Why study Social Justice?

The Social Justice major is designed to provide students with the opportunity to undertake a multidisciplinary program of study on the history, theories, practices, and implications of social justice within and across societies. Social justice is anchored in understanding how fairness manifests in societies, including processes to identify and address barriers to justice. Completing the Social Justice major will allow students to explore a wide range of perspectives, critically examine diverse domestic and transnational systems of domination, oppression, and inequity, and explore how they relate and intersect with each other.

Students will also learn about contemporary and past emancipatory movements that have struggled for change with justice in mind for all. At the end of the program, students will not only understand the sources of oppression, but also be able to imagine that a more just world is possible -a world with less cruelty, environmental destruction, and inequities, both domestic and international.

The BA in Social Justice requires 39 credits of coursework in multidisciplinary subjects that cover topics and theories related to justice, oppression, and social change. The degree requirements can be completed in three years. The program brings together new courses and currently offered courses across UC’s College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), College-Conservatory of Music, UC-Blue Ash, College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services, College of Medicine, UC-Clermont, and Office of the Provost. Coursework includes three courses in foundational core areas that cover 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 main goal of the program is to provide students with diverse historical, contemporary, and future-oriented perspectives related to Social Justice, and how this topic impacts the lives of communities of people in the US and globally. Additional programmatic goals include developing students’ critical communication, reading, writing, and thinking skills and understanding and application of research methods and analytical abilities. As Social Justice majors, students will have the opportunity to focus on an area of specific interest while also taking advantage of a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary, and broad-based liberal arts curriculum that prepares them to understand and work for justice in societies. In order to fulfill their missions, including those of social responsibility, many employers, both governmental and non-governmental, currently seek graduates who have expertise and are enthusiastic about social justice.

Graduates of this program will be well prepared to contribute in this capacity, as leaders, organizers, citizens, etc., with the skills and capacity to work for justice in their communities.

Career Possibilities

Graduates of this major pursue many different careers. A few 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

Major Maps

• Guide: Social Justice

Admission Requirements

Freshmen applicants, please visit the Admission Requirements page for more information.

Accreditation