Because this program is interdivisional, students who major in Community Justice Studies may complete any minor to satisfy the college requirement that the major and minor be in different divisions.
The Community and Justice Studies major leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree and requires a minimum of 44 semester credit hours. No courses for the major may be taken on a Credit/No Credit basis except for internships that are required to be taken CR/NC. Courses with prerequisites are marked with an asterisk (*).
Core Courses:
Take all of the following four courses (16 credits):
COMJ 160 - Foundations of Community & Justice Studies
COMJ 270 - Power, Society, and Social Change *
COMJ 460 - Community Organizing and Civic Professionalism *
COMJ 560 - Community and Justice Studies Junior Seminar *
Electives.
Take courses totaling 24 credits across the following themes. Take one course (4 credits) each from sections a, b, and c, and three courses (12 credits) from section d. Substitutions may be made with the approval of the program director.
A. Ethics:
Take one of the following (4 credits):
PHIL 140 - Ethics and Community
PHIL 210 - Oppression and Liberation
POLSC 140 - Political Philosophy
PSYCH 162 - Human Social Behavior
B. Place:
Take one of the following (4 credits):
COMJ 350 - Black Meadville *
COMRT 279 - Community-Based Media: Creative Citizenry Through the Use of Video
COMRT 376 - Media Consumption *
ENVSC 250 - Environmental Education
PSYCH 375 - Community Psychology *
C. Political Participation and Democracy:
Take one of the following (4 credits):
COMRT 145 - Foundations of Rhetoric and Public Communication
HIST 326 - The American Revolutionary Era *
JOURN 200 - Journalism and Democracy in the United States
POLSC 221 - Law, Courts, and Judicial Processes
POLSC 325 - Rights in Comparative Perspective
D. COMJ Theme electives:
Take three courses (12 credits) within a self-described theme area to be determined with the advisor. Two of these must be at the 300 or 400 level. Students select 3 courses to tie together a theme of interest to the student in order to develop a deeper understanding of a particular idea, issue, or concept. Possible examples include Community Change and Activism, Public Policy, or Neoliberalism.
Civic Participation requirement:
Students are expected to commit to a sustained community engagement position for one year (e.g. Bonner, Davies, Allegheny Volunteer Service Leader, or other varieties of civically engaged internships or experiences). Students should complete this requirement during their Sophomore or Junior year because they will be asked to engage in reflection on this position within COMJ 460 - Community Organizing and Civic Professionalism.