SOCIAL JUSTICE COURSES
ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must meet all requirements as specified in the “Graduate Admissions” section of this catalog. Other requirements may be determined by the program director at the time of the interview. The Social Justice program is a cohort program that accepts a set number of students in the Fall semester. However, if groups or organizations want to join as a cohort, we can schedule them to meet their needs.
SOCIAL JUSTICE CURRICULUM
MASTER OF ARTS IN SOCIAL JUSTICE (36 CREDITS)
SJ 7500 Social Foundations 2 Credits
SJ 7503 Human Rights: A Global/Local Perspective 2 Credits
SJ 7505 Economic Analysis of Structures: Globalism 2 Credits
SJ 7510 Campaigns and Elections 2 Credits
SJ 7520 Values in Society: Sources and Resources 2 Credits
SJ 7524 Environment Justice 2 Credits
SJ 7530 The Role of Psychology in Social Justice 2 Credits
SJ 8605 Justice in US Economic Structures 2 Credits
SJ 8620 Religion and Justice: Conflict 2 Credits
and Congruence
SJ 8625 Leadership and Organizational 2 Credits
Development I
SJ 8630 Understanding through Empiricism 2 Credits
SJ 8635 Leadership and Organizational 2 Credits
Development II
SJ 8640 Organizing for Social Change 2 Credits
SJ 8645 The Media and Its Effects on Social Issues 2 Credits
SJ 8650 Reflection Seminar 2 Credits
SJ 8655 Social Justice Practicum 3 Credits
-ORSJ
7525 Special Topics 3 Credits
SJ 8660 Master’s Project 3 Credits
CERTIFICATE IN SOCIAL JUSTICE (14 CREDITS)
(Pending approval by The Institute of Justice & Wisdom In America, HLC,
and the US Department of Education)
SJ 7500 Social Foundations 2 Credits
SJ 7503 Human Rights: Local and Global 2 Credits
SJ 7510 Campaigns and Elections 2 Credits
SJ 7520 Values in Society 2 Credits
SJ 8605 Analysis of Economic Structures: U.S. 2 Credits
SJ 8620 Religion and Justice: Conflict 2 Credits
and Congruence
SJ 8640 Organizing for Social Change 2 Credits
MICRO-CREDENTIAL IN POLITICAL
CHANGE CURRICULUM (7 CREDITS)
(Pending approval by the US Department of Education)
SJ 7510 Campaigns and Elections 2 Credits
SJ 7525 Special Topics: Strategies for Social Change 3 Credits
SJ 8640 Organizing for Social Change 2 Credits
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
SJ 7500 Social Foundations 2 Hours
This seminar provides an overview of the program. Students
identify issues, concepts and the systems that define, influence
and shape the world, as well as the values associated with a
just world. Opportunities to create an internal culture of justice
among the candidates are provided.
SJ 7503 Human Rights: 2 Hours
A Global/Local Perspective
The multidisciplinary course is designed to enhance the
understanding of human rights from the legal, historical,
literary and cultural perspective. The course seeks to make
more accessible the experiences of struggles, liberation and
potential for personal and collective action in advancing
human rights. We will also explore whether emotions such as
empathy—what literary works evoke among the readers—have
a necessary relation to justice. Finally, we will examine how
narratives (including films) enable or disable memory, truth
telling, and justice in the aftermath of atrocity. Human Rights
are explored within the context of the local and global.
SJ 7505 Economic Analysis of Structures: 2 Hours
Globalism
The aim of this course is to foster understanding of the major
relationships involved in the functioning of the global economy
today and the perspectives of various groups that impact the
realization of more just, humane and sustainable societies in
the USA and in the world. Ethical evaluation in light of the
principles of the human rights tradition will under gird the
economic analysis.
SJ 7510 Campaigns and Elections 2 Hours
This course is an exploration of major facets of the US political
campaigns and elections, including, voter turnout and choice,
grassroots activity, lobbying, and the role of money and media
with special focus on the potential for reform.
SJ 7520 Values in Society: 2 Hours
Sources and Resources
This course explores the origins and functions of values in
personal and social life, including a survey of some of the
principal concepts used in contemporary discussions of justice.
In the collaborative framework of the seminar, students focus
on how values arise, how they are articulated, how they figure
in our decision making, how they shape our social institutions,
how they conflict, and how those conflicts are addressed.
SJ 7524 Environmental Justice 2 Hours
This course is designed to introduce students to the law and
policy of environmental justice. Environmental justice is at the
confluence of the civil rights movement and the environmental
movement. Students will develop an understanding of the
scientific, economic, ethical, and legal underpinnings of
environmental justice decision-making with a focus on Detroit.
