Justice Studies Course Listing and Descriptions

Personal Ethics and Corporate Culture

After a basic introduction to ethics from both a philosophical and theological view, the course focuses on a systematic analysis and evaluation of personal values, corporate cultures, and the moral issues encountered in business practice. Stress is placed on problem-solving cases involving common dilemmas faced by women professionals. Open to non-business majors. Prerequisite: BUAD 221 or permission of instructor.

 

Juvenile Deviance Special Topics

Juvenile Deviance is a course designed to acquaint students with the social impacts of juvenile deviance and delinquency. The first part of the course is devoted to general theoretical explanations of deviance and their applicability to juveniles, while the second part of the course will cover the practical application of treatment and prevention of juvenile delinquency, including the differential legal and police processing of juveniles.

 

Experiential Learning "Communities of Michiana"

This course explores the notion of “community” and our place as citizens within the broader community. Using Michiana as a laboratory for immersion and study, we will consider different notions of community, how those with distinct interests (women’s groups, ethnic groups, social groups, faith-based groups) have formed community, and the purpose and place of community in constructing lives and lifestyles beyond campus. This course involves a strong experiential and service-learning component.

 

Racism/Privilege "Social Change"

This is the second section of the above course.

Independent Study

This course is designed to provide upper-level students the opportunity to explore social justice issues systematically and in a framework of their own design. An emphasis will be placed on approaches which draw from a variety of disciplines and which incorporate various perspectives on issues of domestic and global concern.

 

Internship in Justice Education

This course provides community-based experience in a justice-related field at an approved site. Jointly sponsored by a faculty member and a representative from the sponsoring agency. Must be approved by the Justice Program Coordinator. A reflection paper appropriate to the nature of the internship will be required. Graded S/U.

 

Political Philosohpy "Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy"

In the late 17 th and throughout the 18 th century, ideas pertaining to the formation of constitution based republics began to emerge in European political philosophy. In conjunction with this arose questions pertaining to the type of economy that best fits with such institutions. Exploring the relationship between these two theoretical developments will be the focal point of this course. We will begin with some classical texts by philosophers such as Locke, Smith and Marx. We will then proceed into contemporary writings that are concerned with the relationship between politics and economics. This is a course that will be pertinent to students interested in philosophy, political science, justice studies and economics. Course evaluation will be based on two 5-7 page papers and a 10-12 page term paper.

 

Faith in Action

This course examines the faith, practices and theories of influential modern activists and writers who exemplify a variety of approaches to the Christian quest for justice. Questions we will consider include: What is the theological basis for religious activism? How does this theological basis impact the practices of social justice activism? What is the role of violence in these practices? What particular concepts of justice are promoted by Christian activists, and why? This course is designed to provide an opportunity for students to explore issues such as these by integrating in-class readings and discussions with out-of-classroom experiences. We will not only read about activists such as Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King, Jr., Thomas Merton, and Mohandas Gandhi, but we will also have the opportunity to apply class principles in a service learning project within the South Bend community.

 

Catholic Social Thought

This course examines Catholic positions on some of the most controversial social, ethical, and religious issues of our day: abortion, birth control, the relation between official Catholic teachings and individual conscience, reproductive technologies, cloning, physician-assisted suicide, euthanasia, the allocation of scarce health resources, the ordination of women priests, capital punishment, nuclear weapons, waging war vs. embracing peace, poverty and the United States economy, and the effect of being a member of the Church on being a citizen of the state. In each of these areas, we shall be trying to determine what specific difference the Catholic tradition makes for the way we approach these issues. The readings present a wide range of moral and theological points of view. Some of them will be critical of the official Catholic position. But listening to such critical voices is crucial for what we do here: for to understand and evaluate the Catholic position better, we need to listen to non-Catholics; to understand and evaluate theological arguments better, we need to examine secular ones as well. And since many of these issues impact rather directly upon women, it is especially important to hear their voices. I hope you will come away from the course better able to think about these matters and better able to articulate and defend what you think. Because there are different ways of doing ethics within the Catholic tradition, we shall examine and evaluate not only the conclusions that various writers have reached about these issues, but also the kinds of ethical reasoning they use to reach their conclusions. The goal of this course, ultimately, is not just to enable you to reproduce the positions of the Catholic Church, but to produce positions of your own that will enable you to find and evaluate your own place in the Catholic tradition. Note: Extensive use will be made of computer assisted instruction that will include regular readings and postings on the internet.

