Minor in Social Justice in the U.S.
WHAT IS SOCIAL JUSTICE?
Social justice refers to fair and equitable institutions, laws, markets, practices, and social relationships. It allows all of us to participate fully in and contribute to our communities and to realize our full potential as citizens and human beings. Issues of social justice affect educational and employment access and outcomes, health and welfare, everyday living and the general well being of our society. This minor invites you to investigate and reflect on the history and current state of social justice, on social relations as affected by race and ethnicity, economic class, gender, sexuality, religion, ability, and other forms of diversity. It will help you to recognize and address persistent inequities detrimental to the overall quality of life of this increasingly diverse US society of the 21st century, and thus gives you the potential to contribute directly to the realization of social justice.
Let’s face it. Our world is changing. Increasingly we are a global society with ties to peoples and places that reflect our many similarities and differences. But our world is not a fair one.
The quest for justice has been elusive. Histories and quality of life vary by our differences such as race and ethnicity, gender expressions and sexuality, ability and religion, economic status and level of education, among others. Nonetheless, justice and fairness are not impossible. As the Department of American Studies, we are obligated to provide students, like you, with an opportunity to learn about fairness so that you may fully consider how and in what ways you may contribute to building a better tomorrow.
This is not an abstract mission. Your understanding of past and current issues of justice and inequality are critical as you prepare for work and life beyond your bachelor’s degree and in this increasingly diverse society.
Who will benefit from the Social Justice Minor?
This minor will complement undergraduate majors in the professional schools and all divisions of the College, from the traditional disciplines such as history, sociology and geography to interdisciplinary majors such as human biology, African and African American studies, and women, gender, and sexuality studies, business management, education, and social work—to name just a few.
The minor will allow you to diversify and enhance your profile for a wide range of specialized private and public sector positions, whether you proceed directly into the workforce upon graduation or pursue advanced degrees leading to careers in government, education, business, public service, law, medicine, or emerging areas of research. Regardless of the area you choose, you will be served well by the Social Justice Minor.
You will:
Develop the analytical and communication skills so that you are able to offer informed and practical contributions to your workplace policies and practices.
Develop the intellectual foundation to contribute to and thus to the creation of a just and fair society.
Understand how inequality works as a persistent part of our social fabric rather than merely as a matter of prejudice and misunderstanding.
Be a better informed citizen and participant in both your work and living communities.
Better understand and be able to explain structural inequities and injustices related to race/ethnicity, gender and sexuality, economic class, institutional barriers, and other aspects of diversity in the U.S. and transnationally.
Understand ways various groups of activists and organizers have worked to democratize society more fully and realize the meanings of citizenship and freedom.
Apply your knowledge to real life issues of social justice and fairness.
Pathways
Use this list to identify and select 9 hours (3 courses) to develop a social justice minor that will best enhance your Major(s). Topics, readings, studies, and case studies courses offered at the 300 level or above in various departments may also be options. Some courses may have prerequisites.
US Race/Ethnicity
AAAS 306. The Black Experience in the U.S. Since Emancipation. 3 Hours. H.
AAAS 317/HIST 317/WGSS 317. African American Women: Colonial Era to the Present. 3 Hours. H.
AAAS 322. Legal Issues and the African American. 3 Hours. H.
AAAS 388. The Black Woman. 3 Hours. S/W.
AAAS 511. The Civil Rights Movement. 3 Hours. H
AAAS 525. Social History of Black Aging in America. 3 Hours. H.
AAAS 534/COMS 551. The Rhetoric of Black Americans. 3 Hours. H.
AAAS 585/AMS 229/THR 529. Race and the American Theatre. 3 Hours. U.
AAAS 611. History of the Black Power Movement. 3 Hours. H.
AAAS 630. The Life and Intellectual Thought of W.E.B. Du Bois. 3 Hours. H.
AMS 317. African American Women: Colonial Era to the Present. 3 Hours. H.
AMS 330. American Society. 3 Hours. H.
AMS 340. Black Leadership. 3 Hours. H/W.
AMS 522. American Racial and Ethnic Relations. 3 Hours. S.
