Human Rights and Social Justice

The Human Rights/Social Justice Pathway offers students a cross-disciplinary opportunity to learn about and focus on issues/theories/research related to social justice and human rights challenges. Students who are considering going to law school or pursuing higher education in a field that studies human behaviors and cultural diversity may benefit from focusing their GE courses in this direction. Additionally, students entering careers in activism, law enforcement, government, and social services among others may find these courses useful in gaining broader perspectives on the challenges of achieving progress in social justice. This Pathway will provide students an opportunity to learn about community needs and deepen their understanding of how underrepresented, marginalized, and subordinated client populations and causes can be served.

Objectives

• Students will develop an understanding of the challenges to Human Rights/Social Justice from an interdisciplinary perspective.
• Students will explore the effects of biases and oppression against various social groups including class, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and others while gaining self-awareness of their own social identities and privilege.
• Students will critically evaluate how different disciplines examine, deconstruct, or interrogate inequalities in the human experience.
• Students will demonstrate proficiency in the use of various tools of analysis, including library research, critical writing ability, computer skills, and data analysis techniques

 

Courses

C.3 Explorations in the Arts and Humanities:

• AFAM 320* Black Political Thought (3)
• AFAM/RLST 337* American Indian Religions and Philosophy (3)
• CHIN 315* Introduction to Chinese Civilization (3)
• CHIN 325* Contemporary Chinese Culture (3)
• FREN 315* Origins of Modern France (3)
• FREN 325* Contemporary French Civilization (3)
• GRMN 315* Introduction to German Civilization (3)
• GRMN 325* Current Trends in Culture of German-Speaking Peoples (3)
• JAPN 315* Introduction to Japanese Civilization (3)
• JAPN 325* Modern Japan (3)
• PHIL 320* Contemporary Moral Issues (3)
• PORT 320* Introduction to Luso-Brazilian Culture and Civilization (3)
• PORT 325 Contemporary Brazilian Civilization (3)
• RLST 352* History & Development of Modern Christian Thought (3)
• RLST/CHIC 367* Religion in Latino/a Life (3)
• RLST 373* Women in Islam (3)
• RLST 374* Issues in Contemporary Islam (3)
• SPAN 315* Introduction to Spanish Civilization (3)
• SPAN 316* Introduction to Spanish-American Civilization (3)
• VIET 315 Vietnamese Civilization (3)
• VIET 325 Introduction to Vietnamese Culture (3)

D.5 Explorations in the Social Sciences:

• AFAM 308* African American Males in American Social Systems (3)
• AFAM 311* Intercultural Socialization (3)
• AFAM 317* Black Politics (3)
• AFAM 322 (also PSYC 322) Psychology of African Americans (3)
• AFAM/RLST 325* African-American Religions & Spirituality (3)
• AFAM 335* History of Racism (3)
• ASAM 362A* Filipina/o American Experience (3)
• ASAM 370* The Chinese American Experience (3)
• CHIC 325* Chicana and Chicano Education (3)
• CRJU 300 Introduction to Criminal Justice (3)
• CRJU 385* Minorities and the Criminal Justice System (3)
• HIST 382 (also ASAM 382*) World War II Japanese American Evacuation (3)
• RLST 333* Religion and Sexuality (3)
• RLST 381 Religion & Politics in the USA (3)
• SOCI 356* Social Inequality (3)
• SOCI 357* Race and Ethnic Relations (3)
• SOCI 371 Sociology and City Life
• WMST 360* Politics of Sexuality

E. Lifelong Learning and Self-Development:

• ANTH 316* Anthropology of Sex and Gender (3)
• RLST 306 Contemporary Practices of the World's Religions (3)
• RLST 380* Religion and Violence (3)

* Satisfies cultural diversity requirement- category Z