Program at a glance
How much does it cost?Â
Learn more about how to afford a degree from the Â鶹´«Ã½AV.
How long does it take?
This minor is designed to be completed with any major in four years.
What will I learn in a social justice minor?
If you are committed to making your community better, a minor in social justice can give you the skills you need to learn how to advocate for change, organize like-minded individuals and understand the impact of social policy.
The minor in social justice offers an exceptionally flexible curriculum, with more than 80 classes offered as part of the program. That allows you to select classes that match your interests while providing a broad base of knowledge and exposing you to new ideas and concepts.
All students in the minor take three core courses that examine the history of social movements, their impact on attitudes and behaviors, and the use of intersectionality to respond to social inequality. Then, you will choose your remaining minor electives from a broad list of courses, representing disciplines such as communication studies, criminal justice, history, political science and philosophy, among others.
You'll be able to take classes in topics such as gendered inequality, environmental inequality, race and ethnicity, and queer theory, as well as explore propaganda, rhetoric and policy opportunities such as community policing or urban planning.
The minor is offered by the Department of Gender, Race and Identity in the College of Liberal Arts. The department offers degree programs that explore inequality and social justice to prepare graduates for careers in public advocacy, politics, education and more.
Professors in the Department of Gender, Race and Identity represent a variety of academic disciplines and bring an interdisciplinary approach to teaching and research that focuses on better understanding the diverse range of human experiences.
Take the next step
Careers with a minor in social justice
Students in the minor in social justice learn important skills in community organizing and advocacy. These skills can prepare you for careers in fields including non-profit work, social services and social policy.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, social and community services managers are expected to be in demand in coming years, with 15 percent job growth from 2020 to 2030. These professionals manage programs that serve the community, from dealing with health and wellness to helping specific groups, including individuals experiencing homelessness or veterans. Social and community services managers earned a median annual wage of $74,000 in 2021.
The Bureau also projects growing need for fundraisers, many of whom work for non-profit organizations. Fundraisers are often responsible for organizing events and communications that raise awareness about their organization's goals, and they oversee effective fundraising campaigns by communicating with donors, training volunteers and using technology and online platforms designed for fundraising. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, fundraisers had a median annual wage of $60,660 in 2021.
You can afford the Â鶹´«Ã½AV
76% of students receive financial aid
Almost everyone is eligible to receive some kind of aid. We offer need-based and merit-based forms of financial aid to help you afford college.
54% of all students graduate with no debt
That's right. More than half of our students leave the Â鶹´«Ã½AV with no student debt.
Related programs
Life's a journey. Honors makes it meaningful.
At the Â鶹´«Ã½AV Honors College, our students maximize their unique gifts and passions through a series of personalized experiences that deepen their capacity for transformative societal impact.
Visit the Honors College