 

Social Problems

This course focuses on some of the phenomena which have been identified as social problems in the United States. Among the issues discussed are poverty, gender and racial stratification, hyper-consumerism, changing family structures, inequality in the educational system, health care issues, the work environment, drug abuse, and crime. Particular attention will be given to the role of the social structure in the creation and perpetuation of social problems, and how social problems are interrelated. Not open to first semester freshmen.

 

Social Welfare Policy and Service

This course on the development of social welfare policy and service programs is offered in response to changing social conditions. Focuses on the theory, history, scope, nature, organization, and implementation of current programs on local, state, and federal levels and in the private sector. Prerequisite: social work major or permission of instructor.

Urban Plunge

JUST 199

(1 credit)

Between semesters, students may visit sites in various cities where people involved in Christian social ministry are working in different forms of social action. Students are put in touch with contact persons and go in small groups to spend two days observing and reflecting upon societal injustices. An orientation and follow-up program to enable students to reflect on their experiences is conducted by Notre Dame. To obtain credit, students must attend these meetings and fulfill some reading and writing assignments connected with their experience. May be repeated.

Personal Ethics and Corporate Culture

JUST 241

(3 credits)

After a basic introduction to ethics from both a philosophical and theological view, the course focuses on a systematic analysis and evaluation of personal values, corporate cultures, and the moral issues encountered in business practice. Stress is placed on problem-solving cases involving common dilemmas faced by women professionals. Open to non-business majors. Prerequisite: BUAD 221 or permission of instructor.

Christians in the World

JUST 250

(3 credits)

 

A seminar in social analysis which integrates theology and issues of justice with the study of specific social and economic problems in local and universal contexts. There is an emphasis on the biblical and ethical foundations of the church’s concern for justice; strategies for achieving social justice that are interdisciplinary and structural are highlighted. Experiential and community-based learning opportunities are incorporated into the course.

The Quest for Human Rights

JUST 301

(3 credits)

 

This course will study and reflect upon the history, content and ongoing struggle to secure human rights for all people. Through looking at human rights theory and activities, as well as stories about human rights activists, we will examine the way human rights are conceived, implemented, enforced and monitored both in local and global settings. The course will look into the issues of civil and political rights as well as the social, economic, and cultural rights as they are understood and secured by communities throughout the world. The resources for these investigations will include current human rights information available not only in printed material but also from films, television accounts, and the internet.

Independent Study

JUST 397

 

This course is designed to provide upper-level students the opportunity to explore social justice issues systematically and in a framework of their own design. An emphasis will be placed on approaches which draw from a variety of disciplines and which incorporate various perspectives on issues of domestic and global concern.

Internship in Justice Education

  JUST 499

Community-based experience in a justice-related field at an approved site. Jointly sponsored by a faculty member and a representative from the sponsoring agency. Must be approved by the Justice Program Coordinator. A reflection paper appropriate to the nature of the internship will be required. Graded S/U.

Social Problems

SOC 203

(3 credits)

This course focuses on some of the phenomena which have been identified as social problems in the United States. Among the issues discussed are poverty, gender and racial stratification, hyper-consumerism, changing family structures, inequality in the educational system, health care issues, the work environment, drug abuse, and crime. Particular attention will be given to the role of the social structure in the creation and perpetuation of social problems, and how social problems are interrelated. Not open to first semester freshmen.

Social Impact of Laws: Therapeutic Jurisprudence

SOC390

(3 credits)

Therapeutic jurisprudence ("TJ") looks at how laws impact social life and how laws and policies can be social forces, producing both intended and unintended consequences.  These consequences can be positive, negative, or both.  The objectives of this course are to identify and explore the various consequences of laws and policies based on the history and use of laws and to develop empirical studies to analyze these consequences.

