Social Justice Policy

The specialization in social justice will enable doctoral students to assess the impact of public policies on members of traditionally marginalized and underrepresented groups as well as on the larger society. Depending on the interests and preparation of the student, specific issue areas will vary. The study of the history of social justice will provide the context for existing policies as well as for possibilities for policy change.

Specialization Faculty

Specialization Coordinator: Dr. Anna Zajicek

  • Caree Banton, Ph.D. (Vanderbilt University), Director and Associate Professor, African and African American Studies
  • Najja Baptist, Ph.D. (Howard University), Assistant Professor, Political Science
  • LaShawnda Fields, Ph.D. (Washington University in St. Louis), Assistant Professor, Social Work
  • Christian Goering, Ph.D. (Kansas State University), Professor, Curriculum and Instruction
  • Lori Holyfield, Ph.D. (University of Georgia), Professor, Sociology and Criminology
  • Valerie H. Hunt, Ph.D. (University of Arkansas), Associate Professor, Political Science
  • Brinck Kerr, Ph.D. (Texas A&M University), University Professor, Political Science
  • Angie Maxwell, Ph.D. (University of Texas), Associate Professor, Political Science
  • Yvette Murphy-Erby, Ph.D. (University of North Carolina), Professor of Social Work
  • Michael D. Nino, Ph.D. (University of North Texas), Associate Professor, Sociology
  • Kathryn Norton-Smith, Ph.D. (University of Oregon), Assistant Professor, Sociology and Criminology
  • Marcia Shobe, Ph.D. (University of Kansas), Director of Research, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and Professor of Social Work
  • Kathy Sloan, Ph.D. (University of Kansas), Interim Dean of the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences and 
  • Professor of History
  • Jacquelyn D. Wiersma-Mosley, Ph.D. (Texas Tech University), Professor, Human Development and Family Sciences
  • Anna Zajicek, Ph.D. (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University),  Professor of Sociology and  Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs

Course of Study (12 hours):

  • CIED 66003 Research in Multicultural and Justice-Oriented Education -- This course is designed to trace, examine, discuss, and promote understanding of issues related to multicultural education, different views of multicultural education, and the impact of multicultural education upon the schooling process. Emphasis is upon schooling experiences of culturally diverse students, language issues, gender issues, and evaluation issues. Prerequisite: Graduate standing. (Typically offered: Spring)
  • LAWW 63203 Poverty Law: Theory and Practice -- Considers the implications of statutory and constitutional provisions that relate to several substantive areas of poverty law practice including public benefits, employment, consumer, health and family law. Prerequisite: LAWW 51104.
  • PLSC 52503 Politics of Race and Ethnicity -- Reviews identity, political action and concepts of political activity by minority groups, focusing on contemporary political behavior, and the incorporation of minority groups into the U. S. political system. (Typically offered: Irregular)
  • PUBP 6040V Special Topics in Public Policy -- Designed to cover specialized topics not usually presented in depth in regular courses. (Typically offered: Irregular) May be repeated for up to 6 hours of degree credit.
  • PUBP 6120V Research Problems in Policy -- Research problems. (Typically offered: Fall, Spring and Summer) May be repeated for up to 6 hours of degree credit.
  • SCWK 505V Special Topics in Social Work: Social Policy and Social Justice -- This course encourages students to question how policies shape our lived experiences at the local, state, and national levels (micro, mezzo, macro). Students will analyze and dissect the policymaking process from introduction to execution. We will address many of the "isms" and the policies that uphold the countless inequities we face today.
  • SOCI 51103 Social Inequality -- Major theories of stratification; types of stratification systems, comparisons of modern and traditional systems; emergent trends. Prerequisite: Graduate standing. (Typically offered: Irregular)