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Harper College
Social Justice Studies Distinction

Courses

The Basics

To earn the Social Justice Studies (SJS) distinction, you must successfully complete at least 3 SJS course sections in addition to the Social Transformation Capstone (CAP201). The SJS course schedule is carefully designed to allow you to complete the distinction alongside your degree. Aside from CAP201, you are welcome to choose any SJS course sections that fit your interests and goals.

What to Expect

Each semester, a cluster of special Social Justice Studies course sections will be offered. These courses are specially designed to engage students in an ongoing dialogue about the meaning of social justice and in an exploration of the most compassionate, equitable, and inclusive practices and strategies for achieving more just societies. The content of these courses provides opportunities for students to explore how their individual identities, cultural backgrounds, and chosen disciplines situate them in relation to systems of power and privilege. Enrollment in these courses will also offer students an opportunity to form meaningful relationships with instructors and fellow students who share their desire to co-create a more just and sustainable future.

All Harper students are encouraged to enroll in Social Justice Studies course sections and to participate in SJS programming at Harper. Social Justice Studies course sections will be designated in the course schedule by an “SJ” course section notation and a specialized title. Example: “ENG101-SJ1: Composition I/Social Justice.”

Capstone

The Social Transformation Capstone (CAP201) must be successfully completed in order to earn the SJS Graduate Distinction. You are eligible to enroll in CAP201 once you have completed at least two other Social Justice Studies (SJS) course sections (see below).

  • Instructor: Eric Bohman
  • Banner Title: CAP201-001: Social Transformation Capstone (2 Credit) or CAP201-002: Social Transformation Capstone (3 credit)
  • Modality (PoT): Blended/Hyflex (16 weeks)
  • Meeting Time: Wednesday, 4:45pm-5:45pm
  • Credits: 2 (no service/experiential learning component) or3 (includes service/experiential learning component)
  • Theme: Focuses on developing project design and management skills for the purposes of analyzing global movements and/or addressing social justice problems and solutions. Special emphasis will be given to interdisciplinary questions, methods, and applications related to information literacy, intercultural communication and collaboration, critical thinking, and civic engagement. Students will have the opportunity to reflect on their personal, professional and academic journeys with the goal of applying acquired knowledge toward fostering justice-oriented social transformation. ebohman@harpercollege.edu
     
    Prerequisites: Students must complete at least two SJS course sections to enroll in the capstone course. For special exceptions, contact instructor.
     
    [Students must complete CAP201 to earn the SJS Distinction.] 
    [CAP201 will also be offered every Fall and Spring semester.]

Current SJS Courses

The following course sections will be offered in Fall '24. Courses that also fulfill the World Cultures and Diversity requirement are listed with a "+".

Communications

  • Instructor: Ranjani Murali
  • Banner Title: ENG102-SJ1: Composition/Soc Justice
  • Modality (PoT): Face-to-Face (Late-Start - 13 weeks)
  • Meeting Time: Tuesday/Thursday 9:30am-10:45am
  • Credits: 3
  • Theme: In this ENG 102 section, we will explore oral narratives, cultural artifacts, and multimedia that dig deeper into Indigenous history in the U.S., including topics such as boarding schools and land treaties, particularly those related to Illinois. Students will be encouraged to explore how the language used by those with and in power was wielded to uproot and disenfranchise Indigenous communities and perpetrate a system of inequity. For their ENG 102 research project, students will be asked to explore ideas, solutions, and restorative justice practices that are used within, by, and for Indigenous communities for healing. Students will also be asked to discuss how non-Indigenous communities and individuals may engage constructively in dialogue on topics such as land reparations/ land back and restitution. rmurali@harpercollege.edu
     
    [English 101 will be every Fall. ENG102 will be offered every Spring.]
  • Instructor: Isaiah Carrington
  • Banner Title: SPE101-SJ1: Fund of Speech/Soc Justice
  • Modality (PoT): Face-to-Face (16 weeks)
  • Meeting Time: Monday/Wednesday, 11am-12:15pm
  • Credits: 3
  • Theme: Public speaking’s history is rooted in social justice movements. From the I Have a Dream Speech to advocacy around the world, speaking in front of an audience is a necessary skill to drive change in the world. In this course students will develop the skills to present impactful discourse through using their own personal identities and stories to advocate for the change they want to see in the world. This course will require students to analyze their own voice, and to consider which voices are amplified, and which voices are silenced. Embrace the ethos of allyship as we navigate the intricate web of human rights advocacy together, fostering an environment where open-mindedness thrives and perspectives flourish. ci12612@harpercollege.edu