 

The first portion of the course will be devoted to an overview of TJ principles and how these principles can be applied to laws and policies.  Different perspectives - those of the various legal actors - will be examined, along with how legal actors can impact the effects of laws and policies.  The aim for this portion of the course is to develop a method of critical review of laws and policies.  The second portion of the course will look at societal influence on laws, interactions between different policies, and how the effects of a law or policy can be assessed through empirical research prior to enactment.

 

Literature of Social Justice ENLT 203 (3 credits)

Readings among a range of literary texts which raise pointed questions about problems standing in the way of a more equitable society for all, including the failures of various nations or groups to realize economic fairness, political representation, personal freedoms, safety and health for their people.

Chicana Literature ENLT 293 (3 credits)

Works by contemporary Chicana writers such as Sandra Cisneros, Ana Castillo, Graciela Limón and Cherrie Moraga.

Non-Westerm Philosophy PHIL 245 (3 credits)

 

A study of representative selected texts from Asian, African, Native American or other alternative philosophical traditions.

Politics of the Third World POSC 319 (3 credits)

 

A comparative analysis of the process of political and socio-economic development in selected political systems of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.   Prerequisite: POSC 206 or 207

American Civil Liberties POSC 324 (3 credits)

 

An examination of the Bill of Rights and the Western concept of natural rights.   After the Bill of Rights is analyzed in general, a specific topic will be examined, such as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, or due process rights.   Prerequisites:   POSC 152, junior/senior status.

Social Ecology: National/World Issues PSYC 354 (1.5 credits)

An exploration of contemporary social, environmental and global problems and issues from psychological and other perspectives, and an examination of alternative solutions and antidotes to such problems.

Faith in Action RLST 236 (3 credits)

This course examines the faith, practices and theories of influential modern activists and writers who exemplify a variety of approaches to the Christian quest for justice.   Questions we will consider include: What is the theological basis for religious activism?    How does this theological basis impact the practices of social justice activism?   What is the role of violence in these practices?   What particular concepts of justice are promoted by Christian activists, and why?   This course is designed to provide an opportunity for students to explore issues such as these by integrating in-class readings and discussions with out-of-classroom experiences.   We will not only read about activists such as Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King, Jr., Thomas Merton, and Mohandas Gandhi, but we will also have the opportunity to apply class principles in a service learning project within the South Bend community.

RLST 240.01,02

Catholic Social Thought

3 credits

This course examines Catholic positions on some of the most controversial social, ethical, and religious issues of our day: abortion, birth control, the relation between official Catholic teachings and individual conscience, reproductive technologies, cloning, physician-assisted suicide, euthanasia, the allocation of scarce health resources, the ordination of women priests, capital punishment, nuclear weapons, waging war vs. embracing peace, poverty and the United States economy, and the effect of being a member of the Church on being a citizen of the state.   In each of these areas, we shall be trying to determine what specific difference the Catholic tradition makes for the way we approach these issues.   The readings present a wide range of moral and theological points of view.   Some of them will be critical of the official Catholic position.   But listening to such critical voices is crucial for what we do here: for to understand and evaluate the Catholic position better, we need to listen to non-Catholics; to understand and evaluate theological arguments better, we need to examine secular ones as well.   And since many of these issues impact rather directly upon women, it is especially important to hear their voices.   I hope you will come away from the course better able to think about these matters and better able to articulate and defend what you think.   Because there are different ways of doing ethics within the Catholic tradition, we shall examine and evaluate not only the conclusions that various writers have reached about these issues, but also the kinds of ethical reasoning they use to reach their conclusions.   The goal of this course, ultimately, is not just to enable you to reproduce the positions of the Catholic Church, but to produce positions of your own that will enable you to find and evaluate your own place in the Catholic tradition.   Note: Extensive use will be made of computer assisted instruction that will include regular readings and postings on the internet.