A.A. (Associate of Arts) in Social Justice

CIP Code

45.1301

Shirley Brown, Ph.D., Discipline Coordinator

The Associate of Arts degree in Social Justice will be very consistence with the mission and goals of Fisk University and that is to produce qualified students from diverse backgrounds with the integrity and intellect required for substantive contributions to society. The Associate of Arts degree in Social Justice will be grounded in the liberal arts tradition with faculty that will emphasize the discovery and advancement of knowledge through research. Therefore, students will be able to explore Social Justice from a multi-disciplinary approach whose curriculars already offer the courses that meets the requirement for this new proposed associate degree in Social Justice. The Social Justice program will examine the connections between the ideals of justice, the realities of injustice, and practical solution sets to bridge the gap between the two. It is a political and philosophical concept which holds that all people should have equal access to wealth, health, wellbeing, justice, and opportunity. Social Justice programs fulfill the call to social equity for a more equilibrium society.

The Social Justice two-year degree major is to promote success of scholars and leaders with a global perspective about injustices facing our communities both locally and globally. This new proposed Associate of Arts degree in Social Justice will provide Fisk undergraduate students with a strong foundation of knowledge and analytical skills to address social problems of marginalized and disenfranchised populations. The pivotal role is to provide access and opportunities to students who are passionate about being engaged individuals and effecting change both on a local and national level. Students will learn the basics of inequalities and its prevention and a host of concepts interrelated in social justice inquiry. A deeper dive into real life social justice issues will be explored. Students who pursue the Associate of Arts degree in Social Justice will address challenges on race, class, gender sex and representation, social movements, conflict resolution, environmental justice, race relations, social stratification, history of the Civil Rights Movement, political economy, and LGBTTQQIA.

The skills students will learn are:

Leadership skills
Critical Thinking skills
Organizational skills
Legal Issues
Research skills
Communicational skills
Social Learning skills

Learning Outcomes

The Social Justice program goals/learning outcomes are:

To demonstrate knowledge of the intersection of socially and culturally constructed identities based on race, ethnicity, gender expression, sexually.
To demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the glossary of terms used in conversations regarding social justice.
To identify how prejudice and discrimination exist at the micro, mezzo and macro levels.
To evaluate the theories that analyze the dismantling of unearned privilege, combat poverty, human rights and their derivation.
To explain how racial, gender and class concerns intersect with environmental issues.
To identify and evaluate different perspectives and assumptions about social justice.
To apply key social justice concepts to activist projects, self-reflection and social justice coursework.
To partner with community members to identify a community problem and to develop a plan of action to address this community problem.

Program Requirements for the A.A. in Social Justice

Students must complete 60 semester hours to ascertain an associate of arts degree in Social Justice. The degree can be completed in two years or four semesters.

Required CORE Classes [27 credits]

CORE 150	COMPOSITION I	3
CORE 160	COMPOSITION II	3
CORE 201	INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP	3
CORE 220	THE CREATIVE ARTS	3
CORE 240	NATURAL SCIENCE	3
CORE 260	HUMANITIES: THOUGHT AND EXPERIENCE	3

PSY 180	GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY	3
	Or
SOC 100	INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY	3
Total Credit Hours:		27

Required Major Courses [12 credits]

CORE 210	INTRODUCTION TO SOICAL JUSTICE	3
SOC 215	SOCIAL MOVEMENTS & SOCIAL CHANGE	3
SOC 220	ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE	3
SOC 115	SOCIAL PROBLEMS	3
Total Credit Hours:		12

Suggested Program Plan for Social Justice Majors

First Year, Fall Semester [16 credits]

CORE 100	NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION SEMINAR	1
CORE 150	COMPOSITION I	3
SOC 100	INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY	3
CORE 210	INTRODUCTION TO SOICAL JUSTICE	3
	CORE A	3
	GENERAL ELECTIVE	3

First Year, Spring Semester [15 credits]

CORE 160	COMPOSITION II	3
CORE 131	ESSENTIAL MATHEMATICS FOR A CONTEMPORARY WORLD	3
CORE 201	INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP	3
	GENERAL ELECTIVE	3
	GENERAL ELECTIVE	3

Second Year, Fall Semester [15 credits]

SOC 115	SOCIAL PROBLEMS	3
CORE 260	HUMANITIES: THOUGHT AND EXPERIENCE	3
	CORE B	3
	CORE C: ARTS	3
	GENERAL ELECTIVE	3