AMS 534. Comparative Racial and Ethnic Relations. 3 Hours. NW / S.
AMS 536/SOC 536. Ethnicity in the United States: 3 Hours. S.
AMS 540. Culture, Space and Power in Urban America. 3 Hours. H.
AMS 565. Gender, Culture, and Migration. 3 Hours. H.
AMS 650. Jazz and American Culture. 3 Hours. H.
ANTH 376. North American Indians. 3 Hours. NW AE41 / S/W.
ANTH 562. Mexamerica. 3 Hours.
AE41 / S. ANTH 563. Cultural Diversity in the United States. 3 Hours. SC / S.
ENGL 571 American Indian Literature (Same as ISP 504)
HIST 338 /AAAS 328 African American Urban Community and Class in the Midwest. 3 Hours. H.
HIST 353 Indigenous Peoples of North America.
HIST 572 The United States Borderlands: People, Place, Past
HWC 335 Introduction to Indigenous Studies (Same as ISP 101/ISP 335)
HWC 348 American Indian and White Relations to 1865 (Same as ISP 348)
HWC 350 American Indians Since 1865 (Same as ISP 350)
HWC 490 Roots of Federal Indian Policy (Same as ISP 490)
POLS 512. Latino Politics. 3 Hours. S.
REL 330 (331 Honors) Native American Religions (Same as ISP 330/ISP 331 Honors)
SOC 522. American Racial and Ethnic Relations. 3 Hours. AE41 / S.
SOC 534/AAAS 510/AMS 534 Comparative Racial and Ethnic Relations. 3 Hours.
NW AE42 / S. SOC 536/AMS 536 Ethnicity in the United States:. 3 Hours.
AE41 / S. WGS 560/AAAS 560. Race, Gender, and Post-Colonial Discourses. 3 Hours. H.
Space, Place, Environment
AAAS 557/ GEOG 557. Cities and Development. 3 Hours. S.
AMS 540. Culture, Space and Power in Urban America. 3 Hours. H.
HIST 338/AAAS 328 African American Urban Community and Class in the Midwest. 3 Hours.
H. POLS 528/EVRN 528. Environmental Justice and Public Policy. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 553./EVRN 553 Comparative Environmental Politics. 3 Hours. S.
PUAD 433/GEOG 553: Metropolitica and Macroproblems: The American City in Local and Global Context SOC 340. The Community. 3 Hours. S.
SOC 341. Urban Sociology. 3 Hours. S.
SOC 385/EVRN 385. Environmental Sociology. 3 Hours. S.
SOC 519/EVRN 519 Sociology of Global Food. 5 Hours. U.
U.S. Migration, Immigration, Diaspora, and Human Trafficking
AAAS 557/GEOG 557. Cities and Development. 3 Hours. S.
AAAS 565/ AMS 565/WGSS 565. Gender, Culture, and Migration. 3 Hours. H.
AAAS 574/HIST 574. Slavery in the New World. 3 Hours. H/W.
AMS 320. Border Patrolled States. 3 Hours. H.
AMS 332: American Studies in Global Context (3) S (available in the classroom and on-line)
ANTH 562. Mexamerica. 3 Hours. AE41 / S.
POLS 370. Contemporary Issues in International Politics. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 516. Public Opinion and American Democracy. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 564. Elections and Political Parties Around the World
PUAD 433: Metropolitica and Macroproblems: The American City in Local and Global Context
REL 585 New Religious Movements (Western)
SOC 330/AMS 330. American Society. 3 Hours.
AE41 / S. SOC 342. Sociology of Immigration. 3 Hours. S
SOC 529. Globalization. 3 Hours. S.
SOC 534/ AAAS 510 /AMS 534. Comparative Racial and Ethnic Relations. 3 Hours. NW AE42 / S.
SOC 535. Gender in the Global Context. 3 Hours. S.
SOC 650. Transnational Migration. 3 Hours. S.
Work, Labor, Education, and Health
AMS 344. Case Study in American Studies_____________.3 Hours
HIST 338 African American Urban Community and Class in the Midwest.3 Hours. H.
SOC 424. Sociology of Health and Medicine. 3 Hours. S.
