course #	Course Name	Credit(s)
SJS 1100	Introduction to Social Justice (Goal 5, 7	3
Course Outline Credits: 3 MNTC Goal Areas: 05, 07 Explores the concepts of justice, oppression, and social change and examines the ways in which political, economic, legal, education, and other institutions create challenges for justice. In this course, students will explore, critique, and apply the fundamental concepts of justice, oppression and social change. Through course activities, students will begin integrating ideas and perspectives, formulating personal ideologies, and developing an enhanced sense of civic responsibility. They will also examine the broad concept of social change through explorations of different social movements, profiles of human rights activists, and various policies. The course seeks to broaden student understanding of contemporary justice issues and to enhance their knowledge of how they can become positive social change agents. Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2025
SJS 1200	Social Justice in Action: Methods, Skills, and Practice (Goal 5, 9)	3
Course Outline Credits: 3 MNTC Goal Areas: 05, 09 This course explores and applies theories and methods of social justice to combat oppression and promote positive social change. Students broaden their understanding of contemporary social justice issues through opportunities to develop, practice, and apply skills learned in the classroom to community-based learning environments in the greater Twin Cities region. Through case studies, skill development, and class activities, students begin honing their skills in public speaking, networking, teamwork, identifying problems and solutions, perspective taking, persuasive writing, advocacy, conflict resolution, and ethical decision making. Prerequisites: SJS 1100 Introduction to Social Justice Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2025
COMM 1110 COMM 2240	Public Speaking OR Intercultural Communication (Goal 1c, 2, 5, 8)	3
Public Speaking Course Outline Credits: 3 MNTC Goal Areas: 01, 02 Is the introductory study of the theory and practice of public speaking. Public presentation skills are required for individuals to be successful in our workplaces, communities and many other contexts in today's society. Students will learn about the different types of public speeches commonly encountered and learn how to research, organize and write their ideas into clear and understandable forms of public communication. Students will also practice the delivery skills needed to present ideas effectively. Students will be required to speak and participate often and will also be required to present their speeches in a classroom setting with an audience of their peers and an instructor. Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2025 Summer 2025 Intercultural Communication Course Outline Credits: 3 MNTC Goal Areas: 05, 08 Explores factors that influence communication between individuals of different cultures. In our global society we are increasingly called upon to communicate in a variety of intercultural contexts. Students will develop an understanding of the relationship between cultural orientation and communication behaviors. Identifying their own cultural biases and assumptions will help students increase their awareness and tolerance of individual and group differences. Students will learn to demonstrate cultural sensitivity in interpersonal contacts and identify skills for interacting with people from culture groups other than their own. Students may not earn credit for both COMM 1114 and COMM 2240. Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2025 Summer 2025
	Social Justice Breadth Course choose two: ANTH 1160, ENG 1180, GWS 1100, HUM 1115, HUM 1140, MUSC 1160, PHIL 1112, POLS 1121 , SOC 1127. See the program planning guide ‡	6-7
Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: None
Total Credits in Required Social Justice Curriculum		15-16

General Electives

Course #	Course Name	Credit(s)
	General Education Credits (Any MnTC Goal Area) Electives may be courses numbered 1000 level or higher from any discipline. Additional Social Justice Breadth Courses for the emphasis are recommended. Examples of non-MnTC courses that may be taken include the following disciplines: ACCT, BUS, CJS, CS, CRDV, EDU, EMS, ENGR, HLTH, HSER, ITC, PA and PE. †	18
Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: None
Total Credits in General Electives		18

Health/Physical Education

Course #	Course Name	Credit(s)
	Health and PE	1
Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: None
	Physical Education Elective(s)	1
Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: None
Total Credits in Health/Physical Education		2

General Education Requirements

Course #	Course Name	Credit(s)
	General Education Credits (MnTC Goal 1) Communication: ENG 1180, ENG 1111 or ENG 1114 or ENG 1130, Goal 1c course (COMM 1110 recommended) †	3
Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: None
	General Education Credits (MnTC Goal 2) Critical Thinking: Satisfied by First Year Experience course or MnTC Completion †
Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: None
	General Education Credits (MnTC Goal 3) Natural Science (1 course must include lab): Goal 3a (Life Science) course, Goal 3b (Physical Sciences) course †	2
Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: None
	General Education Credits (MnTC Goal 4) Mathematical/Logical Reasoning: Goal 4 course (MATH 1101, MATH 1103 or PHIL 1115 recommended) †	1
Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: None
	General Education Credits (MnTC Goal 5) History/Social Sciences/Behavioral Sciences: Two courses met by Social Justice curriculum. Take one course from another department, recommend one of the following: ANTH 1150, COMM 2240, GWS 1100, POLS 1121, SOC 1127 †	3
Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: None
	General Education Credits (MnTC Goal 6) Humanities/Fine Arts/Literature: Goal 6a (Fine Arts) course, Goal 6b (Humanities/Literature) course, Any additional Goal 6 course, Two of the Goal 6b Social Justice breadth courses recommended: ENG 1180, HUM 1115, HUM 1140, MUSC 1160, PHIL 1112 †	3
Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: None
	General Education Credits (MnTC Goal 7) Human Diversity: Goal 7 course - satisfied by required curriculum †
Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: None
	General Education Credits (MnTC Goal 8) Global Perspective: Take one course. One of the following breadth courses recommended: ANTH 1150, COMM 2240, ENG 1180, HUM 1115, HUM 1140 †	1
Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: None
	General Education Credits (MnTC Goal 9) Ethical and Civic Responsibility: Goal 9 course - satisfied by required curriculum †
Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: None
	General Education Credits (MnTC Goal 10) People and the Environment: Goal 10 course †	1
Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: None
Total Credits in General Education Requirements		24-25

Total Credits:

† Select General Education electives from specified MnTC goal area or from any MnTC goals if none specified.
‡ See Program Planning Guide.