Program Co-Coordinator: Valeria Benson Lira, 847.376.7258, vbensonlira@oakton.edu
Program Co-Coordinator: Julio Capeles, 847.635.1962, jcapeles@oakton.edu
The 15-semester-hour Peace and Social Justice Studies Concentration is designed for students concerned about contemporary conflicts, racial injustice, environmental destruction and violence around the world. The courses in this program will help students learn about such issues of social justice and to explore creative solutions and alternatives through the study of actual struggles for and theories of justice, peace and non-violence.
The concentration presents a broad, interdisciplinary approach to the study of peace and social justice, and includes courses in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. It establishes a unique foundation for the pursuit of various majors upon transfer, including peace and justice studies, teaching, social work, law, international relations, sociology, psychology, philosophy. It can help students pursuing degrees in the sciences, health sciences or mathematics connect their fields and work to the goals of social justice and non-violence.
Courses usually meet the general education requirements and have IAI transfer codes. Students should work closely with the Peace and Social Justice Studies coordinator to ensure that they are taking the needed courses in each general education area.
Peace and Social Justice Studies Concentration Requirements
- SSC 201 Introduction to Global Studies, 3 credit hours
- PHL 106 Ethics, 3 credit hours
- Choose three (3) additional courses that are designated as Peace and Social Justice Studies courses or sections. A comprehensive list of approved sections each semester is available in the Class Schedule under Peace and Social Justice Studies.
Students meeting the requirements for the concentration will have a notation added to their transcript. In order to receive this notation, students must meet with the Peace and Social Justice Studies coordinator and complete a Peace and Social Justice Studies Concentration Completion Form. For more information, contact program coordinator or visit www.oakton.edu/academics/special-programs/peace-and-social-justice-studies.php.
Concentration Learning Outcomes
- Identify, describe and critique social injustice, oppression and forms of violence as experienced by individuals and groups.
- Analyze root causes of social conflict, injustice, violence, environmental degradation and war.
- Identify and explain structural and institutional dimensions of social injustice, oppression, war and other forms of violence.
- Identify and explain the political, social, racial, ethnic, national, economic, environmental, gender, sexual and/or religious dimensions that shape and define social conflicts and struggles for justice.
- Examine and critically evaluate diverse theories of peace, non-violence and social justice.
- Examine philosophical and creative works that present non-violent and just alternatives to oppression and violence.
- Analyze works of literature, music, art, film and other creative modes that critique violence and oppression.
- Demonstrate an awareness of the connections between creative, theoretical and academic works to social movements for peace and justice.