SJS Streams and Course Requirements
All students, except for those students pursuing the Gender and Women's Studies specialization, (please see the Specialization in Gender and Women's Studies for further details), must complete SOCJ 5030: Theories of Social Justice, and SOCJ 5090: Methods and Methodologies in Social Justice, during the first year of study regardless of the program stream they pursue.
1) Coursework:
In addition to completing the core SOCJ courses, students will take an additional three FCEs (or six half-credit courses).
For students enrolled in the Gender and Women's Studies Specialization two of the major papers written for these graduate course(s) must be focused on a subject related to Gender and/or Women's Studies and Social Justice.
2) Research Project:
In addition to the core SOCJ courses, students will complete a further two FCEs (four half-credit courses) of course work.
Students will produce an original research paper no less than 50 pages not including bibliography and appendixes. The research project requires a sustained and detailed analysis of a specific body of literature within Social Justice Studies and an exploration of a question or problem in the field. For those students enrolled in the Gender and Women's Studies specialization, the research project must address issues related to gender and social justice.
Students must find a faculty member who is willing to supervise their project and submit a proposal to the Social Justice Studies Committee for approval. Supervisors also need to be approved by the SJS Committee. The project will be marked by the supervisor and a second faculty member and assigned a final grade.
Students enrolled in the Gender and Women's Studies specialization will produce a research project that addresses issues relevant to both gender and social justice.
3) Creative Project:
In addition to the core SOCJ courses, students will complete a further two FCEs (four half-credit courses) of course work.
Students will produce a creative project (broadly defined) that addresses issues of social justice and social activism using one of the following mediums: visual arts, music or non-academic/creative writing or other creative work. Students will also write a 20-page artist statement/report of their piece.
Students must find a faculty member who is willing to supervise their project and submit a proposal to the Social Justice Studies Committee for approval. Supervisors also need to be approved by the SJS Committee. The project will be marked by the supervisor and a second faculty member and assigned a final grade.
Students enrolled in the Gender and Women's Studies specialization will produce a creative project that addresses issues relevant to both gender and social justice.
4) Practicum:
In addition to the core SOCJ courses, students will complete a further two FCEs (four half-credit courses) of course work.
Students are expected to complete 200 placement hours in an approved social justice agency or non-profit organization under the supervision of a member of the Social Justice Studies core faculty and a community partner within the organization in which the student carries out their practicum. The student will also write a 20-page summary of the work conducted during the placement that links their experiences to social justice studies and theory. The work of the practicum will be completed in the second year of study. Although the norm will be that students will complete 10 hours of work for 20 weeks, some flexibility will be allowed to enhance the usefulness of the practicum for participating organizations. This will replace two half-credit courses. Potential partners include: Shelter House, the Gender Equity Centre (GEC), Pride Central, the LU Food Bank, Northwestern Ontario Women’s Centre, and others.
Those students intending to undertake a practicum should initiate discussions with the Graduate Coordinator as soon as possible. Building appropriate and mutually beneficial relationships with community partners is time consuming and can take a long time. The student in consultation and cooperation with the SJS Graduate Coordinator is responsible for finding the community organization they intend to work with. In addition to submitting a proposal for approval to the SJS Graduate Committee that outlines the details of the practicum; a letter of support confirming the organization’s participation and support for the practicum is required. Supervisors also need to be approved by the SJS Graduate Committee.
Performance in the practicum will be assessed both by the agency or non-profit organization representative with whom the student is working, and by their supervisor who will read and review the student’s 20 page work summary. The mark will be pass/fail with regard to the hands on work of the practicum, with a numerical grade assigned to work summary.
Students in the Gender and Women’s Studies specialization will complete the practicum in an organization of relevance to Gender and Women’s Studies.
2023-24 Important Dates
2023-2024 Timetable: