University General Course Catalog 2023-2024

Nov 22, 2024

University General Course Catalog 2023-2024 ARCHIVED CATALOG: LINKS AND CONTENT ARE OUT OF DATE. CHECK WITH YOUR ADVISOR.

Social Justice, Graduate Certificate

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The graduate Certificate in Social Justice is offered through the School of Social Research and Justice Studies. It complements graduate programs throughout the university, particularly those in sociology, psychology, social work, political science, criminal justice, philosophy and public health. The Certificate is designed to provide students with the theoretical and methodological tools for the analysis of social injustice as well as socio-cultural-legal responses to such injustice. As such, the program addresses social, structural and cultural factors underlying social injustice in the legal and political system, access to civil justice, and educational, economic and social injustice, giving specific attention to the intersections of race, class and gender inequality on social justice concerns.

Note: Students who are enrolled in this program solely are not eligible for Federal Financial Aid.

Contact Information

Jennifer Lanterman, Ph.D.
Director, School of Social Research and Justice Studies
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno, Nevada 89557
(775) 784-6151
jlanterman@unr.edu

Program Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes

The Certificate provides a broad coverage of theoretical and methodological materials focused on social justice concerns to provide students with both a scholarly and practical understanding of the complexities of social justice and injustice. Through seminars, classes, independent research, and community engagement, students will achieve the ability to analyze social injustice, to recognize its historical, political and social roots, and to develop and assess ways to address it through advocacy, policy development and change, and social intervention.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Students will be able to demonstrate critical thinking skills to allow for the analysis of social justice issues.
Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of both the complexity of the causes and the solutions to social justice issues.
Students will be able to demonstrate a sound understanding of theoretical frameworks and methodologies that allow for a critical analysis of research in the area of social justice.
Students will be able to demonstrate competence in written and verbal communication skills that convey social justice issues to specific audiences in a variety of contexts.
Students will be able to demonstrate an ability to develop programs and policies for addressing injustice at the national, state, and local levels.
Students will be able to demonstrate awareness of ethical issues nationally, locally and globally to encourage ethical behavior, particularly as it pertains to diverse populations, including gender, race, ethnicity and class.

Assessment: The student’s success in meeting the learning outcomes will be measured by their performance on examinations, projects, papers, class discussion and presentations.

Admissions Requirements

Students who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree and students who are currently pursuing a graduate degree at the University are eligible to apply.

An application letter addressed to the Director of the School of Social Research and Justice Studies indicating relevant background information, experience, and reason for interest in the program. Undergraduate transcripts or transcripts from current graduate program.

I. Program Requirements

The Certificate in Social Justice is designed as a 12-credit program. Three credit hours are to be taken in the core course and nine credits are to be selected from a range of approved courses in the School of Social Research and Justice Studies and other departments. The curriculum provides maximum flexibility in topics while encouraging, through advising and course content, integration and critical understanding. To progress in the program a student must receive a grade of “B” or better in the Certificate courses and maintain an overall GPA of 3.0. A student must repeat coursework in which a grade of “B” or better was not achieved. Upon completion of the Certificate a notation will be added to the student’s transcript.

Required Course (3 units)

SRJS 720 - Social Justice Colloquium (3 units)

Elective Courses (9 Units)

COM 612 - Intercultural Communication (3 units)
COM 634 - Communication and Conflict Resolution (3 units)
CRJ 679 - Intimate Violence Across the Life Course (3 units)
CRJ 788 - Ethics, Law, and Justice Policy (3 units)
EDLE 680 - Multicultural Concerns in Diverse Educational Settings (3 units)
EDLE 740 - Social Class and Schooling (3 units)
EDLE 761 - Gender Issues in Education (3 units)
GEOG 664 - Identity and the Environment (3 units)
HDFS 658 - Families and Public Policy (3 units)
JM 745 - Equal Access to the Courts (3 units)
PHIL 650 - Ethical Theory (3 units)
PHIL 654 - Global Ethics and Justice (3 units)
PSC 603J - Political Ethics and Political Corruptions (3 units)
PSC 605H - International Human Rights (3 units)
PSC 605I - Holocaust and Genocide (3 units)
SOC 609 - Gendered Violence (3 units)
SOC 657 - Society and Health (3 units)
SOC 690 - Class, Race and Gender (3 units)
SOC 728 - Collective Behavior and Mass Society (3 units)
SOC 729 - Ethnic and Race Relations (3 units)
SRJS 630 - Advanced Advocacy: Legislative Policy (3 units)
SRJS 725 - Research Methods in the Social Sciences (3 units)
SRJS 729 - Jury Decision-Making (3 units)
SRJS 775 - Legal Regulation of Sex, Pregnancy and Family (3 units)
SRJS 792 - Internship in Social, Research, and Justice Fields (3 units)
SRJS 899 - Graduate Advisement (1 to 4 units)
SW 610 - Structural Oppression (3 units)
SW 611 - Theoretical Perspectives on Human Behavior (3 units)
SW 630 - Social Work History and Social Welfare Policy (3 units)