Program Overview
The Social Justice major at the University of Cincinnati is a multidisciplinary program that delves into the multifaceted nature of social justice, empowering students to understand and work towards a more equitable world. Through a combination of three core areas and two cluster areas, the program equips students with foundational knowledge, analytical skills, and practical experience in addressing systems of oppression and promoting social change. With a focus on activism, social movements, and the intersection of power and identity, graduates are well-prepared for careers in various fields that prioritize social justice initiatives.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Social Justice major is a multidisciplinary program designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of social justice. It explores the history, theories, practices, and implications of social justice within and across societies. The program focuses on understanding how fairness manifests in societies and identifying and addressing barriers to justice.
Objectives:
- Explore a wide range of perspectives on social justice.
- Critically examine diverse domestic and transnational systems of domination, oppression, and inequity.
- Analyze how systems of domination intersect and relate to each other.
- Understand the sources of oppression and envision a more just world.
- Develop critical communication, reading, writing, and thinking skills.
- Understand and apply research methods and analytical abilities.
- Prepare students to understand and work for justice in societies.
Careers:
Graduates of the Social Justice program are well-prepared for a variety of careers that involve working for social justice. Some examples include:
- Advocate
- Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES)
- Community Health Worker
- Community Specialist
- Government Program Specialist
- Lawyer
- Mental Health Counselor
- Political Analyst
- Politician
- Public Administrator
- Social Services Director
Other:
- The program requires 39 credits of coursework in multidisciplinary subjects.
- The degree requirements can be completed in three years.
- Coursework includes three courses in foundational core areas: an introduction to the specialty area, methodology, and a cumulative capstone course.
- Students will also complete courses in two cluster areas: five courses in Activism and social change, and five courses in Power and Identity.
- Activism and Social Change courses focus on social movements and community organizing that challenge and transform adverse social conditions.
- Power and Identity courses focus on the intersection between authority and control and socially constructed categories including, but not limited to race, gender, social class, sexuality, religion, etc.
- The program aims to provide students with diverse historical, contemporary, and future-oriented perspectives related to Social Justice and its impact on communities in the US and globally.
- Many employers, both governmental and non-governmental, seek graduates with expertise and enthusiasm for social justice.
