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Sociology & Criminology: Diversity, Justice & Social Change

The Diversity, Justice & Social Change Concentration (18-19 credit hours) promotes an appreciation of the variety of ways humans live and prepares students for an increasingly interdependent world. It is recommended for students considering a career in a multicultural setting or graduate study in comparative sociology, ethnic studies, international studies, law, counseling, peace/human rights, or social work. Internships are available to seniors in their spring semester. Students are matched to an internship site based on their career interests.

Requirements and Internships

Internships are available to seniors in their spring semester. Students are matched to an internship site based on their career interests. Participation in an internship requires a 2.75 GPA. An additional 300/400 level course can be used by permission of the Chair, if unable to complete an internship.

Two of three Justice & Social Change courses, either:

  • SC 111 Intro to Social Justice (3 cr.)
  • SC 202 Social Change (3 cr.)
  • SC 385 Poverty, Welfare and Social Justice (3 cr.)

Additionally, students must select two of three Diversity courses:

  • SC 255 Prejudice and Discrimination (3 cr.)
  • SC 257 Social Inequalities in Society (3 cr.)
  • SC 320 Sex and Gender (3 cr.)

And two additional electives from the courses noted above and:

  • SC 115 Masculinities (3 cr.)
  • SC 205 Conflict Cooperation: War/Peace (3 cr.)
  • SC 215 Individual & Society (3 cr.)
  • SC 235 African American Experience (3 cr.)
  • SC 243 Global Debt and Justice (3 cr.)
  • SC 260 Consumer Culture & Society (3 cr.)
  • SC 300 Death Penalty (3 cr.)
  • SC 315 Sexuality and Society (3 cr.)
  • SC 335 Prisons and Human Rights (3 cr.)
  • SC 343 Drugs and Crime (3 cr.)
  • SC 353 Latina/o Transnational Experience (3 cr.)
  • SC 355 Comparative Ethnic Relations (3 cr.)
  • SC 357 Diversity in Sports (3 cr.)
  • SC 365 Ethnicity, Crime & Criminal Justice (3 cr.)
  • SC 370 Culture, Environment, and Global Health (3 cr.)
  • SC 380 Environmental Justice & Human Rights (3 cr.)
  • SC 475 Internship & Seminar in Human Services, Health, and Social Justice (3 cr.)
  • Catholic Charities Migration and Refugee Services
  • Cleveland Council on World Affairs
  • Cleveland International Program
  • Cleveland Museum of Natural History
  • International Partners in Mission
  • JCU Office of Admissions
Students walking across campus on a spring day

Internships

Our students have completed internships in over 80 nonprofit and governmental agencies throughout the Cleveland metropolitan area. Internships are available to seniors in their spring semester, and students are matched to an internship site based upon their career interests. It is not uncommon for our students to be offered employment by the agency where they interned.

Sites include:

  • Achievement Center for Children
  • AIDS Task Force of Greater Cleveland
  • Alzheimer’s Association – Cleveland
  • American Red Cross
  • Arrupe House
  • Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland
  • Business Volunteers Unlimited
  • Care Alliance Health Center
  • Catholic Charities
  • Center for Reducing Health Disparities
  • Children’s Rehabilitation Hospitals of the Cleveland Clinic
  • Cleveland International Program
  • Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland
  • The Gathering Place
  • Legal Aid Society
  • Light of Hearts Villa
  • Make a Wish Foundation
  • New Avenues to Independence
  • Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless
  • Organize Ohio!
  • Recovery Resources
  • Salvation Army
  • Senior Citizen’s Resources
  • Shaker Heights Youth Center
  • United Way
  • University Hospitals of Cleveland
  • University Settlement House
  • Witness Victim Service Center
Two Students

Small Class Sizes

Our small class sizes of usually 25 or less allows individual attention to each student while encouraging greater interaction with their professors and classmates.