SEJ 402 Comparative Social Justice Thought

The Comparative Social Justice Thought course equips students with the knowledge, analytical skills, and transformative tools needed to contribute meaningfully to positive social change. Designed as a comprehensive exploration of social justice issues, the course invites students to critically engage with theoretical frameworks and diverse perspectives related to ethnicity, gender, race, class, and systems of inequality. Structured as a progressive continuum, the course leads students through three interconnected phases: awareness, analysis, and action. Students begin by exploring social justice concerns from multiple viewpoints and perspectives. They then move into a rigorous analytical stage, using theoretical and comparative frameworks to deepen understanding and critical inquiry. The final phase empowers students to design and implement personalized action plans on a self-selected social justice topic, allowing them to translate theory into meaningful social impact. Key themes include belonging, sociability, responsibility, collective well-being, and the social conditions that shape human experience. Students examine pressing issues such as inequality, injustice, marginalization, and power dynamics, and consider potential pathways for remedy and transformation. By the end of the course, students emerge as informed and empowered advocates equipped to navigate, critique, and actively improve their social environments.