SOC 427. School and Society. 3 Hours. S.
SOC 454. Women and Work. 3 Hours. S.
WGSS 512 History of Women and Work in Comparative Perspective (3) H. (Same as AMS 512 and HIST 532.) LEC
SOC 519. Sociology of Global Food. 5 Hours. U.
SOC 523. Sociology of Aging and the Life Course. 3 Hours.
AE41 / S. SOC 524. Sociology of the Economy. 3 Hours. S.
SOC 525. Sociology of Work. 3 Hours. S.
SOC 625. Work Roles in Health and Medicine. 3 Hours. S.
SOC 660. Sociology of Mental Illness. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 614. Urban Politics. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 616. Interest Group Politics. 3 Hours. S.
Institutions, Policies, and Social Control
AMS 332: American Studies in Global Context (3) S(can also be made available on-line)
ANTH 376. North American Indians. 3 Hours. NW AE41 / S/W.
ANTH 465. Genocide and Ethnocide. 3 Hours. S.
ANTH 560. Introduction to Economic Anthropology. 3 Hours. S.
HWC 335 Introduction to Indigenous Studies (Same as ISP 101/ISP 335)
HWC 348 American Indian and White Relations to 1865 (Same as ISP 348)
HWC 350 American Indians Since 1865 (Same as ISP 350)
HWC 490 Roots of Federal Indian Policy (Same as ISP 490)
POLS 301. Introduction to Political Theory. 3 Hours. GE3S / S.
POLS 302. Introduction to Political Theory, Honors. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 310. Contemporary Issues in U.S. Politics. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 320. Introduction to Public Policy. 3 Hours. GE3S / S.
POLS 350. Contemporary Issues in Comparative Politics. 3 Hours.
POLS 370. Contemporary Issues in International Politics. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 492. Field Work in Politics and Policy-Making. 3-6 Hours. AE61 / S.
POLS 494. Washington Semester Intern Seminar. 3 Hours. AE61 / S.
POLS 495. Topeka Semester Intern Seminar. 3 Hours. AE61 / S.
POLS 501. Contemporary Political Thought. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 502. History of Political Thought. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 511. The Judicial Process. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 515. American Political Parties. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 516. Public Opinion and American Democracy. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 564. Elections and Political Parties Around the World. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 566. Social Welfare, Taxation, and the Citizen. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 601. Political Ideologies. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 602. American Political Ideas. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 603. Democratic Theory. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 605. A Study of Political Thought in Antiquity. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 607. Modern Political Theory. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 610. Constitutional Law: Governmental Powers. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 611. Constitutional Law: Civil Liberties. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 613. Comparative U.S. State Politics. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 614. Urban Politics. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 615. Campaigns and Elections. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 616. Interest Group Politics. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 617. The Congress. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 618. The Presidency. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 620. Formulation of Public Policy. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 622. Government and the Economy. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 623. The Politics of Social Policy. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 624/EVRN 620. Environmental Politics and Policy. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 625. Extremist Groups and Government Response. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 628/EVRN 628. The Politics of Public Health. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 630/WGSS 630. Politics of Identity. 3 Hours. AE41 / S.
POLS 634. Bureaucratic Politics. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 640/WGSS 640. Politics of Reproductive Policy. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 644. Justice and Public Policy in Democratic Societies. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 645. Corruption, Crisis and Scandal. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 663. Protest and Revolution. 3 Hours. S.
PUAD 330: Introduction to Public Administration
PUAD 433: Conducting the People’s Business Ethically
PUAD 433: Metropolitica and Macroproblems: The American City in Local and Global Context
PUAD 602: Diversity in Public Administration
PUAD 603: Foundations of the Nonprofit Sector
PUAD 639: Concepts of Civil Society
PUAD 641: Public Service Leadership
REL 371 Religion and Society in Tension
REL 373 (375 Honors) Supreme Court and Religious Issues in the US
REL 377 (378 Honors) Religious Ethics and Moral Decisions
SOC 306. Principles of Social Problems. 3 Hours. SF / S.
SOC 360. Sociology of Social Control. 3 Hours. S.
