SOC G111: Social Justice and U.S. Ethnic Communities
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Eff Term | Fall 2026 |
| Curriculum Committee Approval Date | 04/15/2025 |
| Top Code | 220800 - Sociology |
| Units | 3 Total Units (Lecture Units 3) |
| Hours | 54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54) |
| Total Outside of Class Hours | 108 |
| Total Student Learning Hours | 162 |
| Course Credit Status | Credit: Degree Applicable (D) |
| Material Fee | No |
| Basic Skills | Not Basic Skills (N) |
| Repeatable | No |
| Open Entry/Open Exit | No |
| Grading Policy | Standard Letter (S),
|
| Diversity Requirement (GCD) | Yes |
| California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) |
|
| Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) |
|
| California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth) |
|
Course Description
This course is an applied study to social justice with an emphasis on race and ethnicity in the United States. It examines the socio-economic, cultural, and political conditions that contribute to inequality among key social groups and the struggle for social justice and liberation. The class will focus on Indigenous communities, Native Americans, African Americans, Latinx Americans, Asian Americans and the intersection with gender, sexuality, and religion. The course requires engagement with anti-racist issues, practices, and movements. Enrollment Limitation: ETHS G111; students who complete SOC G111 may not enroll in or receive credit for ETHS G111. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC. C-ID: SJS 110.C-ID: SJS 110.
Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)
- Describe the impact of mass media, pop culture, and politics on social movements.
- Engage with anti-racist issues and practices of minority-majority group relations and the movement towards social justice.
- Analyze the relationship between social institutions and social and economic inequality.
Course Objectives
- Analyze and articulate concepts such as race and racism, racialization, ethnicity, equity, ethno-centrism, eurocentrism, white supremacy, self-determination, liberation, decolonization, sovereignty, imperialism, settler colonialism, and anti-racism as analyzed in any one or more of the following: Native American Studies, African American Studies, Asian American Studies, and Latina and Latino American Studies.
- Describe and evaluate the sociological process of social change, the construction of social movements, and the role of external forces such as mass media, politics, and global movements.
- Apply theory and knowledge produced by Native American, African American, Asian American, and/or Latina and Latino American communities to describe the critical events, histories, cultures, intellectual traditions, contributions, lived-experiences and social struggles of those groups with a particular emphasis on agency and group-affirmation.
- Explain and assess how struggle, resistance, racial and social justice, solidarity, and liberation, as experienced, enacted, and studied by Indigenous, Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans and/or Latina and Latino Americans are relevant to current and structural issues such as communal, national, international, and transnational politics as, for example, in immigration, reparations, settler-colonialism, multiculturalism, language policies.
- Describe and actively engage with anti-racist and anti-colonial issues and the practices and movements in Native American, African American, Asian American and/or Latina and Latino communities to build a just and equitable society.
Lecture Content
Foundations of Social Justice Theories of Social Justice Socialization, Cultural Norms, Personal Identity, and Group Identity Social and Economic Justice Decolonization Anti-Racism Equity Liberation Patterns and Foundations of a Social Movement Social Change Methods of Resistance Cycle of Liberation Organization and Group Consciousness Solidarity, Alliances, and Multi-Racial Coalitions Power and Oppression Racism, Prejudice, and Discrimination Minority-Majority Group Relations and Power Struggle Social Stratification and Social Class White Supremacy Privilege Agency Racism and Ethnic Oppression Critical Race Theory Social Construction of Race Eurocentrism and Ethnocentrism Process of Dehumanization Ethnic Stratification Social and Economic Consequences Historical Contextualization of Social Justice Movements and Racialized Injustices Within Social Institutions History of Injustices and Critical Resistance Movements of Native American, African American, Asian American, and Latinx American Communities as they relate to present day social and economic inequalities Role of Intersectionality in the Creation, Mobilization, and Enactment of Social Movements and Resistance Economy and Workforce Education Criminal Justice System Housing Health and the Environment Gender, Sexuality, and LGBTQ Communities Mass Media, Art, and Pop Culture Immigration Effectiveness and Critiques of Movement/Resistance Political, Economic, and Social Challenges Additional Varieties of Oppression in the Unit ed States Religious Oppression Transgender and Queer Oppression Ableism Ageism and Adultism Examples of Critical Social Justice Movements and Acts of Resistance Civil Rights Movement Black Power Movement, Black Panthers, Black Lives Matter Chicano Movement, Brown Berets, The Young Lords Asian American Political Alliance, Yellow Power National Indian Youth Council, Red Power Movement, American Indian Movement, Water Protectors The United Farm Workers Movement East L.A. Walkouts (Chicano Blowouts) Ethnic Studies Movement Standing Rock Stonewall Riots Working for Social Justice: Community Activism and Strategies for Change Engage with Organizations Working on Social Justice Issues Apply Anti-Racism Practices to Daily Life Promote Diversity and Equity in Measurable Ways
Method(s) of Instruction
- Lecture (02)
- DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
- DE Online Lecture (02X)
Instructional Techniques
-
Reading Assignments
Textbooks and supplemental assigned readings provided by the instructor.
Writing Assignments
Weekly discussions and assignments that require students to write about key concepts from assigned readings. Students are required to comment on the work of their classmates periodically. Critical thinking and demonstration of comprehension of reading assignments required.
Out-of-class Assignments
Quizzes and assignments designed to promote application of course concepts. Investigation of current research and policies related to course content.May include but are not limited to written research paper, project, interactive research, or service learning.
Study Non-Contact Hours Recommended
108
Methods of Student Evaluation
- Short Quizzes
- Written Assignments
- Essay Examinations
- Projects (Individual/Group)
- Oral Presentations
Demonstration of Critical Thinking
Students demonstrate critical thinking skills and analysis through participation in weekly discussion assignments, and through conducting independent research to create a project and presentation.
Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration
Critical thinking and demonstration of comprehension of reading assignments required through written assignments. Application of course material and theories to discussions and course research.
Resources Subscreen
- Textbook: Andersen, M. L. and Collins, P. H.. Race, Class, and Gender: An Anthology, 10th ed.. Cengage (2020).
- Textbook: Adams, M., Blumenfield, W., Catalano, C., . et. al. Readings for Diversity and Social Justice. Routledge (2018).
- Textbook: Gilio-Whitaker, D.. As Long As Grass Grows: The Indeginous Fight for Environmental Justice, From Colonialism to Standing Rock. Beacon Press Books (2019).
- Textbook: Hooks, B. . Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center . Routledge (Classic) (2015).
- Textbook: Johnson, G. T.. Spaces of Conflict, Sounds of Solidarity: Music, Race, and Spacial Entitlement in Los Angeles. University of California Press (2013).
- Textbook: Haney Lopez, I. . Trial: The Chicano Fight for Justice . Harvard University Press (2004).
- Textbook: Alexander, M. . The New Jim Crow . The New Press (2012).
Eligible Discipline(s)
- Sociology: Master’s degree in sociology OR bachelor’s degree in sociology AND master’s degree in anthropology, any ethnic studies, social work, or psychology OR the equivalent. Master's degree required.