College of Arts & Sciences

Social Justice Studies

The interdisciplinary social justice minor is concerned with the promotion of a just society with an emphasis on human rights. The goal of social justice is to establish a society in which all people are guaranteed certain and basic human and legal rights and have access to opportunities and resources to achieve valued economic, political, and social goals.

Program Goals

Through engaging in the course of study leading to a minor in social justice, students will:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of and ability to analyze/apply key concepts related to global views of a just society and social justice.
  2. Demonstrate an ability to analyze the impact of history and policy on issues related to social justice and human rights.
  3. Demonstrate an integration of theories and empirical studies leading to the creation of a just society and the amelioration of injustices.
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of advocacy and other techniques used to create a just society.
  5. Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of personal decisions and actions to create a just society.

Requirements

The minor requires that students complete a minimum 21 hours in courses focusing on Social Justice as outlined below.

Students may complete the entire 21 hours online or with some in-class experiences.

Requirements for Online minor

  1. SWK 106:  Introduction to Social Justice
  2. ANT 201:  World Cultures OR HIS:  557 History of Native Americans
  3. ANT 330:  Women, Gender and Culture: A Global Perspective OR WGS 250: Introduction to Gender Studies
  4. SOC 300:  Race and Ethnic Relations OR BLS 100: Introduction to Afro-American Studies
  5. SWK 565: Compassion, Empathy & Forgiveness in Social Justice
  6. Elective
  7. Elective

Possible Electives

  • ANT 100 Cultural Anthropology
  • ANT 201 World Cultures
  • ANT 330 Women, Gender and Culture: A Global Perspective
  • ANT 372 Peasant Societies
  • ANT 231 Modern American Indians
  • ANT 273 Race, Gender and Culture
  • ANT 301 /SOC 301 World Patterns of Race and Ethnicity
  • ANT 375 Anthropology of Aging
  • HIS 557 History of Native Americans
  • HIS 551 History of Appalachia
  • GEO 100 Global Viewpoints on Geography and the Human Landscape
  • GEO 103 Geography of the Developing World
  • GEO 107 Diversity Mapped
  • GEO 340 Sustainable Food Systems
  • JUS 231 Race, Gender and Crime
  • PHI 323 Peace and War
  • REL 250 World Religions and Ethics
  • SOC 300 Race and Ethnic Relations
  • SOC 301 World Patterns of Race and Ethnicity
  • SWK 594 Applied Social Justice Research
  • WGS310 Women, Wages, & Work
  • WGS150 Introduction to Contemporary Gender Issues
  • WGS250 Intro to Gender Studies
  • *Relevant Special Topics courses may be added with permission of Social Justice Director

Need More
Information?

For more information contact Holly A. Riffe, Ph.D., Director, Social Justice Studies;
Counseling, Social Work and Leadership

riffeh@nku.edu
859-572-5609