Race and Social Justice

Earn an Experiential Certificate in: Race and Social Justice

Description

The James L. Curtis for Race and Belonging offers an Experiential Certificate in Race and Social Justice. This certificate will provide a documented experiential learning sequence for students particularly interested in creating, analyzing, and leading conversations about racial identity, advocacy, and institutionalized racism in a United States context. It is intended for students who desire a sophisticated understanding of historical and ongoing racial justice issues, movements, policies, and structures. This certificate supports the critical appreciation of the social, political, and racial contexts of our public and interpersonal lives.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this certificate, students will be able to: 

  • Identify the historical, political, social, psychological, cultural, and/or economic dimensions of race and racialization through the acquisition of knowledge centered on local, national, global, and social justice movements.
  • Critically read/write about, discuss, and engage in scholarly inquiry related to race and social justice 
  • Develop the ability to engage in critical self-reflection and develop competency for dialogues on race and social justice and/or communication skills 
  • Identify, produce, and implement solutions to contemporary racial inequalities domestically and abroad

Purpose Courses

Students will choose at least three academic courses through Albion College in consultation with a Faculty Director of JLC. Courses should introduce issues relevant to Race and Social Justice. Examples include but are not limited to:

  • ETHN 270: Hip Hop and Social Change
  • ETHN 300: Social Movements
  • ETHN 289: Identity and Social Location 
  • PLSC 207: Transitional Justice 
  • PLSC 256: Human Rights 
  • PLSC 322: Crime, Politics & Punishment
  • PLSC 324: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
  • SOC 228: Cities & Urban Life
  • SOC 333: The Sociology of Sex and Gender
  • SOC 345: Race and Ethnicity
  • SOC 370: Social Mobility and Inequity
  • WGS 250: Gender and the Global Garden

Professional Development

Professional development hours can be fulfilled through any relevant Albion College training including workshops and Innovation Badges offered through the School for Public Purpose and Professional Advancement and college programs. External certifications and professional training offered by third-party providers may also be approved by JLC staff.  

Students will design or select the appropriate number of professional development hours for their catalog year. 

  • Participation in two Writing Retreats and a related writing capstone
  • Attend and present at least one academic/professional development conference

Experiential Learning

Students will design or select the appropriate number of experiential learning hours, including community-engaged experiential learning hours, for their catalog year.

Examples of possible opportunities include:

  • Internship developing Race and Social Justice Racial Dialogue through JLC
  • Internship with a non-profit, community-led initiative such as the Albion Chapter of NAACP or A. Philip Randolph Institute 

Interested in earning this Experiential Certificate? Please contact Ari McCaskill by email at amccaskill@albion.edu.