Social Justice & the Arts BA/BS | Program Details

Serving students who seek a degree that integrates artistic practice with social advocacy, the B.A./B.S. in Social Justice & the Arts provides a foundation in the arts (Music or Theater) alongside a deep exploration of social justice frameworks. Students engage with creative expression as a tool for community building, activism, and systemic change, preparing them for roles in non-profit leadership, community organizing, education, and socially engaged art.

Students successfully completing the B.A. or B.S. in Social Justice & the Arts will have gained the necessary skills in their chosen artistic discipline and supportive curriculum to prepare them for continued academic study or for professional work that bridges the gap between creativity and social impact.

Courses

In addition to meeting the general University degree requirements, majors seeking the B.A. or B.S. in Social Justice & the Arts must complete 72 credits of the following coursework. The curriculum centers themes of social justice, anti-racism, civic engagement, activism, social movements, non-violence, placemaking, advocacy and organizing. All courses used to satisfy the major requirements must be graded C or above. Students are encouraged to select their concentration early in their academic career to ensure a cohesive path toward the final practicum.

Core Curriculum (24 credits)

Course NumberCourse NameCredit Hours
COTA Artist as Citizen
SJA 135Artist as Citizen: A Survey of Art Activism4
SJA 235Artist as Citizen: Social Justice Movements, Artistic Response and Impact4
SJA 335Artist as Citizen: Engage in Art Activism4

Social Justice Core

(Choose 12 credits from the list below)

Art 227Introduction to Art and Social Practices4
CFS 487Examining Bias and Belief4
COTA 199/399Navigating Conflict for Social Change4
COTA 199/399Storytelling and Social Justice4
COTA 199/399What About Love?4
CR 101Nonviolent Interaction2
CR 201Social Movement Messaging2
CR 301UIntroduction to Conflict Resolution4
CR 302UPeace Studies4
CR 304UParticipating in Democracy4
PA 311UIntroduction to Civic Engagement4
PA 312UFoundations of Community Leadership4
PS 316UPolitics and the Arts4
Soc 204ZIntroduction to Sociology4

Disciplinary Foundation Core Courses (12 credits)

Choose 12 credits of foundational courses (Appreciation, Theory, or Performance). Any 100- or 200-level Music course will count toward this requirement. Other accepted courses include:

  • Architecture/Design: Arch 100, 101, 120, 121; Des 120
  • Art/Art History: ArH 106, 110; Art 131, 230, 250, 255, 257, 260, 261, 270, 271, 281, 282, 291, 292, 294, 296
  • Theater: TA 101, 102, 111, 112, 114, 115, 121, 144, 147, 151, 201, 241, 248
  • Film/Writing: FILM 130; Wr 212, 213, 214

Social Justice Electives (12 credits)

Select 12 credits from a wide range of interdisciplinary topics including:

  • Black Studies/Social Justice: BSt 302U, 304, 318U, 325U, 333U, 335U, 339U, 342U, 345U, 351U, 353U, 357U, 359U, 372U, 377U, 378, 384U
  • Anthropology/Sociology: Anth 304, 305; PS 387, 418, 419, 434; WS 451
  • Child, Youth & Family Studies: CFS 340U, 360, 385U, 388U, 410, 440, 450, 460
  • Criminology/History: CCJ 230, 317; ChLa 471; Hst 442, 446
  • International/Global: Intl 314U, 342U, 360U, 380U

Concentration Requirements (12 credits)

Complete one of the following 12-credit concentrations:

  • Social Justice Concentration Choose 12 credits from: ArH 398, Art 327, Art 328, Art 358/Des 358, Art 497, Des 333, Eng 326, Mus 369U, or TA 369U.
  • COTA Concentration Select 12 upper-division credits in a single COTA discipline (Architecture, Art, Film, Music, or Theater).

Race and Ethnic Studies (8 credits)

Any course from the School of Gender Race and Nations (SGRN) approved for the University-level Race & Ethnic Studies Requirement (RESR). This also applies to 90-credit transfer students.

Practicum (4 credits)

As a culminating experience, students engage in a 4-credit practicum to synthesize learning, build professional skills, and establish community connections.

  • SJA 411: Social Justice and the Arts Practicum (4)

Total Credit Hours: 72