Division I – Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

Greetings! I was born in Berkeley, California, and raised in Oakland (at 1055-56th Street); I am proud to say that I am from Oakland where I attended Santa Fe Elementary School, Claremont Middle School, Oakland Tech and Fremont High Schools. Living on 56th Street, I learned to embrace everyone no matter what race – everybody lived on my street. I was taught to accept people as they come, not to judge anyone and that having the good fortune to meet and embrace people from other cultures enhanced my social development and increased my interpersonal skills. Having said all of that, I am your Interim Dean for Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. I am here to help you do your job well if you are classified staff; to help you engage with and provide the best possible education to students if you are faculty; and, to serve as a support system if you are a student.

 

Starting within the boundaries of educational systems and administrative protocols, I vow to review and engage best practices in administration by relying on guidance drawn from the President, Vice President of Instruction, available trainings and readings, and in collaboration with fellow Deans. In this way, I am certain to embrace and incorporate new and innovative ways of reaching classified staff, faculty, and students. Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Division 1, offers a variety of two-year degree, and certificate programs:

 

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS (AA) DEGREE – African American Studies (Department Chair, Jason Seals)

To qualify for the Associate of Arts in African-American Studies degree, students must satisfactorily complete the Degree Major requirements and the local AA/AS General Education requirements. See the Associate Degrees and Certificates section of this catalog for more information on the local AA/AS overall requirements and the local AA/AS General Education requirements.  Click here to view requirements.

 

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS (AA) DEGREE – Anthropology (Department, Chair Anthony Powell)

A study of Anthropology at Merritt College is intended to provide students with knowledge and appreciation of the diversity of cultural and biological contributions to human adaptations, in the past and in the present. To qualify for the Associate of Arts in Anthropology degree, students must satisfactorily complete the Degree Major requirements and the local AA/AS General Education requirements. See the Associate Degrees and Certificates section of this catalog for more information on the local AA/AS overall requirements and the local AA/AS General.  Click here to view requirements.

Certificate of Achievement/Proficiency – Art (Department Chair, Sheila Tobin-Metcalf)                                    

The artistic impulse is an intrinsic human necessity for holistic health. The shared creative process of a class in drawing, painting or ceramics fosters, in the warmest, most accessible way, a general communication that spreads out to benefit the entire community. In addition to generating and nurturing the creative element in human life, the Art Department offers many classes that transfer to the University of California and California State University systems as electives, as well as beginning studio classes that transfer to satisfy Fine Arts and Art History major requirements. Art history classes also satisfy the Humanities General Education requirement. Focusing on preparation for vocational careers, the Art Department offers three certificate programs: Art Foundation, Botanical Illustration, and Ceramics. These certificates have been designed to prepare students for advancement in areas such a fashion, costume design, graphic design, illustration, industrial design, interior design, media arts, animation, video, architecture, arts education, or childhood education.     Click here to view requirements.

 

CHILD DEVELOPMENT (Department Co-Chairs, Jennifer Briffa and Ronald Moss)

ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (ECE) FOR TRANSFER (AS-T) DEGREE

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS (AA) IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT DEGREE

TEACHER CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT

TEACHER CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY

FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDER CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY

INFANT/TODDLER SPECIALIST CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY

The Child Development program is designed for students desiring to transfer to a four-year college or to meet requirements to work in public or private childcare facilities. The program conforms to regulatory agency guidelines and offers several options.   Click here to view requirements.

 

 

COMMUNICATION ASSOCIATE OF ARTS FOR TRANSFER DEGREE (Department Chair, Hilary Altman)

Communication skills are essential to forming and maintaining personal relationships, acquiring and excelling in a job, and relating to the world around us. Through the study and practice of interpersonal, professional, and intercultural communication skills, students will learn how their perceptions and self- esteem affect their interactions with others. Beyond this, students will improve their abilities to speak, write, and present information effectively, whether in face-to-face interactions or in public or mass-media settings. The Communication program prepares students to transfer to a four-year college or university to obtain a degree in Communication or a related Social Science field. The courses in the program also improve job attainment and performance skills, providing students with the training necessary for public speaking, customer service, conflict resolution, and interviewing. Students who complete the AA degree requirements in Communication will learn and practice cultural awareness, situation analyses, and goal-oriented solutions to practical problems, giving them valuable assets in their future relationships and workplaces. Lastly, this course of study improves students’ logic and reasoning skills, thus providing the foundation for understanding math and science, the world around them, and the skills and insights necessary to think through ethical issues and achieve their goals. The AA-T degree in Communication will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of the Major course requirements, and certified completion of the California State University General Education-Breadth pattern (CSU GE Breadth), OR the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) pattern. (Pending State Approval).   Click here to view requirements.

COMMUNITY SOCIAL SERVICES AA degree and/or CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT – Substance Abuse and Community Social Services (Department Co-Chairs, Ronald Moss and Jennifer Briffa)

The Community Social Services program is designed to prepare students for employment in entry-level professional positions in the social services, as well as some of the other human services. The Substance Abuse program is designed to prepare students for employment in entry-level paraprofessional positions providing counseling, case management, crisis management, and relapse prevention services to substance abuse clients. Both programs also prepare students for transfer to four-year institutions, offer further training for persons already employed, or provide students the opportunity to explore for vocational choice. The Substance Abuse program requirements comply with CAADE (California Association on Alcohol and Drug Education) guidelines. The two majors in this program, Community Social Services and Substance Abuse, are both offered for the Associate degree and the certificate. To qualify for the AA degree in either major, students must satisfactorily complete the Major course requirements and the General Education requirements. A Certificate of Achievement will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of the Major course requirements.     Click here to view requirements.