SJ 7525 Special Topics in Social Justice 3 Hours
This course is designed to focus on an array of “special
topics” in social justice, such as women and violence, health
disparities, political strategies for change, and/or the role
of resistance from the context of religion. For example, in
the Special Topics course Theology of Resistance, you will be
asked to create your own mission statement, examine religious
texts and what they say about resistance, and participate in
one of several community projects that students will visit
during the course. This course can substitute for the practicum
requirement of the program.
SJ 7530 The Role of Psychology 2 Hours
in Social Justice
This seminar will investigate the psychology of social justice
and consumerism with respect to local and international
implications. The seminar will further provide an
understanding of the impact of materialism on groups and
individuals. Examination of race and racism will be presented
from the lenses of Colonialism, Post Traumatic Slavery
Syndrome and the dysfunctional side of White Privilege. In
addition, it will explore contemporary perspectives on spiritual
and emotional intelligence as they relate to social injustices.
SJ 8605 Justice: US Economic Structures 2 Hours
This course provides an overview of the current system
of economic relations within the United States from the
perspective of increasing social justice. Students review the
actors and relationships that govern the domestic economic
system focusing on macroeconomic issues such as income
distribution, unemployment, poverty, government policies, and
the implications of corporate power. Questions related to the
social and political implications of our economic system and
policies, which might improve the well-being of individuals
marginalized by the system, are examined.
SJ 8620 Religion and Justice: 2 Hours
Conflict and Congruence
In this course students explore the place of religious
traditions in human affairs, examine some typical religious
institutions and their practices, scan a number of relevant
religious documents, and discern the ways in which religion
shapes, promotes, or hinders the practice of justice in society.
Historical examples help clarify our current situation. The
course seeks to analyze some religious values, evaluate the
congruence or dissonance of professed values with policy
and practice, and assess the contribution of religion in its
cultural settings.
SJ 8625 Leadership and Organizational 2 Hours
Development I
Leadership for Social Justice is a course that deepens an
appreciation for the context and styles of leadership at
the forefront of struggles for social justice. The course
will illuminate how values and principles underpin critical
leadership. Students become familiar with social justice
theorists, and explore concepts such as democratic decision-making,
civic engagement, and structural inequality. Students
are introduced to tools needed by today’s leaders, such as
systems thinking, strategic thinking, and organizational and
community diagnosis.
SJ 8630 Understanding through Empiricism 2 Hours
In this seminar students learn about the use of psychological
empiricism to support social justice issues. Differences between
a subjective approach and an empirical approach are examined.
Additional topics include the utility of a social science/
social justice approach, the impact of under-represented
groups, stereotyping, pseudo-science, and human behavior
experiments. Skills to be practiced in this seminar include grant
writing, bibliographic search, and presentation of a persuasive
empirically based argument.
SJ 8635 Leadership and Organizational 2 Hours
Development II
Leaders are knowledgeable about how to work with and
motivate people at the interpersonal, group and community
levels. This course links social justice leadership and the roots
of organization development. It highlights change theory,
terminology, and literature for social justice professionals
pursuing an advocacy role. Students are given opportunities
to build such practical skills as how to best use oneself in the
service of social justice, dealing with diverse situations, active
and empathic listening, strategic thinking, and more.
8640 Organizing for Social Change 2 Hours
This course focuses on theories, and fundamental strategies
and skills for community organizing and change. Topics
include the power of language, identification of social
problems, understanding values and ethics within the context
of community work, and frameworks for policy analysis and
solutions. It also explores the basics for creating a non-profit
organization.
SJ 8645 The Media and Its Effects 2 Hours
on Social Issues
In this course students explore the impact of various media
sources on societal reaction to popular social problems.
Having determined the extent to which popular images create
and recreate problems, policies and programs that attempt
to address societal problems, students explore the pursuit
of justice via media sources. A plethora of techniques and
strategies is discussed to pursue and promote justice oriented
solutions via media outlets.
SJ 8650 Reflection Seminar 2 Hours
This is the last weekend of the program. In this seminar
students have the opportunity to share their social justice
projects and reflect upon their transformation in the program
and their role as a social advocate. Future direction and
collaboration for the work that has begun is explored.
Students are also encouraged to evaluate the process and
content of the program.
SJ 8655 Social Justice Practicum 3 Hours
This course is intended to provide experience based learning in
an area of special interest to the student. Candidates will work
with both an on-site supervisor and a college mentor to foster
growth in their areas of needed skills.
SJ 8660 Master’s Project 3 Hours
This course provides the opportunity for students to create
their own synthesis of advanced learning while putting it into
action. A college mentor offers supportive guidance throughout
the process.