SOC 519/EVRN 519. Sociology of Global Food. 5 Hours. U.
SOC 521. Wealth, Power, and Inequality. 3 Hours. AE41 / S.
SOC 524. Sociology of the Economy. 3 Hours. S.
SOC 529. Globalization. 3 Hours. S.
SOC 530. Industrial Revolution and Capitalist Development. 3 Hours. S.
SOC 531. Global Social Change. 3 Hours. S.
SOC 560. Law and Criminal Justice. 3 Hours. S.
SOC 561. Sociology of Deviance. 3 Hours. S.
SOC 562. Sociology of Law. 3 Hours. S.
SOC 570. Social Conflict. 3 Hours. S.
SOC 573. Sociology of Violence. 3 Hours. S.
SOC 590. Sociology in the Community. 3 Hours. S.
SOC 598. Practicum in Crime and Delinquency Studies. 3-6 Hours. S.
SOC 619. Political Sociology. 3 Hours. S.
SOC 621. Cross-Cultural Sociology. 3 Hours. NW AE42/GE3H/GE3S / S.
SOC 661. Causation of Crime and Delinquency. 3 Hours. S.
SOC 662. Corrections. 3 Hours. S.
SOC 671. Social Movements. 3 Hours. S
Women, Gender, and Sexuality
AAAS 317/ AMS 317/HIST 317/ WGSS 317African American Women: Colonial Era to the Present. 3 hrs. H.
POLS 600/ WGSS 600. Contemporary Feminist Political Theory. 3 Hours. S.
POLS 651/ WGSS 651 Women's Studies and/or Latin American Studies. LEC.
REL 477 Gender and Religion
SOC 326. Health, Gender, and Society. 3 Hours. S
SOC 352. Sociology of Sex Roles. 3 Hours. S.
SOC 454. Women and Work. 3 Hours. S.
SOC 535. Gender in the Global Context. 3 Hours. S.
SOC 601. Introduction to Feminist Social Theory. 3 Hours. S.
SOC 617/ HP&M 620 Women and Health Care. 3 Hours. S.
WGSS 317/ AAAS 317, AMS 317/ HIST 317 African American Women: Colonial Era to the Present 3 hrs. H.
WGSS 324/HIST 324 History of Women and the Body (3)
WGSS 327. Perspectives in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies (3).
WGSS 333 The Politics of Physical Appearance (3) S
WGSS 351 Women and Leadership: The Legislative Process (3) S
WGSS 381/PHIL 381 Feminism and Philosophy (3)
WGSS 389/ANTH 389 The Anthropology of Gender: Female, Male, and Beyond (3)
WGSS 510/ AMS 510 and HIST 530 History of American Women: Colonial Times to 1870 (3)
WGSS 511/AMS 511/HIST 531 History of American Women: 1870 to Present (3)
WGSS 512/ AMS 512/HIST 532 History of Women and Work in Comparative Perspective (3)
WGSS 513 Modern American Women in Film and Literature (3) H
WGSS 521/PSYC 521 Women and Violence (3) (old number 520)
WGSS 530. Gender and Sexuality in Cyberspace (3).
WGSS 549/HIST 649 History of Feminist Theory (3)
WGSS 560/ AAAS 560 Race, Gender, and Post-Colonial Discourses (3)
WGSS 562/POLS 562 Women and Politics (3)
WGSS 563 Gender, Sexuality and the Law (3) H
WGSS 565 Gender, Culture, and Migration (3)
WGSS 570/HWC 570 Men and Masculinities (3)
WGSS 600 Contemporary Feminist Political Theory (3)
WGSS 601 Seminar in Women's Studies (3)
WGSS 630/POLS 630 Women, Gender, & Sexuality Std - Politics of Identity (3)
WGSS 640/POLS 640 Politics of Reproductive Policy (3)
WGSS 652 Jazz and American Culture (3) H
WGSS 653/POLS 633 Gender, War, and Peace (3)
WGSS 660 Human Reproduction: Culture, Power, and Politics (3) S
WGSS 689/PSYC 689 Conceptual Issues in Human Sexuality (3)