 

EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY – (Department Chair Monica Ambalal)

Students will learn universal design of online course materials, effective organization and delivery of online materials, teaching and learning styles, effective online communication using discussion boards, live chat, online forums, blogs, and wikis. They will also learn best practices for online student assessment and grading, retention and motivation of online students. A Certificate of Proficiency in Online Teaching will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of the courses specified below. The Certificate of Proficiency is not indicated on the student’s transcript.   Click here to view requirements.

 

KINESIOLOGY PERSONAL TRAINING CERTIFICATE (Department Chair, Inga Marciulionis)

Personal Trainers lead, instruct, and motivate individuals and groups in exercise activities such as cardiovascular exercises, strength training, and stretching. Personal Trainers work in facilities such as fitness or recreation centers, sports complexes, gyms, health and wellness, Pilates, Yoga, and group fitness studios. They work with people of all ages and skill levels. They make their own work schedules that may include nights, weekends, or holidays. The Kinesiology department offers a comprehensive certification program that develops all the skills necessary to compete in the fitness industry.  Our program is unique because it is a recognized certificate, does not require continued education units (CEU), and is hands-on learning.  Employers prefer to hire Personal Trainers with certification.  Take the opportunity and enroll in the Personal Training Certificate program for an exciting career in the fitness industry.   Click here to view requirements.

 

LIBERAL ARTS AA Degree
The Liberal Arts AA Degree is designed for students who wish a broad knowledge of liberal arts and sciences plus additional coursework in an “Area of Emphasis”. This area of emphasis would be an ideal choice for students planning on transferring to the California State University or University of California as the student can satisfy their general education requirements, plus focus on transferable course work that relates to majors at CSU or UC. Please consult with a counselor for specific information regarding your intended major at the specific colleges/university of your choice. Liberal Arts with emphasis in Cross-Cultural Studies courses emphasize the perspective, concepts, theories and methodologies typically found in the vast variety of disciplines that comprise study in the Social and Behavioral Sciences with particular emphasis on an understanding of cross-cultural interactions between peoples of different cultures. Students will study about themselves and others as members of a larger society.   Click here to view requirements.

 

PSYCHOLOGY ASSOCIATE OF ARTS DEGREE FOR TRANSFER

The Associate in Arts in Psychology for Transfer (AA-T) degree program is intended to meet the lower-division requirements for psychology majors or majors that have been deemed similar in the California State University (CSU) system. A study of psychology is built upon the scientific study of the biological, mental processes, and environmental factors that influence human behavior. Students pursuing the AA-T degree will study the development of the person, basic processes of human perception, learning, cognition and motivation; biological processes, personality and the nature of psychological disorders and how psychologists use their knowledge to help improve the quality of people’s lives. Successful completion of the degree affords students specific guarantees for transfer to the California State University (CSU) system, such as admission to a CSU with junior status, priority admission to their local CSU campus and to a program or major in psychology or similar major. Students transferring to a CSU campus will be required to complete no more than 60 semester or 90 quarter units after transfer to earn a bachelor’s degree.     Click here to view requirements.

 

SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES ASSOCIATE OF ARTS FOR TRANSFER DEGREE (Chair, Anthony Powell)

These courses emphasize the perspective, concepts, theories and methodologies typically found in the vast variety of disciplines that comprise study in the Social and Behavioral Sciences. Students will study about themselves and others as members of a larger society.  Topics of discussion will stimulate critical thinking about ways people have acted in response to their societies and will allow students to evaluate how societies and social subgroups operate. Courses from Administration of Justice, Anthropology, Business, Child Development, Community Social Services, Communication and English, Economics, Education, Environmental Management and Environmental Studies, Ethnic Studies, Geography, Health Education, History, Human Services, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology are acceptable. The AA degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences will prepare students for majors at four-year institutions in the social sciences such as anthropology, history, psychology, sociology, or ethnic or cultural studies, among others. The AA degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of the Degree course requirements and the General Education requirements. Since the following degree courses appear on the General Education Course List, they may be used to meet both the degree and the General Education requirements, provided that the total is 37 or more units.  A course may be used one time for the degree and one time only for the General Education requirements, even though the course may be listed in several category areas. The Social and Behavioral Sciences AA Degree is designed for students who wish a broad knowledge of liberal arts and sciences plus additional coursework in an “Area of Emphasis,” in this case, the Social and Behavioral Sciences. This area of emphasis would be an ideal choice for students planning on transferring to the California State University or University of California as the student can satisfy their general education requirements, plus focus on transferable course work that relates to majors at CSU or UC.     Click here to view requirements.

 

SOCIOLOGY ASSOCIATE OF ARTS FOR TRANSFER DEGREE

Sociology at Merritt College aims to provide students with an understanding of how all aspects of society works; from the smallest levels of individual interaction to the operation of the largest institutions.  Students will learn sociological theories, concepts and research methods that are useful for navigating personal and professional relationships in business, politics, criminal justice, health care, agriculture, communications and other industries.  This knowledge will enable students to be competitive for sociology related to jobs and/or prepare them to pursue a B.S. in Sociology or related social sciences at the University level.   Click here to view requirements.