You'll explore how social structures and institutions shape experiences of race and gender. The course covers intersectionality, systemic inequalities, and social movements. You'll analyze historical and contemporary issues, examining power dynamics and their impact on marginalized communities. It's all about understanding how social change happens and the role of race and gender in shaping society.
It can be challenging, but not in the way you might think. The concepts aren't super complicated, but they can be eye-opening and sometimes uncomfortable. You'll be asked to think critically about your own beliefs and experiences, which can be tough. The readings can be dense, but class discussions usually help break things down. Overall, it's more thought-provoking than technically difficult.
Introduction to Sociology: This course lays the foundation for understanding social structures and institutions. You'll learn basic sociological concepts and theories that'll come in handy later.
Introduction to Gender Studies: This class explores the social construction of gender and its impact on society. It covers topics like gender roles, sexuality, and feminist theory.
Race and Ethnicity in America: This course examines the historical and contemporary experiences of racial and ethnic groups in the US. You'll learn about racial formation, discrimination, and identity politics.
Social Movements and Collective Action: Explores how groups organize to create social change. You'll study historical and contemporary movements, tactics, and theories of collective behavior.
Intersectionality and Social Justice: Dives deep into how different forms of oppression intersect and overlap. You'll examine how race, gender, class, and other identities interact to shape experiences and outcomes.
Gender and Politics: Analyzes the role of gender in political systems and processes. You'll explore topics like women's representation, feminist political theory, and gender-based policies.
Critical Race Theory: Examines how race and racism are embedded in social institutions and structures. You'll study legal and social constructions of race and strategies for challenging racial hierarchies.
Queer Theory and Politics: Explores LGBTQ+ identities, experiences, and political movements. You'll analyze how sexuality intersects with other social categories and examine queer activism and culture.
Social Work: Focuses on helping individuals, families, and communities overcome social problems. Social workers learn to advocate for social justice and provide support to vulnerable populations.
Sociology: Studies human society, social behavior, and social institutions. Sociologists analyze social patterns, inequalities, and how social structures influence individual lives.
Gender Studies: Examines how gender shapes social experiences, identities, and power dynamics. Students explore feminist theory, sexuality, and intersectionality across various cultural contexts.
African American Studies: Focuses on the history, culture, and experiences of people of African descent. Students analyze racial dynamics, cultural expressions, and social movements within Black communities.
Political Science: Examines political systems, institutions, and behaviors. Students learn about governance, policy-making, and how social issues influence political processes.
Community Organizer: Works with local communities to address social issues and advocate for change. They mobilize people, plan campaigns, and build coalitions to tackle problems like housing inequality or racial discrimination.
Diversity and Inclusion Specialist: Helps organizations create more inclusive environments and policies. They develop training programs, analyze workplace demographics, and advise on strategies to promote equity and diversity.
Policy Analyst: Researches and analyzes social policies and their impacts on different communities. They work for government agencies, think tanks, or advocacy groups to inform policy decisions and recommend changes.
Social Justice Educator: Develops and delivers educational programs on social issues and equity. They might work in schools, universities, or non-profits to raise awareness and promote understanding of race and gender issues.
Non-profit Program Manager: Oversees programs aimed at addressing social issues or supporting marginalized communities. They coordinate resources, manage staff, and evaluate program effectiveness to create positive social change.
How much writing is involved in this course? Expect to do a fair amount of writing, including reflection papers and longer research essays. Writing is a key way to process and articulate complex ideas about social change and identity.
Are there any field trips or community engagement components? Many professors incorporate site visits or community projects to connect classroom learning with real-world experiences. These hands-on components can really bring the course material to life.
How does this course address current events? Instructors often integrate current news and social movements into class discussions and assignments. This helps you see how course concepts apply to real-time social issues and debates.
Is this course only for Social Work majors? Not at all - while it's often required for Social Work, students from various majors find it valuable. The course provides insights that are useful in many fields and in understanding society in general.
How does this course handle sensitive topics? Professors usually create guidelines for respectful discussion and provide content warnings when necessary. The goal is to create a safe space for exploring challenging issues while acknowledging their personal impact.