Social Justice Leadership (Minor)

What is social justice leadership?

Whether you’re interested in working in the legal system, politics, social services, education or the humanities, the interdisciplinary social justice leadership minor will give you a fundamental understanding of social justice thought, policies, institutions and systems in the U.S. and abroad. You’ll examine topics such as gender, culture, religion, sexuality and race, as well as related courses drawn from a range of disciplines, including teaching, literature, ethics, health and politics. Combine the minor with a major such as history, political science, social work or justice studies to enhance your career prospects or prepare for graduate studies.

Why study social justice leadership at UNH?

As a relatively small department in the College of Liberal Arts, we’ll provide you with a sense of community and opportunities to contribute directly to social justice, including through internships at innovative organizations both on and off campus. In a rigorous academic environment, our social justice leadership minor offers you a springboard for activism. You’ll benefit from a structured yet flexible undergraduate program on cutting-edge subjects that bridge theory and applied studies. Your course of study will be tailored to your interests. Additionally, you’ll receive excellent advising and mentoring to help you with career or graduate school preparation.

Potential career areas

  • Community organization
  • Healthcare
  • Human rights advocacy
  • Journalism
  • Law
  • Politics
  • Social work
  • Teaching
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Curriculum & Requirements

The minor in social justice leadership engages students in an exploration of policies, power dynamics, institutions and structures that promote and hinder equity and processes of change required for social justice. Students will examine various forms of injustice such as sexism, racism, classism, ableism and environmental degradation. The minor is grounded in three pillars — a theory component, a leadership component and experiential learning activities. The minor is interdisciplinary in nature, drawing on disciplines such as anthropology, education, English, history, philosophy, political science, social work and sociology. After completing the curriculum, students will have gained a historical perspective, theoretical understanding and applied leadership skills that are needed for social justice work and activism. The minor certifies students' knowledge regarding, and commitment to, social justice leadership, which will be useful in postgraduate pursuits.

Students who wish to minor in social justice leadership should consult with the department chair or coordinator.

THEORY
WS 401Introduction to Women's Studies4
or WS 405 Gender, Power and Privilege
LEADERSHIP
WS 505Survey in Women's Studies (Leadership Part I)4
or WS 796 Advanced Topics
APPLIED
Choose one capstone course from the following (normally taken at the end of the course sequence):4
WS 795
Independent Study
WS 796
Advanced Topics
WS 797
Internship
WS 798
Colloquium
or other relevant approved capstone dealing with social justice leadership issues
Choose two electives in Social Justice and/or Leadership (see list below)8
Total Credits20

Approved Electives

Courses in the Women's and Gender Studies Department
WS #444Trans/Forming Gender4
WS 444ARace Matters4
WS 444C4
WS #444DCyborgs, Avatars, and Feminists: Gender in the Virtual World4
WS 505Survey in Women's Studies (Leadership in the Real World)4
WS 510Framing Feminism: Gender Politics in Film4
WS 632Feminist Thought4
WS 795Independent Study1-4
WS 796Advanced Topics4
WS 797Internship4
WS 798Colloquium (such as Women in Prison)4
Courses in Other College of Liberal Arts Departments
ANTH 500Peoples and Cultures of the World (Sub-Saharan Africa)4
ANTH 625Sexuality in Cross-Cultural Perspectives4
ANTH 685Gender, Sexuality and HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa4
ANTH #750Islam and Gender: Gendered Lives of Muslims4
CMN 505Analysis of Popular Culture4
CMN 567Gender, Race, and Class in the Media4
CMN 757 (Social Protest: Rhetoric of Resistance)4
EDUC #444BPublic Issues, Democratic Schooling & Active Citizenship in a Global Context4
EDUC 500Exploring Teaching4
ENGL 585Introduction to Women in Literature (Dreamgirls: Studies in Beautiful Blackness)4
ENGL #650I Hear America Singing: Studying American Literature and Culture (Latina/o Literature, Playing in the Dark: Race & Sex in American Literature, American Literature & Consumer Culture)4
ENGL 693Special Topics in Literature (Literary Responses to the Holocaust)4
ENGL 738Asian American Studies4
ENGL #739American Indian Literature4
HIST 566Comparative Revolutions: How to Make a Revolution in the World before Marx4
HIST #624Topics in Modern US History (Reform Movements & Popular Protest)4
HIST 665Themes in Women's History (Gender & Politics)4
HIST 690Seminar: Historical Expl (Gay & Lesbian History: From the Victorian Era to Stonewall)4
HIST 797Colloquium (Citizenship & Inequality in the Americas)4
HUMA 592 (Women in Western Religion: Goddesses, Witches, Saints & Sinners)2-8
HUMA #700Seminar (Love & Ethics)4
PHIL 430Ethics and Society4
PHIL 436Social and Political Philosophy4
PHIL 450Environmental Ethics4
PHIL 510Philosophy and Feminism4
POLT 548Drug Wars4
POLT 762International Political Economy4
Courses in the College of Health and Human Services
HDFS 746Human Sexuality4
NURS 450Making Babies: Technology, Nature, and Social Context4
OT 513Stressed Out: The Science and Nature of Human Stress4
SW 697Special Topics in Social Welfare (Exploring Social Justice & Cultural Competency)4
SW 715Affirming Practice with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer+ People4

The women's and gender studies core faculty will consider approving other courses that include more than 50% of content related to social justice leadership.

Once students have declared the minor, they are required to meet with the coordinator at least once per semester for regular review of progress towards the degree.

Transfer credits may be approved by the coordinator to count towards the minor. If the transfer credit is accepted by the university and fits within the scope of the minor, it will be considered.


 

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