Social Justice

Director: Jim Walsh
Office: Student Commons 3217
Phone: 303-709-5110
E-mail: james.walsh@ucdenver.edu

Overview

The Social Justice Program is home to the Social Justice Minor and organizes innovative community and campus events to address the pressing social and economic issues of the 21st century. The Social Justice Minor is designed for students who are passionate about being engaged citizens and effecting change locally and globally. To this end, students will be exposed to global perspectives on social movements, conflict resolution, environmental stewardship, critical theory, and grassroots organizing.

Student Learning Goals

Earning a Social Justice Minor will make students competitive for graduate school as well as for jobs in NGOs, public health, political office, community leadership, and in the ever-increasing number of modern corporations that seek employees who are committed to sustainable and ethical vocations. We create learning opportunities that emphasize an integrated understanding of the social, political, economic, and cultural dimensions of the major challenges facing humanity in the new millennium. By cultivating engaged and informed citizens, we seek to create future leaders who will have the skills and knowledge necessary to effect meaningful change.

Click here to learn about the requirements for the Minor in Social Justice.

Faculty

Christopher Agee- Department of History
Jody Beck- College of Architecture and Planning
Edelina Burciaga- Department of Sociology
Ryan Crewe-Department of History
Jana Everett- Department of Political Science
Mia Fischer- Department of Communication
Rodney Herring- Department of English
David Hildebrand- Department of Philosophy
Cheryl Matias- School of Education and Human Development
Lucy McGuffey- Department of Political Science
Glenn Morris- Department of Political Science
Marty Otañez- Department of Anthropology
Omar Swartz- Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
Sarah Tyson- Department of Philosophy
Sam Walker- Department of Philosophy
James Walsh- Department of Political Science
Margaret Woodhull- Department of Humanities and Social Sciences

Social Justice (SJUS)

SJUS 2000 - Foundations in Social Justice (3 Credits)

Examines how well the United States, Colorado and Denver are doing in addressing issues of social justice, such as inequality and environmental degradation. Explores various modes of democratic participation -- electoral politics, community activism, and lifestyle changes -- in advancing social justice. Term offered: fall. Max hours: 3 Credits. GT: Course is approved by the Colorado Dept of Higher Education for statewide guaranteed transfer, GT-SS1

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Additional Information: Denver Core Requirement, Social Sciences; GT courses GT Pathways, GT-SS1, Soc Behav Sci:Econ or Pol.

Typically Offered: Fall.

SJUS 2010 - Social Justice: Theories, Narratives, and Technologies (3 Credits)

How can citizens of a democracy address social justice issues? This course examines theoretical perspectives relevant to social justice, the narratives which express and question social order, and the technologies which alternately shape and reflect local, regional, and global cultures. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

SJUS 3050 - Special Topics: Social Justice (1-3 Credits)

Special Topics in Social Justice will be covered. Repeatable. Max hours: 9 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Repeatable. Max Credits: 9.

SJUS 3939 - Internship (1-12 Credits)

Internship/experiential learning involving work in the community that is centered upon social justice and which includes a reflective component and some type of public dissemination. Prereq: Students must have junior standing and at least a 2.75 GPA and must work with Experiential Learning Center advising to complete a course contract and gain approval. Term offered: fall, spring, summer. Max hours: 12 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Repeatable. Max Credits: 12.

Prereq: Junior standing or higher and at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA

Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.

SJUS 4000 - Social Justice Capstone (3 Credits)

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restriction: Restricted to Graduate and Graduate Non-Degree Majors

Additional Information: Upper Division; Credit.

SJUS 4001 - Social Justice Senior Project (3 Credits)

Students design and carry out research projects that address important civic issues in collaboration with community partners and present their findings to the partners and academic community. This course also involves reflection on social justice means and goals. This is an individually structured version of SJUS 4000 so students may not receive credit for SJUS 4001 if they have already received credit for SJUS 4000 and may not receive credit for SJUS 4000 if they have already received credit for SJUS 4001. Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS undergraduate advising office for approval. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

SJUS 4050 - Special Topics: Social Justice (3 Credits)

Special Topics in Social Justice will be covered. Cross-listed with SJUS 5050. Repeatable. Max hours: 12 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Repeatable. Max Credits: 12.

SJUS 4770 - Viewing Empire: The Art of Imperial and Colonial Propaganda (3 Credits)

Western empires disseminate political, social, economic & cultural practices through complex interplay of cultural practices. Visual production is a complex site for meaning making within imperialism. Examines how visual discourses operated to create meaning for audiences, through focus on postcolonial critique. Cross-listed with HUMN 4770, SSCI 4770, WGST 4770, HUMN 5770, SJUS 5770, SSCI 5770, WGST 5770, IDST 4770, IDST 5770. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.

SJUS 4840 - Independent Study (3 Credits)

Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS undergraduate advising office for approval. Term offered: fall, spring, summer. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.

SJUS 4880 - Directed Research (1-6 Credits)

Students will engage in original research projects supervised and mentored by faculty. Students must work with faculty prior to registration to develop a proposal for their project and receive permission to take this course. Note: Students must submit a special processing form completely filled out and signed by the student and faculty member, describing the course expectations, assignments and outcomes, to the CLAS undergraduate advising office for approval. Term offered: fall, spring, summer. Repeatable. Max Hours: 6 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Repeatable. Max Credits: 6.

Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.

University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus

2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Social Justice

Overview

Student Learning Goals

Programs

Faculty

Social Justice (SJUS)

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