Cal LAW Scholar, Certificate of Achievement
Cal LAW Scholar, Certificate of Achievement
The Cal LAW Scholars Certificate of Achievement (COA) is part of the Pathways to Law program, and prepares students for careers in law and public service by emphasizing civic and community engagement and helping students to transfer to a four year university and attend law school. Students will gain knowledge of legal principles, develop skills for effective teamwork in diverse settings, and join a community of like-minded students. The program aims to cultivate lawyers who are committed to social justice and capable of driving positive change in underserved communities.
Students are strongly encouraged to meet with the Pathway to Law Counselor, or other Oxnard College counselors, to ensure that the appropriate courses are selected for the student’s chosen major for transfer to Cal LAW Partner Programs at four year institutions and law schools in California.
| Course ID | Title | Units/Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core: Select one course from each Section (22-24 units) | ||
| Section 1. Law and Democracy | 3 | |
| Introduction to Law and Society | ||
or LAW R101 | Paralegal Fundamentals | |
| Section 2. English Composition | 4 | |
| Academic Reading and Writing | ||
or ENGL C1000H | Academic Reading and Writing - Honors | |
| Section 3. Critical Thinking | 3-4 | |
| Critical Thinking through Composition and Literature | ||
or ENGL R102H | Honors: Critical Thinking through Composition and Literature | |
or ENGL C1001 | Critical Thinking and Writing | |
or PHIL R111 | Critical Thinking and Analytic Writing | |
| Section 4. Argumentation and Debate or Persuasion | 3 | |
| Argumentation and Debate | ||
| Section 5. Statistics | 3-4 | |
MATH R105 | ||
or MATH R105H | ||
or PSY R103 | Beginning Statistics for Behavioral Science | |
or SOC R125 | Statistics for the Behavioral and Social Sciences | |
| Section 6. United States History | 3 | |
| History of the United States I | ||
or HIST R130H | Honors: History of the United States I | |
or HIST R140 | History of the United States II | |
or HIST R140H | Honors: History of the United States II | |
or CHST R107 | History of Mexicans in the United States | |
or HIST R107 | History of Mexicans in the United States | |
or HIST R108 | African-American History | |
or HIST R117 | History of American Women | |
| Section 7. Introduction to American Government | 3 | |
| American Government and Politics | ||
| Total Units 1, * | 22-24 | |
| 1. This Certificate of Achievement may only be awarded to students enrolled and active in the Pathways to Law Program, with prior approval of the Program Lead Faculty upon completion of these academic and program* requirements.. | ||
*A Cal LAW Scholar must:
- Self-identify as a Pathways to Law student with the Pathways to Law Faculty Lead(s).
- Attend an orientation with the Pathway to Law Program, if offered.
- Consent to the collection and maintenance of information and data necessary to track students through the Pathway up to and including law school, and to assess the program
- Work with a designated Law Pathway Counselor.
- Establish a Student Educational Plan based on a selected major including the courses set forth above.
To earn a Certificate of Achievement, all courses within the certificate must be completed with a grade of "C" or better (or "P").
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Units/Hours | |
| ENGL C1000 or ENGL C1000H | Academic Reading and Writing or Academic Reading and Writing - Honors | 4 |
| POLS R102 or LAW R101 | Introduction to Law and Society or Paralegal Fundamentals | 3 |
| Units/Hours | 7 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| POLS C1000 | American Government and Politics | 3 |
| MATH R105 | or or Beginning Statistics for Behavioral Science or Statistics for the Behavioral and Social Sciences | 3-4 |
| Units/Hours | 6-7 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| HIST R130 | History of the United States I or Honors: History of the United States I or History of the United States II or Honors: History of the United States II or History of Mexicans in the United States or History of Mexicans in the United States or African-American History or History of American Women | 3 |
| ENGL R102 | Critical Thinking through Composition and Literature or Honors: Critical Thinking through Composition and Literature or Critical Thinking and Writing or Critical Thinking and Analytic Writing | 3-4 |
| Units/Hours | 6-7 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| COMM R107 | Argumentation and Debate | 3 |
| Units/Hours | 3 | |
| Total Units/Hours | 22-24 | |
- Evaluate the theory and history of civic and community engagement in the U.S., and formulate critical perspectives on the importance of public service and the role played by lawyers.
- Analyze how individuals and groups create and sustain change, including the contributions lawyers can make in the community.
- Implement skills for working in community settings, including effective teamwork and diverse team collaboration.
- Apply substantive areas of the law to provide assistance to underserved individuals and rural communities.
- Demonstrate, through the utilization of research and writing skills, the ability to persuasively tell a client’s or individual's story through improved public speaking, advocacy, and negotiation skills.