Overview
Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice Emphasis, AAS-DTA (LASDTAA) Active: Su 2025
The Associate in Arts and Sciences Direct Transfer Agreement (AAS-DTA) Degree with an Emphasis in Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice (DESJ) is designed for students intending to transfer to a four-year college or university, particularly those interested in careers or further study where diversity, equity, and inclusion are central.
The DESJ emphasis is interdisciplinary and prepares students to:
- Major in fields such as Ethnic Studies; Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; or Sociology.
- Transfer into other disciplines like Education, Public Health, or Engineering where diversity, equity, and inclusion are valued.
- Pursue career opportunities in DEI-focused roles or with employers who value an understanding of social justice issues.
Students who complete the DESJ emphasis will:
- Be better prepared to succeed in related four-year degree programs.
- Have a competitive edge entering the workforce either before transfer or while enrolled at their transfer institution.
- Be more likely to access key opportunities post-transfer, such as internships and civic engagement projects.
Students can still earn the general AAS-DTA degree without the DESJ emphasis by selecting different courses. To stay on track, students are encouraged to maintain an up-to-date degree plan and consult regularly with their Program Advisor to ensure coursework aligns with their transfer and career goals.
Requirements
Students may substitute or transfer equivalent courses such as HIST& 220: African American History offered at other institutions with approval from DESJ faculty.
Many courses in this plan are listed across multiple distribution areas. While a course may meet more than one requirement, it can only be counted once toward the degree.
College Success - 2 units
A College Success course is mandatory for all new degree-seeking students. The class may be waived due to previous college coursework or the specific course of study. Certain programs are exempt from this requirement; please see the College Success webpage for details.
Required Course
Communication Skills - 10 units
Select courses from the DTA Approved Communication Skills course list. At least 5 units must be earned in English Composition I.
Required Courses
Quantitative Skills - 5 units
Select courses from the DTA Approved Quantitative Skills course list. The institution(s) you are looking to transfer to may require different Quantitative Skills courses. Be sure to verify the requirements of the transfer institution(s).
- MATH& 107, MATH 138, MATH& 141, PHIL& 120, or MATH& 146 are suggested. All are (Q, NSC).
Required Course
5 units from the DTA Quantitative Skills course list
Humanities (H or HP) Distribution - 15 units
Select courses from the DTA Approved Humanities course list. Courses must be from 2 different disciplines. Note: All World Languages count as 1 discipline. No more than 5 Humanities Performance (HP) units or 5 100-level World Language (WL) units may be used to fulfill this requirement. Any additional Humanities units beyond 15 will be counted towards your Electives.
- No more than 10 units in any one discipline may be applied across the Humanities, Social Science, and Natural Science distribution areas.
- If you choose ENGL& 111, be sure to select the Diversity section when you register.
- If you choose ENGL& 246, be sure to select the Diversity section when you register.
Required Courses - 15 units
Social Sciences (SS) Distribution - 15 units
Select courses from the DTA Approved Social Sciences course list. Courses must be from 2 different disciplines. Any additional Social Science units beyond 15 will be counted towards your Electives.
- No more than 10 units in any one discipline may be applied across the Humanities, Social Science, and Natural Science distribution areas.
Required Courses
Natural Sciences (NS, NSL, or NSC) Distribution - 15 units
Select courses from the DTA Approved Natural Sciences course list. Courses must be from 2 different disciplines. You must have at least 1 Lab Science course. No more than 5 units from Part C: Other Science courses may be used to fulfill this requirement. Any additional Natural Science units beyond 15 will be counted towards your Electives.
- No more than 10 units in any one discipline may be applied across the Humanities, Social Science, and Natural Science distribution areas.
The institution(s) you are looking to transfer to may require different Natural Science courses. Be sure to verify the requirements of the transfer institution(s).
Required Courses
15 units from the DTA Natural Sciences Distribution course list
Electives - 28 units total
A total of 28 units must be completed in electives.
