Social Justice and Human Rights Concentration

Winner of Fall 2024 MAIS Celebration of Scholarship Award

You can really take this concentration in any direction you choose. Yes, there is a set of fundamental courses that everyone has to take, but for the remainder of the degree, it really opens up space to explore any topic you like within the framework of justice and rights. Mine, for example, happens to be around food, so I have taken coursework in food studies, sociology, and environmental policy for example. You can get really creative with the combination of coursework you choose.

Winner of Fall 2024 MAIS Celebration of Scholarship Award

I chose George Mason University and the Interdisciplinary Studies Program because of the incredible experience I had as an undergraduate studying Government and International Politics and the opportunity to continue through the BAM program. The Interdisciplinary Studies Program stood out to me because it allows me to explore courses outside my primary field, helping me think more creatively, stay adaptable, and gain a broader perspective—skills I believe are essential in today’s world.

If you are someone who doesn't quite know what research you want to do yet, but you know you are passionate about social justice, then this is the concentration for you. ... There is nothing you cannot learn in this concentration.

MAIS in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Social Justice and Human Rights

Lakshmi's thesis, involving much more significant research than is standard for MAIS students, is a nuanced and thoughtful look at Asian Indian women adoptees and the construction of racial(ized) identity.