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
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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| THEORY | ||
| WS 401 | Introduction to Women's Studies | 4 |
| or WS 405 | Gender, Power and Privilege | |
| LEADERSHIP | ||
| WS 505 | Survey 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 Credits | 20 | |
Approved Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Courses in the Women's and Gender Studies Department | ||
| WS #444 | Trans/Forming Gender | 4 |
| WS 444A | Race Matters | 4 |
| WS 444C | 4 | |
| WS #444D | Cyborgs, Avatars, and Feminists: Gender in the Virtual World | 4 |
| WS 505 | Survey in Women's Studies (Leadership in the Real World) | 4 |
| WS 510 | Framing Feminism: Gender Politics in Film | 4 |
| WS 632 | Feminist Thought | 4 |
| WS 795 | Independent Study | 1-4 |
| WS 796 | Advanced Topics | 4 |
| WS 797 | Internship | 4 |
| WS 798 | Colloquium (such as Women in Prison) | 4 |
| Courses in Other College of Liberal Arts Departments | ||
| ANTH 500 | Peoples and Cultures of the World (Sub-Saharan Africa) | 4 |
| ANTH 625 | Sexuality in Cross-Cultural Perspectives | 4 |
| ANTH 685 | Gender, Sexuality and HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa | 4 |
| ANTH #750 | Islam and Gender: Gendered Lives of Muslims | 4 |
| CMN 505 | Analysis of Popular Culture | 4 |
| CMN 567 | Gender, Race, and Class in the Media | 4 |
| CMN 757 | (Social Protest: Rhetoric of Resistance) | 4 |
| EDUC #444B | Public Issues, Democratic Schooling & Active Citizenship in a Global Context | 4 |
| EDUC 500 | Exploring Teaching | 4 |
| ENGL 585 | Introduction to Women in Literature (Dreamgirls: Studies in Beautiful Blackness) | 4 |
| ENGL #650 | I 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 693 | Special Topics in Literature (Literary Responses to the Holocaust) | 4 |
| ENGL 738 | Asian American Studies | 4 |
| ENGL #739 | American Indian Literature | 4 |
| HIST 566 | Comparative Revolutions: How to Make a Revolution in the World before Marx | 4 |
| HIST #624 | Topics in Modern US History (Reform Movements & Popular Protest) | 4 |
| HIST 665 | Themes in Women's History (Gender & Politics) | 4 |
| HIST 690 | Seminar: Historical Expl (Gay & Lesbian History: From the Victorian Era to Stonewall) | 4 |
| HIST 797 | Colloquium (Citizenship & Inequality in the Americas) | 4 |
| HUMA 592 | (Women in Western Religion: Goddesses, Witches, Saints & Sinners) | 2-8 |
| HUMA #700 | Seminar (Love & Ethics) | 4 |
| PHIL 430 | Ethics and Society | 4 |
| PHIL 436 | Social and Political Philosophy | 4 |
| PHIL 450 | Environmental Ethics | 4 |
| PHIL 510 | Philosophy and Feminism | 4 |
| POLT 548 | Drug Wars | 4 |
| POLT 762 | International Political Economy | 4 |
| Courses in the College of Health and Human Services | ||
| HDFS 746 | Human Sexuality | 4 |
| NURS 450 | Making Babies: Technology, Nature, and Social Context | 4 |
| OT 513 | Stressed Out: The Science and Nature of Human Stress | 4 |
| SW 697 | Special Topics in Social Welfare (Exploring Social Justice & Cultural Competency) | 4 |
| SW 715 | Affirming Practice with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer+ People | 4 |
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.