- 15 units must be selected from Communication Skills, Quantitative Skills, Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, or List A Transfer Electives.
- 13 units may be selected from those OR from List B Applied Electives.
- No more than 3 PEHW activity units may be used.
- College Success is a List B Elective. If this is not required, Electives will increase to 30 units total with no more than 15 List B units.
Required Courses
15 units from the Communications, Quantitative Skills, Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences Distributions, or List A Transfer Electives course list
13 units from those OR from any List B Applied Electives (100-level courses or higher)
Total Credit Hours: 90
Diversity Course Requirement
Diversity courses focus on perspectives related to cultural diversity in our society, which is defined as including human differences in culture, race, ethnicity, age, sex, sexuality, gender, ability, class, socioeconomic status, language, and religion. Courses are listed in the Class Schedule with a Diversity Class Attribute. They are typically found in the areas of Communications, Humanities, Social Sciences and Transfer Electives. A Diversity course may count toward one of the Distributions listed above, as well as meeting the Diversity Course requirement. Please consult with your advisor.
Completing one diversity class with a grade of D or better is an EvCC institutional requirement and is necessary to receive any degree from Everett Community College.
EvCC Residency Units Requirement
To be eligible to earn a diploma at EvCC for any certificate, at least one-third of the units must be earned at Everett Community College and apply towards the credential being earned. These units must be traditionally graded and calculated in the EvCC GPA.
Required Residency Units: 30 minimum
Additional Graduation Requirements
In addition to the applicable Diversity and Residency Units requirements, EvCC has other graduation requirements for all certificates and degrees, including which version of credential requirements should be met, a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0, fulfillment of all obligations to the college (financial or otherwise), and filing of an application for graduation. Details can be found in EvCC Graduation Requirements or in the Current Catalog on the EvCC website.
Outcomes
Program Learning Outcomes
AAS-DTA Program Learning Outcomes
Communication Skills
- Use diverse rhetorical strategies to optimize communication effectiveness.
- Critically analyze messages across diverse contexts.
- Apply ethical principles to the analysis and creation of messages.
Quantitative Skills
- Construct a logical argument to support a conclusion.
- Manipulate and communicate symbolic language.
Humanities
- Demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of human experience and expression.
- Engage in sustained qualitative, creative, and critical explorations.
Social Sciences
- Use evidence-based research to study individual and collective human behavior.
- Understand how diverse experiences, perspectives, cultures and social systems shape human interactions.
Natural Sciences
- Apply mathematical or scientific reasoning to STEM topics.
- Learn about and/or apply the scientific method in a laboratory setting.
Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice Emphasis Outcomes
- Examine how social constructs such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, ability, and religion intersect and shape social systems as well as individual views and experiences.
- Analyze how power and privilege structure social, economic, political, and environmental relationships that are maintained and reproduced by institutions.
- Investigate theories and strategies that advance equity and social justice and evaluate their practical applications.
- Practice civic engagement by applying knowledge and understanding of diversity, equity, and social justice through a capstone project.
Non-Discrimination Statement
Everett Community College does not discriminate based on, but not limited to, race, color, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, language, culture, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy or parental status, marital status, actual or perceived disability, use of service animal, economic status, military or veteran status, spirituality or religion, or genetic information in its programs, activities, or employment. Contact the following people with inquiries or complaints regarding discrimination, Title IX compliance, or Americans with Disabilities Act compliance: Equal Opportunity Director: EqualOpportunity@everettcc.edu, 425-388-9271; ADA Coordinator: ADAcoordinator@everettcc.edu, 425-388-9232; Title IX Coordinator: TitleIXCoordinator@everettcc.edu, 425-388-9271. All offices are located in Olympus Hall 111, 2000 Tower St. Everett, WA 98201. For more information, visit the Equal Opportunity and Title IX website: EverettCC.edu/EqualOpportunity.