General Studies – 18 Unit Emphasis | SC Program: AS.1503

This emphasis permits the student to explore courses in the field of public safety and for current law enforcement personnel to earn an associate degree for advancement in the field.

 

Choose your path

Map your education by viewing the program map for the degree or certificate you’re interested in earning below. Meet with a counselor to create your official comprehensive education plan.

A program map shows all the required and recommended courses you need to graduate and a suggested order in which you should take them. The suggested sequence of courses is based on enrollment and includes all major and general education courses required for the degree.

Fall Semester, First Year

14 Units Total
ENGL 1A
GE 4
College Composition
ENGL 1A
Units 4
Note: For students who would benefit from further instruction and individual support while taking their first college-transfer level English course, ENGL 1AX is a recommended alternative to ENGL 1A.

This course develops the reading, critical thinking, and writing skills necessary for academic success, emphasizing expository and argumentative writing as well as research and documentation skills. As a transferable course, it presupposes that students already have a substantial grasp of grammar, syntax, and organization, and that their writing is reasonably free from errors. A research paper is required for successful completion of the course. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
Apply Now
MATH 14
GE 4
Introduction to Statistics
MATH 14
Units 4
This course is an introductory course in statistics designed to show the role of modern statistical methods in the process of decision making. Concepts are introduced by example rather than by rigorous mathematical theory. The following topics will be covered: measures of central tendency and dispersion, regression and correlation, probability, sampling distributions including the normal, t, and chi-square, statistical inference using confidence intervals and hypotheses testing. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
Apply Now
ADJU 10
GE M 3
Intro to Administration of Justice
ADJU 10
Units 3
This course presents a critical exploration of historical and contemporary issues in Administration of Justice. This includes the studyand analysis of the core principles and components of the American criminal justice system (police, courts, and corrections), theevolution of Administration of Justice, criminal behavior theory, crime categories, policing models, challenges in policing, and careeropportunities. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
Apply Now
ADJU 16
M 3
Legal Aspects of Evidence
ADJU 16
Units 3
This course covers the origin, development, and philosophy of evidence; kinds and degrees of evidence and rules governing admissibility; and judicial decisions interpreting individual rights, search and seizure, the case study approach, privileged communication, and witness competency. This course is required for Administration of Justice majors. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
Apply Now

Spring Semester, First Year

15 Units Total
CMST 60
GE 3
Public Speaking
CMST 60
Units 3
This course is an introduction to the process of human communication with an emphasis on public speaking. The subjects covered are speech topic selection, audience analysis, information competency (e.g. researching, evaluating, and using supporting materials), presentation outlining, principles of effective speech delivery, critical evaluation of speeches, and presentation of informative and persuasive speeches. Most students will have the opportunity to be recorded and to use presentational technology. College-level writing skills will be expected on all papers, outlines, and short essays. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
Apply Now
ADJU 15
M 3
Concepts of Criminal Law
ADJU 15
Units 3
This course offers an analysis of the doctrines of criminal liability in the United States and the classification of crimes against persons, property, morals, and public welfare. Special emphasis is placed on the classification of crime, the general elements of crime, the definitions of common and statutory law, and the nature of acceptable evidence. This course utilizes case law and case studies to introduce students to criminal law. The completion of this course offers a foundation upon which upper-division criminal justice courses will build. The course will also include some limited discussion of prosecution and defense decision making, criminal culpability, and defenses to crimes. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
Apply Now
SOC 2
M 3
Social Problems
SOC 2
Units 3
Advisory: Essay-writing skills and eligibility to enroll in a transfer-level English Composition course, or English Placement Level 6 or higher

This course explores significant social problems in contemporary society, including the role of power in defining social problems. It examines the process of how social problems arise in society, and their consequences. As an introduction to this topic, the course will focus on understanding how and why social problems develop and the controversies that accompany them. The course will be organized into three main units. The first will consider different theoretical perspectives as well as social science research methods used to identify and understand social problems. The second unit of the course will examine specific social problems associated with the relationship between social inequality and social structure. The third unit of the course will discuss institutional and organizational policies that develop as a result of social problems and the outcomes of those social policy approaches. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
Apply Now
ADJU 20
M 3
Principles of Investigation
ADJU 20
Units 3
This course addresses the evolution of investigation, techniques, procedures, and ethical issues in the investigation of crime, including organization of the investigative process, crime scene searches, interviewing and interrogating, surveillance, source of information, utility of evidence, scientific analysis of evidence, and the role of the investigator in the trial process. This course is required for Administration of Justice majors. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
Apply Now
ENGL 1C
GE 3
Critical Reasoning, Reading, and Writing
ENGL 1C
Units 3
This course focuses on critical thinking skills, close textual analysis, and expository and argumentative writing. Students apply critical thinking skills in reading non-fiction and fiction, and in writing essays of definition, cause/effect analysis, argumentation, refutation, and advocacy. Students will learn to use research strategies in analyzing others' ideas and supporting their own. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
Apply Now

Fall Semester, Second Year

15 Units Total
AGNR 60
GE 3
Environmental Science
AGNR 60
Units 3
Advisory: Students who wish to add a lab component to this class should co-enroll in AGNR 61.