Physical & Life Sciences

  • Instructor: Virginia Turner
  • Banner Title: BIO103-SJB: Humans/Environment/Soc Justice
  • Modality (PoT): Blended (16 weeks)
  • Meeting Time: Thursday, 12:30pm-1:45am
  • Credits: 3
  • Theme: How do social justice and environmental justice intersect? How have past actions shaped our environment and use of natural resources, and how are current actions shaping our future? Can we, as members of this planet, equitably utilize the available resources? In this course, meant for non-science majors, students will learn the fundamentals of environmental science, the history of the environmental movement, and about those instrumental in shaping environmental policies, both globally and in the United States. Bring your perspectives and join us as we explore and discuss these globally critical issues while expanding our worldview as it relates to our environment. vturner@harpercollege.edu
  • Instructor: Virginia Mchugh-Kurtz
  • Banner Title: BIO120-SJ1: Plants/Society/Soc Justice
  • Modality (PoT): Face-to-Face (16 weeks)
  • Meeting Time: Tuesday/Thursday, 11am-12:15pm (lecture) and 12:30-1:45pm (lab)
  • Credits: 4
  • Theme: This section of Biology 120: Plants & Society - Social Justice Studies focuses on the form and function of plants, their diversity, and the economic and environmental impacts of plants in our everyday lives and in society. The theme of this SJS course will be Cannabis and Society. Students will explore the botanical nature, history, environmental impact, public policy, and social disparities of Cannabis. A main component of the course will be focusing on the “War on Drugs,” decriminalization of Cannabis, policy reform, and racial justice. BIO 120 fulfills the life science lab requirement. If you have questions about the course, don’t hesitate to email me at vmchughk@harpercollege.edu
  • Instructor: Joseph Wachter
  • Banner Title: CHM103-SJ1: Chem Connection/Soc Justice
  • Modality (PoT): Face-to-Face (16 weeks)
  • Meeting Time: Wednesday 2pm-4:45pm (Lecture/Lab)
  • Credits: 4
  • Theme: Did you know that the Ancient Greek root of “pharmacy,” pharmakon (φάρμακον), means both medicine and poison? In this lab science course, meant for non-science majors, students will explore the social nature of chemistry by asking questions like: 
     
    What is the difference between medicine and poison? 
    Can chemicals be good? Bad? Neutral? 
    Who gets to decide? 
    Who has access to good chemicals? Bad ones? 
    Who is punished or rewarded for using certain chemicals? 
     
    Exploring these questions will take students on a tour of the chemical world, from the environmental chemistry of plastic waste, water quality, and climate change to the chemistry of drugs, medicines, poisons, and explosives, while also learning the fundamentals of chemistry in a lab-focused setting. Jwachter@harpercollege.edu

Humanities & Fine Arts

  • Instructor: Michael Bentley
  • Banner Title: HUM107-SJW: Cultures of Africa/Soc Justice
  • Modality (PoT): Blended (Late-Start - 13 weeks)
  • Meeting Time: Thursday 12pm-1:40pm
  • Credits: 3
  • Theme: in this course we will explore how three ideologies, which were each essential to the African Independence Movement (Negritude, Afrocentrism, and Pan-Africanism) have empowered scholars, artists, and freedom fighters across the African diaspora to remember and re-imagine what it means to be African, to be human, and to be free. Students will have the opportunity to explore how these ideas challenge and empower them to think more critically about their own identities and their relationship to power. IAI HF 904N. mbentley@harpercollege.edu
      
    [HUM107 will also be offered in Fall '25.]
  • Instructor: Elizabeth Barahona
  • Banner Title: HUM110-SJ1: Women & Creativity/Soc Justice
  • Modality (PoT): Face-to-Face (16 weeks)
  • Meeting Time: Tuesday/Thursday 9:30am-10:45am
  • Credits: 3
  • Theme: In this Social Justice Studies section of HUM110: Women and Creativity, students will examine how women's artistic, intellectual, and creative contributions have intersected with social justice movements throughout history. Focusing on historically marginalized voices, particularly women of color, disabled women, queer women, and working-class women, the course will explore how creativity has been used as a form of resistance against systems of oppression such as patriarchy, colonialism, and racism. Through analyzing texts, visual art, and performances from diverse cultural contexts, students will investigate how these creators have challenged dominant narratives and advocated for change. The course will culminate in a final project where students will develop a creative work or analysis inspired by the themes of gender, identity, and justice, encouraging them to see art as a powerful tool for social transformation. be13929@harpercollege.edu
      
  • Instructor: Andre Berchiolly
  • Banner Title: LIT112-SJW: Lit & Film/Soc Justice
  • Modality (PoT): Online Asynchronous (16 weeks)
  • Meeting Time: N/A
  • Theme: In this course we will explore the historical and cultural context of film adaptations over time and in relation to social justice. This course will allow the opportunity to engage with original texts and ideas (the spirit of the text) and the context of representation relating to contemporary, modern, and post-modern adaptations. We will also look into social media responses (public discourse) relating to representation in film adaptation. We will explore such questions as: how are different aspects of society and culture represented in literature and film; how do culture and society influence adaptation; how, where, and when do you see yourself represented in media; and how do dominant and non-dominant cultures use aberchio@harpercollege.edu.
  • Instructor: Nicole Mancha
  • Banner Title: LIT223-SJW: Multicultural Amer Lit/Soc Jus
  • Modality (PoT): Online Asynchronous (16 weeks)
  • Meeting Time: 11am-12:15pm
  • Theme: This LIT 223 course invites students to explore the vibrant intersections of Latinx literature, social justice, and cultural celebration. Through various pieces of literature, students will encounter Latinx authors and texts that delve into significant social, historical, and cultural issues, exploring themes of identity, socioeconomic status, and justice. Alongside critical engagement, the course celebrates the joy, resilience, and creativity cultivated within Latinx communities, recognizing literature as a dynamic form of both resistance and expression. By the semester's end, students will develop an appreciation for the genius of Latinx culture and literature, recognizing its role in shaping community, advocating for justice, and enriching the cultural fabric both inside and beyond the classroom. mn35524@harpercollege.edu

