SOCIAL JUSTICE STUDIES (SOCJ)
SOCJ 201 - INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL JUSTICE STUDIES
Various ways of conceptualiziang social justice; how the social sciences can be used to understand questions of social justice; case studies in collective action for social justice.
Credits: 3
Attributes: Social Justice Studies, Social Science
Prerequisites: ENG 102 (may be taken concurrently)
SOCJ 208 - INTRODUCTION TO WORKING CLASS STUDIES
Americans generally don't like to talk or think about social class, and until quite recently we've been especially allergic to "working class" as a term or label. In the 2008 presidential election, the term "working class" was used quite a lot, but usually only to refer only to white men in blue-collar jobs (who were assumed to be good at bowling!), rather than to the multiracial, mixed gendered, diverse occupations of the 21st Century American working class. Working-Class Studies is an emerging academic field that attempts to address this situation, in academic research and teaching and in our public discourse. This course will introduce Roosevelt students to this emerging field by focusing on a handful of issues in the social sciences of economics, political science and sociology (with only fleeting reference to work in the arts, humanities, and history), and then asking students to decide for themselves on the relevance of studying the working class in the ways presented.
Credits: 3
Attributes: Social Science
SOCJ 211 - THE GIG ECONOMY
The spirit and impact of social policy on employment and labor relations. A hard-nosed look at minimum wage, unemployment insurance, equal opportunity and affirmative action, public service employment, welfare reform, parental leave, collective bargaining regulations, and restrictions on plant closings.
Credits: 3
Attributes: Social Justice Studies, Social Science
SOCJ 214 - ECONOMICS OF GLOBALIZATION
Globalization and global economic crises have become household words, yet what do they really mean, who benefits, and who loses? This interdisciplinary course examines the phenomenon of globalization using economic, sociological, and feminist analyses to explore controversial themes of the globalization debate, some of which include: offshoring, economic development, international migration, sweatshops, transnational corporations, the Global South, and gender equity. We will examine both the benefits and costs that have resulted from the opening and crossing of international boundaries and borders and examine how these changes have impacted people from both rich and poor countries throughout the world.
Credits: 3
Attributes: International Studies, Non-western Culture, Social Justice Studies, Social Science
Prerequisites: ECON 101
SOCJ 255 - CITY & CITIZEN EMPOWERMENT
Socio-historical and political economy of urbanism; historical and philosphical debates regarding citizen empowerment, political power, social movements, and the relationship of freedom, community, and democracy. Service-learning placement required in community, grass roots, or nonprofit organization.
Credits: 4-6
Prerequisites: ENG 102
Course Notes: UWR
SOCJ 290 - WHAT IS SOCIAL JUSTICE?
What is "social justice"? This course is an historically-based and interdisciplinary introduction to alternative conceptions of social justice. Students will read selections from foundational texts, both ancient and modern. Regular writing assignments and intensive classroom discussions will help to build analytical skill sets in a variety of disciplines, from economics to political philosophy.
Credits: 3
Attributes: Honors Program, Social Justice Studies
Course Notes: Enrollment in RU Honors Program required.
SOCJ 306 - ACTION, ADVOCACY & RESISTANCE
Historical and/or contemporary models of feminist critique and action with attention to intersections of gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, class, culture, nationality, and ability. Focus on debates and differences in theorizing social and political transformation, challenging institutions and practices, and supporting individual and collective agency.
Credits: 3
Attributes: Social Justice Studies, Social Science, Women Gender Studies
Prerequisites: WGS 110 or WGS 210
Course Notes: or consent of instructor.
SOCJ 326 - THEORIES OF SOCIAL JUSTICE
The course wil explore some fundamental questions about economic justice in a dialogical and interdisiplinary context. Student will read selesctions from classic texts (Aristotle to Walzer) as well as journal articles by contemporary theorists. The idea and self reliance will be central to our inquiry.
Credits: 3
Attributes: Social Justice Studies, Social Science
SOCJ 360 - INTERNSHIP IN SOCIAL JUSTICE STUDIES
Internship in Social Justice.
Credits: 3
Attributes: Social Science, Transformational Service Learning
SOCJ 380 - SPECIAL TOPICS IN SOCIAL JUSTICE STUDIES
This intensive two-week course explores ideas about justice. Class meetings will contextualize assigned readings. Students additionally spend a day with each of three other scholar-activists from across disciplines and complete three days of transformational learning at an organization working in one of the focus areas. In addition, students will begin the course by attending and participating in the May 2009 Labor and Working Class History Association (LAWCHA) Conference. The conference theme, "Race, Labor and the City: Crises Old and New," will also represent this year's social justice focus of the Institute. Through this dialectic of theory and practice, students will learn to develop their own principles and practical approaches to social justice
Credits: 3
Attributes: Social Justice Studies, Social Science
Course Notes: 9 hours social science credits with C- or better