About Critical Pacific Islands & Oceania Studies

A critical analysis of Pacific peoples and cultures in the U.S. diaspora and beyond

Privileging the voices of native Pacific Islanders, the interdisciplinary curriculum explores a plethora of historical and contemporary topics, including colonization, militarization, social movements, and immigration, through the use of academic and community-based scholarship.

Explore Potential Careers

While the certificate program is ideal for those whose work involves native Pacific Islanders and other communities of color such as service providers, health practitioners, law enforcement, researchers, teachers, and other professionals, the primary goal is to encourage students to further their educational aspirations through the completion of an associate's degree and successfully transferring to a four-year university.

Program Options 

Click on the degree or certificate you're interested in earning to see a sample map of courses to take to complete your goal from start to finish.

Please note that the course maps provided are just an example to help you get started. Please meet with a counselor to personalize the plan to you and your Academic goals.

View Requirements in College Catalog

Semester 1 

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
ENGL 1A + 1AS University-Parallel Reading and Composition + Support 4 - 6  
IDST 50 or LERN 50 College Success 3  
HLTH 33 Introduction to Health and Wellness 2   
CCSF Area G2 Physical Skills 1 - 2  
IDST 45 Pacific Islanders in the U.S. 3  

Total Units: 14 - 16 

Semester 2

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
IDST 46 Fa'a Pasefika: Interdisciplinary Cultural Expressions of Oceania 3  
Major Requirement Elective (Social Justice) See Counselor 3  
CCSF Math Requirement See Counselor 5 - 8  
Major Requirement Elective (Science) See Counselor 4 - 5  

Total Units: 15+ 

Semester 3

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
IDST 80A-G, 81B See Counselor 2  
CCSF Area F United States History and Government 3  
CCSF Area D Social And Behavioral Sciences 3  
Major Requirement Elective See Counselor 3  
HLTH 33 Introduction to Health and Wellness 2  
Degree Applicable Electives See Counselor 3  

Total Units: 16

Semester 4

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
Degree Applicable Electives See Counselor 3  
Degree Applicable Electives See Counselor 3  
Degree Applicable Electives See Counselor 3  
Degree Applicable Electives See Counselor 3  
Degree Applicable Electives See Counselor 3  

Total Units: 15

View Requirements in College Catalog

Required core courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
IDST 45 Pacific Islanders in the U.S. 3  
IDST 46 Fa'a Pasefika: Interdisciplinary Cultural Expressions of Oceania 3  
IDST 50 College Success 3   

    or

LERN 50 College Success 3   

Total Units: 9 

Choose two units from the following Diversity and Social Justice courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
IDST 80A Diversity and Social Justice: Racism 0.5  
IDST 80C Diversity and Social Justice: Sexism 0.5  
IDST 80D Diversity and Social Justice: Heterosexism 0.5  
IDST 80E Diversity and Social Justice: Ableism 0.5  
IDST 80F Diversity and Social Justice: Class and Classism 0.5  
IDST 80G Diversity and Social Justice: Transphobia 0.5  
IDST 81A Diversity: Ageism and Adultism (Age-based Oppression) 1  
IDST 81B Diversity and Social Justice: Anti-Semitism/Anti-Arabism 1  

Total Units: 2 

Choose one of the following Life, Land, Ocean, and Cosmos science course combinations:

All combinations are lecture and lab. Choose the lecture and lab that go together, as indicated by "and."

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
ASTR 19 Galaxies and the Universe 3  

    and

ASTR 16 Observational Astronomy 1  
BIO 32 Marine Biology 3  

    and

BIO 32L Marine Biology Laboratory 1  
ENRG 3 Introduction to Alternative Energy 3  

    and

ENRG 3L Introduction to Alternative Energy Laboratory 1  
GEOG 1 Physical Geography 3  

    and

GEOG 1L Physical Geography Laboratory 1  
GEOL 10 Physical Geology 3  

    and

GEOL 10L Physical Geology Lab 2  
OCAN 1 Oceanography 3  

    and

OCAN 1L  Oceanography Lab 2  
P SC 11 Conceptual Physical Science 3  

    and

P SC 11L Physical Science Laboratory 1  
ENVS 31 Introduction to Environmental Science 3  

    and

ENVS 31L Environmental Science Laboratory 1  

Total Units: 4 - 5

Choose three (3) units from the following elective courses:

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
ASAM 8 Filipino American Community 3  
ANTH 15 Philippine Culture and Society 3  
CINE 22  The Documentary Tradition 3  
GEOG 4 Cultural Geography 3  
IDST 4 Ways of Faith 3  
IDST 7 Introduction to the United Nations 3  
IDST 14 American Cultures in Literature and Film 3  
IDST 27B Asian Humanities: Contemporary 3  
IDST 29 Islam: Identity & Culture 3  
IDST 30 Demystifying the Middle East 3  
IDST 36  Poetry for the People 3  
IDST 37 Introduction to Ethnic Studies 3  
LALS 9 The Latinx LGBTQ+ Experience 3  
LGBT 9 The Latinx LGBTQ+ Experience 3  
PHST 20 The Filipino Family 3  
PHST 30 Philippine Society and Culture Through Film 3  
PHST 40  Contemporary Issues in the Filipino Diaspora 3  
PHST 42 Introduction to Philippine Arts 3  
WGST 20 Her/His/Ourstories 3  

Total Units: 3

Overall Total Units: 18 - 19

Transfer Options

All of the program's required courses are University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU)-transferable and meet City College of San Francisco General Education (GE) area requirements A (Communication & Analytical Thinking), C (Natural Sciences), D (Behavioral and Social Sciences) E (Humanities), H1 (Ethnic Studies).

Have questions about transfer? Visit the Transfer Center for help, transfer information, and/or to speak with college representatives.