  • Instructor: Rebecca Scott
  • Banner Title: PHI101-SJ1: Critical Thinking/Soc Justice
  • Modality (PoT): Face-to-Face
  • Meeting Time: Monday/Wednesday, 11am-12:15pm
  • Credits: 3
  • Theme: In this face-to-face section of Critical Thinking, we will consider the roles that thinking, reason, and argumentation play in our ongoing struggle for social justice. How does power affect what and how we think? How can we learn to ask better questions? When and how should we disagree with one another? And what should we do about the corrupting influences on public discourse such as misinformation, propaganda, and trolling? This course will give you the opportunity to practice listening and productively disagreeing with one another in a supportive and inclusive environment. rscott1@harpercollege.edu 
     
    [PHI105 will be offered every Fall. PHI101 will be offered in Spring.] 

  • Instructor: Sadie Hochman-Ruiz
  • Banner Title: MUS110-SJ1– Amer Music: HipHop/Soc Justice 
  • Modality (PoT): Face-to-Face (16 weeks)
  • Meeting Time: Wednesday 11am-1:30pm (Lecture/Lab) 
  • Credits: 3
  • Theme: In MUS110, students will examine racial justice and intersectionality through the lens of hip-hop. The course will guide students in placing hip-hop within the history of African American musical expression and unearth its roots in musical practice. Students follow the evolution of hip-hop practice as a guide to examine the history of African American people in the post-Civil Rights Era. This course combines theory with practice. For their final assignments, students will have the opportunity to write a research paper and to create original beats in the music department’s electronic music studio. hs24908@harpercollege.edu

Social & Behavioral Sciences

  • Instructor: Amaziah Finley
  • Banner Title: ANT101-SJ1: Cultural Anthropology/Soc Justice
  • Modality (PoT): Face-to-Face (16 weeks)
  • Meeting Time: Tuesday/Thursday, 9:30am-10:45am
  • Credits: 3
  • Theme: This cultural anthropology course explores the vulnerability and resistance attached to our intersectional positions in society. We discuss topics of culture, including how resistance is natural to belonging to a culture. Within the topic of culture, we explore language and power, fieldwork and ethnography, race and racism, whiteness and white privilege, gender, class and inequality, the global economy, health and illness disparities, and art as resistance. For the final project, students will be asked to create a portfolio of resistance, conducting their own ethnography of sorts to prove that knowledge is power.  fa17019@harpercollege.edu 
     
    [ANT101 will be offered every Fall. ANT202 will be offered in Spring.]
  • Instructor: Monica Edwards
  • Banner Title: SOC101-SJW: Sociology/Soc Justice
  • Modality (PoT): Online Asynchronous (First 8 Weeks)
  • Meeting Time: N/A
  • Credits: 3
  • Theme: In our time together, we will engage in analysis of the structure and dynamics of human society.  We will explore theoretical and empirical work to observe and analyze social norms, groups, intergroup relations, social change, social stratification, and institutions.  This course will dive into questions of social organization, social change, and social justice through an exploration of the intersection of food systems and systemic racism; we will do so with a focus on outcomes related to the climate crisis and Covid pandemic.  Emerging from sociological analyses of our complex interdependence is a push for compassion and solidarity; as such, the policies of the class will reflect this larger sociological--and feminist--ethos of care.  IAI S7 900.  3 Credit Hours.  Open Educational Resources, Social/Behavioral Sci-AA/AS, Sociology Elective, Social/Behavioral Sciences-AAS, World Culture and Diversity. medwards@harpercollege.edu

This course section will no longer be offered as a Social Justice Studies course section in Spring 2025.

Electives

  • Instructor: LaVonya Williams
  • Banner Title: DIV101-SJW: Diversity in US/Soc Justice
  • Modality (PoT): Online Asynchronous
  • Meeting Time: N/A
  • Credits: 3
  • Theme:  In DIV 101, students will examine their intersecting identities while discussing dimensions of their own culture. The cultural and historical experiences of socially marginalized groups in the United States are also explored. Students will analyze the dynamics of prejudice and discrimination between groups and the impact of social power differences on peoples’ lives. Human rights, social change and social movements will be introduced. The experiential nature of this course will give students the opportunity to dialogue about diversity and social justice topics and to develop skills necessary to interact effectively in a diverse society. Students will complete a final course assignment addressing a diversity or social justice issue of their choosing with instructor approval. lwilliam@harpercollege.edu 

For more information, contact the Social Justice Studies Coordinator:

Michael Bentley

847.925.6271

socialjustice@harpercollege.edu  

 

Last Updated: 11/20/24