Course Descriptions for
Graduate Social Justice

SOJ 500 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL JUSTICE [ 3 credit hours]

Examine the major streams of social justice thought processes such as social movements, social equality, personal freedom, and capital, access to social resources, marginalization, stigmatization, racism, sexism, genderism, discrimination, and the ways in which society respond to these issues

SOJ 508 RACE, ETHNICITY, GENDER AND SOCIAL INEQUALITY [3 credit hours]

Explores current knowledge and research about the phenomenon of race, ethnicity, gender and social inequality in different national and international situations.

SOJ 511 RESEARCH METHODS [ 3 credit hours]

Introduces the processes of human inquiry of the relations between social theory and social research of the structuring of social inquiry and the modes of observations, sampling, etc. A general introduction to research, its methodologies, its challenges and its organization, including in creative practice. Students will be introduced to a range of research tools and will be equipped to plan and organize their research, as well as to communicate their findings. Research methods and ethics, from design to data analysis and report writing, will be part of the course.

SOJ 512 STATISTICS [3 credit hours)

Emphasizes the statistical analysis of data and the elaboration and explanation of data. Frequency tables, histograms, probability and, well-known probability distributions, will be introduced.

SOJ 521 THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL JUSTICE THEORY [3 credit hours]

The origins of the social justice theories are identified in the selected questions and writings of Marx, Mills, Bentgenm, Bradketm Austin, Gaterm, Rawls, and others.  The classical writers in social justice are examined for the contemporary usefulness in the study of societal social justice as a manifestation of their continuing legacy.  Contemporary theorizing examines the economic and political dependencies, as well as the new modes of social justice reasoning, concerning the individual and society in addressing questions of social justice.

SOJ 522 SOCIAL PROBLEMS [3 credit hours]

Demonstrates the nature and characteristics of several social problems, the theoretical frameworks for understanding such social problems, and the potential solutions that promote social justice.  An empirical overview of problematic conditions (e.g., poverty, violence, crime, inequalities related to racism sexism, and ageism, and imperfections in the major social institutions of family, education, and criminal justice) in the United States and other societies will be presented, along with some solutions to bring about social justice for all.

SOJ 531 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE [3 credit hours]

An introduction to the field of environmental justice, environmental racism, and social justice issues will be explored.  A focus on the relationship between environmental justice and social justice issues will be examined.

SOJ 532 HUMAN RIGHTS: LOCAL AND GLOBAL [3 credit hours]

Basic human rights philosophy, principles, instruments, and institutions. This course aims to explore some aspects of the diverse and increasingly complex body of international law of human rights that has both national and international applications. The course also seeks to analyze the ways in which allegations of human rights violations are dealt within the United States courts and the impact of human rights discourse on international politics and relations.

SOJ 561   INDEPENDENT READINGS AND RESEARCH [ 3 credit hours]

To pursue independent study, of a topic not dealt with in currently available courses but relevant to social justice inquiry.     Students develop a proposal with the help of a faculty advisor and must have the approval of the instructor who will direct the study and the Director of the Graduate Studies in Social Justice prior to registration for the course

SOJ 571 APPRENTICESHIP SERVICE [ 3 credit hours]

A student is assigned to an approved setting in an apprenticeship agency under the supervision of a field professional and a member of Fisk graduate faculty in Social Justice.  The student will work a minimum of 20 hours a week and no more than 40 hours per week depending on the requirement of the agency or organization needs.   The student is required to keep a log or diary, meet regularly with the supervisor and toward the end delivers an oral report and submit a final written report on the apprenticeship experience.   The Apprenticeship experience is none paid and the student much fulfill the requirement of the class.

SOJ 572 LEADERSHIP FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE [3 credit hours]

Designed to equip students with the appropriate leadership skills necessary to bring about positive social change within their communities and society at large.  An exploration of how race, class, gender sexual orientation, religious oppression, ableism, disability, and heterosexism are social construction affects our identities, relationships perceptions of the world, and our position within it.

SOJ 573 SPECIAL TOPICS IN SOCIAL JUSTICE [3 credit hours]

This course is an integrative treatment of a specific area or topic in social justice. Possible topics include religion and social justice, the psychology of social justice, sociology of social justice, race, gender, and class and social justice, culture, and social justice, etc. The course may be taken more than once for credit as topics change from term to term. Prerequisite: SJ 500 or permission of Instructor

SOJ 574 RACE RELATIONS [3 credit hours]

This course examines race and ethnic relations in the United States and globally.  The social, economic, political inequalities will be explored.  Additionally, emphasis will be placed on how race relations historically has changed, and the impact of that change in modern society.

SOJ 581/582 THESIS RESEARCH [3 credit hours each for a total of 6 credit hours]

The required thesis is ordinarily developed over a two-semester period during which the student registers for Thesis Research 581 and 582.  The faculty member teaching the course(s) will guide the student in developing a proposal, in planning for the research, in organizing the results of the research, and in writing an acceptable thesis.

SOJ 599 THESIS PREPARATION [not for credit]

Students should register for this course after they have completed all course requirements but have not yet submitted an approved thesis.