student working in the Honors Lounge.

Honors Interdisciplinary Minor in Social Justice

What is a just society? How do we define social justice? What are the social, political, economic, and cultural forces or factors that create injustice? How can injustice be eradicated? Why is social justice an issue for everyone?

This interdisciplinary Honors minor will investigate these pressing questions from a broad range of perspectives. It will provide students from all majors with the opportunity to incorporate in-depth analysis and awareness of social issues into a wide variety of fields and possible career paths. It will help them as scholars, researchers, lawyers, doctors, scientists, and business and IT experts to think about a wide range of solutions to these pressing problems. 

This undergraduate minor will guide students with the following learning goals:

  • Define social justice. What is it? Is it one thing? How can it be measured?
  • Critically engage the experiences of oppression and privilege of certain populations and communities.
  • Provide tools for better understanding public policy and its outcomes.
  • Provide a clearer understanding of how individuals, institutions, and society perpetuate and challenge social, economic, health, and environmental injustice.
  • Explore theories of justice and polices that aid in the reduction of social inequalities.
  • Offer opportunities to think and problem solve in an interdisciplinary fashion.
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Click Here to View the Requirements for the Social Justice Minor:
  • 18 credit hours (6 classes)
  • There are no prerequisites or required classes for this minor.
  • Must take a class in at least 4 of the 6 Key Areas for Social Justice Inquiry outlined below.
  • Must take classes from at least three different schools/colleges within the University.
  • Only 1 Gen Ed can be used to fulfill the requirements of the minor.
  • 9 credits must be upper-level classes (2000+). 
  • Maximum of two non-honors courses (6 credits) can be used to satisfy requirements for the minor.
  • Courses cannot double count for multiple categories.
  • At least 3 of the courses (or 9 credits) counted towards the minor must be courses (or credits) that were not counted towards any other major, minor, or certificate.
  • A minimum of 3 Honors internship credits in a Social Justice field can be used to satisfy requirements (with prior approval by Honors Program). This will count as an upper-level course and an Honors course.
  • Students can enroll in the Minor via the declaration form on the Honors Website.

Recommended:

  • One theory class is recommended, but not required.
  • Honors Senior Project is recommended, but not required.

SIX KEY AREAS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE INQUIRY

1. Economic Inequality and (in)Justice

2. Race and Justice

3. Environmental and Food Justice

4. Social Protest/Dissent

5. Crime, Law, and Punishment

6. Public Health and Ill-Heath