UE: Advocate for Justice

Catalog description

This course introduces students to a variety of contemporary social and economic justice issues. Students will explore the creation of a policy, the legislative process, and intricate areas for advocacy and community organizing. The topics explored include but are not limited to discrimination and equity issues, gender issues, health inequality, community violence, family and children concerns, and political oversight. Within each topic, students will analyze critical policy statements to serve as broad parameters for advocacy work and help professionals concerned with social injustices focus their thinking beyond the messaging found in partisan politics, mass media, and social media. Students will assess the policy statements for their adequacy, effectiveness, and fairness towards oppressed and marginalized communities. Students will assess their own personal position on each topic and begin to evaluate how they align to their future professional values and ethics. Students will increase their knowledge of how to engage in divergent viewpoints and maintain relationships to build a community of advocacy and action. The analytical, evaluation, and professional development skills of interpreting the social justice issues from this course will lay the foundation for advanced policy practice and the creation of an advocacy plan.