Minor in Social Justice and Human Rights

Students in the Social Justice and Human Rights programs examine a wide variety of oppressions such as racism, sexism, heterosexism, anti-immigrant oppression, ableism, economic injustice, animal exploitation, environmental injustice, as well as related denials of human rights, such as human trafficking, settler colonialism, mass incarceration, use of sweatshop and child labor, unequal access to education, and voter disenfranchisement.

Catalog Year: 2023-2024

Banner Code: LA-MINOR-NC-SJHR

The minor engages students in both a critical examination of various forms of injustice (such as poverty, racism, and speciesism, and environmental degradation) and an exploration of strategies for creating and sustaining an equitable and just world. This minor is interdisciplinary in nature, drawing on disciplines as distinct as critical race studies, critical animal studies, and environmental science. It is designed particularly to help students consider the intersectional nature of all types of exploitation and their related movements for liberation.

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on program requirements and courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes. Requirements may be different for earlier catalog years. See the University Catalog archives.

(formerly SOCJ)

Minor Requirements

Total credits: minimum 16

Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.

Coursework

Core Courses  
INTS 334 Environmental Justice (Mason Core) 4
INTS 362 Social Justice and Human Rights (Mason Core) 3
INTS 437 Critical Race Studies (Mason Core) 3
or INTS 438 Representations of Race (Mason Core)
Electives  
Select six credits from the following: 6
Human Rights and Inequality  
Educating Diverse and Exceptional Learners  
Human Rights  
Law and Justice (Mason Core)  
Social Movements and Community Activism (Mason Core)  
Conflict Resolution and Transformation  
Violence and Gender  
Spirituality and Conflict Transformation (Mason Core)  
Introduction to Childhood Studies (Mason Core)  
Contemporary Youth Studies (Mason Core)  
Poverty, Wealth and Inequality in the US (Mason Core)  
Social Justice Consciousness and Action  
Art as Social Action (Mason Core)  
Gender Representation in Popular Culture (Mason Core)  
Women and Leadership  
Refugee and Internal Displacement (Mason Core)  
Human Trafficking and Smuggling  
Research for Social Change  
Leadership in a Changing Environment  
Social Justice Education (Mason Core)  
Community Engagement for Social Change (Mason Core)  
Social Movements and Political Protest  
Race and Ethnicity in a Changing World (Mason Core)  
Contemporary Gender Relations (Mason Core)  
Globalization and Social Change (Mason Core)  
Social Inequality (Mason Core)  
Education in Contemporary Society  
Introduction to Women and Gender Studies (Mason Core)  
Current Issues in Women and Gender Studies  
Queer Theory  
Relevant coursework from AFAM, ANTH, COMM, CONF, CRIM, CULT, EVPP, FRLN, GLOA, GOVT, PHIL, PSYC, SOCI, WMST, and other coursework with advisor approval
 
Total Credits 16