Offered in: Chicago

The Social Justice Studies B.A. is an interdisciplinary major that focuses on questions of social justice. Courses in this major integrate theories, methods, and substance of many academic disciplines (economics, history, political science, sociology, and others). Students in Social Justice Studies learn to utilize lived experience, theoretical frameworks, and empirical data to develop critical analyses of systemic injustices, both in the U.S. and globally. The interdisciplinary nature of courses in the major provide a foundation to assess what processes, institutions, and power dynamics produce injustice in our world, and how to transform them. Students studying Social Justice at Roosevelt University seek not only to understand how current systems of injustice are perpetuated, but how to transform those systems to create a new world that honors the rights and dignity of every person. 

At Roosevelt, our Social Justice Studies faculty  are experts in their fields across a wide range of disciplines. Roosevelt faculty specializes in topics pertaining to a wide range of social justice issues: racial justice, economic justice and workers' rights, anti-capitalism and alter-globalization, LGBTQIA rights, immigrant and migrant rights, economic justice and sustainability, disability justice, and social movements and community organizing.

Our faculty are recognized experts in their fields of inquiry and dedicated to the success and well-being of every one of our majors and minors. Located at the center of Chicago, home to a deep history of labor and racial justice organizing, faculty in the department are deeply embedded in local, state, national, and international political life. With social justice advocacy and policy advances under growing attacks in recent years, and the increasing mobilization of social justice organizers globally, there's never been a better time to study Social Justice.

Social Justice Studies majors are encouraged to pursue a minor in related and complementary fields, such as Journalism, International Studies, Sustainability Studies, History, Paralegal Studies, Political Science, and Legal Studies.

Requirements

• Social Justice Studies majors must complete 11 courses (33 credit hours) related to social justice in a variety of disciplines
• The required Core courses comprise 24 credit hours of the major
• An internship with an organization with a social justice mission is required as part of the core
• Students will take an additional 9 credit hours in electives (guidelines below)
• A grade of C- or higher is required in all courses in the major.
• At least 15 credit hours in the major must be taken at Roosevelt.

Electives are chosen in conjunction with your advisor.

• To ensure the interdisciplinary character of the major, students will be limited to two electives from any one department.
• Any course with the Social Justice Studies attribute can qualify as an elective for the major.
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  At least two electives must be at the 300 level.

The Social Justice Studies advisory committee designates elective courses each semester. Students can view these by clicking on the Social Justice Studies attribute link on the class schedule.

Students completing a Social Justice Studies BA are encouraged to take ECON 101 PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS I to fulfill part of their social sciences CORE requirements as this is a prerequisite for some of the required courses in the major. 

Students interested in graduate programs in social science or public policy are encouraged to take MATH 217 ELEMENTARY STATISTICS/ECON 234 ELEMENTARY STATISTICS/SOC 291 SOCIAL STATISTICS: INTRODUCTION TO PROBABILITY & STATISTICS (3 credit hours) and ECON 346 INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMETRICS (3 credit hours)

CORE Requirements (General Education)

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Higher level of Math may be required by major

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Coursework must come from outside of students' major discipline

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A maximum of 9 credits can be applied from a single discipline towards humanities and social science requirements

These quantitative requirements also apply to degrees.

• Students must earn a minimum of 120 semester hours.
• Students may apply no more than 60 credit hours of 100-level courses toward the degree.
• Students must apply no fewer than 60 credit hours of 200- and 300-level courses toward the degree.
• Students must have at least 18 credit hours (of the 60 credit hours above) at the 300 level.
• Students may transfer in no more than 70 credit hours from community colleges.
• Students earning less than 60 total hours in residence must take their final 30 hours at Roosevelt University. Note that some majors have additional requirements for RU hours.
• Students must have a grade point average of 2.0 or higher to graduate. Note that some majors have additional GPA requirements.
• Students may apply no more than 51 hours in the major (BA) or 57 hours in the major (BS)

Your degree map is a general guide suggesting courses to complete each term on the academic pathway to your degree. It is based on the most current scheduling information from your academic program. Your program’s degree map is reviewed annually and updated as schedules change; however you retain the same course requirements as long as you are continuously enrolled in your degree program so always consult your degree audit in Degree Works.

Always work closely with your academic advisor to understand curriculum requirements and scheduling, as each student’s academic plan can look slightly different.

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 Or course towards an optional Minor

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 One Natural Science course must have a lab. 

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Satisfies CORE Experiential Learning requirement.  Experiential Learning courses must be 200/300 level. 

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ECON 101, POS 101 and SOC 101 recommended.

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HIST 106 or HIST 107 recommended