This course is an introduction to the conservation or wise use of natural resources and incorporates discussions about the complex relationships of man to the environment. Students will learn about the diverse agencies that manage our resources along with their history and philosophies. The course will cover each of the major natural resources - such as water, air, energy, forests, wildlife, agriculture, and soils - as well as environmental policy and laws that govern the use of these resources. An emphasis is placed on the practical components of Environmental Science as it relates to social and economic aspects of conservation. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
Apply Now
ADJU 18
GE 3
Community Relations and Multicultural Issues
ADJU 18
Units 3
This course examines the complex, dynamic relationships between communities and the justice system in addressing crime andconflict with emphasis on the challenges and prospects of administering justice within a diverse, multicultural population and the rolesplayed by race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, social class, culture, and justice professionals in shapingrelationships within the justice system. Special topics include crime prevention, restorative justice, conflict resolution, and pure justice.This course is required for Administration of Justice majors. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
Apply Now
ADJU 46
M 3
Narcotic and Drug Abuse
ADJU 46
Units 3
This course will explore the Administration of Justice system and the development of drug policy and drug problems. This will include drug identification, drug user recognition, drug effects, narcotic enforcement, drug prosecution, drug treatment, rehabilitation, and education. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
Apply Now
HIST 2
GE 3
World Civilization to 1500 C.E.
HIST 2
Units 3
Advisory: Essay-writing skills and eligibility to enroll in a transfer-level English Composition course, or English Placement Level 6 or higher

This course is a comparative survey of the major ancient world civilizations which developed between 3500 B.C.E. and 1500 C.E. It examines political institutions, religious ideologies, the rise and fall of empires, and the major cultural innovations of each of the major world civilizations. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
Apply Now
ADJU 17
3
Principles of Procedures of the Justice System
ADJU 17
Units 3
This course includes a study of California and Federal court systems; detailed analysis of all aspects of the criminal justice system, especially identifying functions and relationships between the various sub-systems procedures from incident to final disposition; and the function of constitutional, federal, state, and civil law as it applies to and affects criminal justice. This course is required for Administration of Justice majors. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
Apply Now

Spring Semester, Second Year

16 Units Total
PSYC 1A
GE 3
General Psychology
PSYC 1A
Units 3
Advisory: College-level writing skills

This course provides an introduction to psychology, the study of the mind and behavior, as a science and as an applied field. The course provides an integration of physiological, cognitive, social-behavioral, psychodynamic, humanistic, cultural, and evolutionary perspectives. Topics include research methods, the nervous system, perception, learning, thinking, memory, human development, social behavior, emotions, motivation, personality, abnormal behavior, and psychotherapy. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
Apply Now
HUM 4
GE 3
Humanities Through the Film
HUM 4
Units 3
This course is an examination of the motion picture as an art form. This course offers a concise introduction to the history of film against the broader changes in popular culture since the late nineteenth century. Students will see how elements of film can provide valuable insights into how movies communicate and convey meaning to their audiences using a unique network of techniques. Students will see how film, film genres, and developments within the film industry offer a first-hand look at how specific films illuminate important aspects of philosophical, historical, aesthetic, and social life and analyze how film connects with the larger world. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
Apply Now
POLS 2
GE 3
Introduction to American Government
POLS 2
Units 3
Advisory: ENGL 1A or English Placement Level 7 or higher.

This course is an introduction to United States and California government and politics, including their constitutions, political institutions and processes, and political actors. An examination of political behavior, political issues, and public policy, this course satisfies the CSU requirement in U.S. Constitution and California State and local government (US-2 and US-3). This course may be offered in a distance education format.
Apply Now
HIST 17A
GE 3
United States History
HIST 17A
Units 3
Advisory: ENGL 1A with a grade of C or higher

This course is a survey of the history of the United States from Pre-Columbian Peoples to the end of Reconstruction. Topics include contact and settlement of America, the movement toward independence, the formation of a new nation and Constitution, westward expansion and manifest destiny, the causes and consequences of the Civil War, and Reconstruction. This course satisfies the CSU requirement for US History (US-1). This course may be offered in a distance education format.
Apply Now
ETHS 1
GE 3
Introduction to Ethnic Studies
ETHS 1
Units 3
Advisory: Essay-writing skills and eligibility to enroll in a transfer-level English Composition course

This course takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of race and ethnicity in the United States. It examines social justice movements in relation to ethnic and racial groups in the United States to provide a basis for a better understanding of the socioeconomic, cultural, and political conditions among key social groups including, but not limited to, Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Latina/o Americans. This course examines the systemic nature of racial/ethnic oppression through an examination of key concepts including racialization and ethnocentrism, with a specific focus on the persistence of white supremacy. Using an anti-racist framework, the course will examine historical and contemporary social movements dedicated to the decolonization of social institutions, resistance, and social justice. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
Apply Now
ADJU 94
1
Admin of Justice Work Experience Educ
ADJU 94
Units 1
Limitation on Enrollment: FINANCIAL AID STUDENTS: Students must maintain concurrent enrollment in seven (7) units which include work experience education units. Students not receiving financial aid do not need to enroll in other courses in order to participate in Work Experience Education.

The Administration of Justice Work Experience Education course allows the student to gain on-the-job experience through employment/volunteerism at an approved administration of justice job site that is acquired by the student and related to the student's major. A faculty member supervises all WEE courses to ensure that the work experience is of educational value. The course stresses good work habits and meeting of competencies through actual on-the-job performance. A student may repeat this course since course content varies and skills are enhanced by supervised repetition and practice. A maximum of 14 units may be earned in a single semester.
Apply Now

Please see a counselor to discuss options for meeting general education requirements for transfer to California State Universities (CSU) and/or University of California (UC) campuses, as well as any specific additional courses that may be required by your chosen institution of transfer.

*Alternative Courses: Please see a Shasta College counselor for alternative course options. You can also view the following to find other courses to meet degree/certificate requirements:

Need a print out? Feel free to download and/or print out a copy of the sample program map(s).

Contact Us for More Information

Academic/Instructional Division Office

Location 1800
Division office is located on campus in Room 1800 (north of the gymnasium)

Start Your Future at Shasta College

We are dedicated to helping you reach your educational and career goals. To begin your journey, apply for admissions today!