social justice
Introduction to Issues in Social Justice
This course will introduce students to major streams of social justice thought, including historical social justice movements, theoretical problems having to do with social equality, personal freedom, access to social resources, marginalization, and stigmatization, and the ways in which communities respond to these issues.
Social Justice Capstone
This course will permit major students to integrate theory, knowledge, and practical experience gained in their major using a series of readings, fieldwork experiences, and a major project.
The Role of Conflict in Social Change
To introduce students to basic concepts shared between conflict studies and social justice studies; to examine connections between social conflict and people's movements for social change; and to study particular movements through these conceptual lenses.
Small Group Communication
Theories of communication as it functions in teams and small groups; problem-solving processes; phases of small-group interaction; development of norms, roles, group cohesiveness, climate, productivity, and leadership; analysis of the impact of power, status, conflict, and conformity on small-group and team interaction; pragmatic skills related to group presentations; methods to enhance group productivity.
Living in a Rape Culture
In this seminar, we will explore the culture that we live in, examine what makes it a ”rape culture” and most importantly, we will develop strategies for change. This is a class for men and women who are earnestly interested in social change and willing to explore hard issues along the way. Readings will include Transforming a Rape Culture, Telling: A Memoir of Rape and Recovery, I Never Called it Rape, and others. In addition to readings, we will view videotapes, meet with guest speakers and conduct interviews.
Women Organizing for Social Change
This section of WSTD 3500 explores the history of women’s voluntary activity in charitable and benevolent associations as a means for social and legal change. Our key purpose will be to explore how women’s voluntary associations in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century offered opportunities for women to expand their interests and activities beyond the home into cultural and civic realms. We will also explore how women’s work in these associations created avenues for women to gain power through collective social and political action--and provided the skills necessary to achieve it. We will also learn how to conduct primary historical research on women’s activism and associations at archives such as the Minnesota Historical Society in order to trace our heritage of women’s social and political reform
Argumentation and Advocacy
To study argumentation theories, including historical perspectives and current approaches; to understand arguments as a method of inquiry and advocacy, and as a problem-solving tool; to consider the ethical implications of formal and informal argument; to increase skills in critical thinking, in evaluation of evidence and reasoning, in developing strategies for the invention of persuasive argument, in evaluating formal and informal argument, and in justifying argumentation choices. To learn to construct and express oral arguments effectively in a public setting.
This course will introduce students to major streams of social justice thought, including historical social justice movements, theoretical problems having to do with social equality, personal freedom, access to social resources, marginalization, and stigmatization, and the ways in which communities respond to these issues.
Social Justice Capstone
This course will permit major students to integrate theory, knowledge, and practical experience gained in their major using a series of readings, fieldwork experiences, and a major project.
The Role of Conflict in Social Change
To introduce students to basic concepts shared between conflict studies and social justice studies; to examine connections between social conflict and people's movements for social change; and to study particular movements through these conceptual lenses.
Small Group Communication
Theories of communication as it functions in teams and small groups; problem-solving processes; phases of small-group interaction; development of norms, roles, group cohesiveness, climate, productivity, and leadership; analysis of the impact of power, status, conflict, and conformity on small-group and team interaction; pragmatic skills related to group presentations; methods to enhance group productivity.
Living in a Rape Culture
In this seminar, we will explore the culture that we live in, examine what makes it a ”rape culture” and most importantly, we will develop strategies for change. This is a class for men and women who are earnestly interested in social change and willing to explore hard issues along the way. Readings will include Transforming a Rape Culture, Telling: A Memoir of Rape and Recovery, I Never Called it Rape, and others. In addition to readings, we will view videotapes, meet with guest speakers and conduct interviews.
Women Organizing for Social Change
This section of WSTD 3500 explores the history of women’s voluntary activity in charitable and benevolent associations as a means for social and legal change. Our key purpose will be to explore how women’s voluntary associations in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century offered opportunities for women to expand their interests and activities beyond the home into cultural and civic realms. We will also explore how women’s work in these associations created avenues for women to gain power through collective social and political action--and provided the skills necessary to achieve it. We will also learn how to conduct primary historical research on women’s activism and associations at archives such as the Minnesota Historical Society in order to trace our heritage of women’s social and political reform
Argumentation and Advocacy
To study argumentation theories, including historical perspectives and current approaches; to understand arguments as a method of inquiry and advocacy, and as a problem-solving tool; to consider the ethical implications of formal and informal argument; to increase skills in critical thinking, in evaluation of evidence and reasoning, in developing strategies for the invention of persuasive argument, in evaluating formal and informal argument, and in justifying argumentation choices. To learn to construct and express oral arguments effectively in a public setting.