SOC 2034: Diversity and Community Engagement

Diversity and Community Engagement focuses on the advantages and challenges of diversity, inclusion and social justice in communities. Students will facilitate intercultural awareness by applying social science theories and concepts to topics such as diverse identities, social justice, power, and privilege. Students analyze human behavior and the effects of social institutions, and they apply social science theories and methods in a real-world setting by participating in a community engagement project.

Why take it?

Due to the current climate of social unrest in the United States, this course is especially relevant. Students will examine differential access to social and cultural capital (e.g., housing, health care) by race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability/disability status, and socioeconomic status, and will engage with issues of diversity and inclusion in a hands-on manner within their own community. Students will learn to think critically about the historical and structural conditions that gave rise to social justice movements and organizations aimed at reducing social inequalities and increasing inclusivity, which are skills that they can carry with them into their future careers.

SOC 2034 fulfills an elective in the following Pathways minors:

• Appalachian Cultures and Environments
• Event and Experience Management
  
• Global Business Practices to Improve the Human Condition
• Health Communication
• Housing and Society
• Leadership and Social Change
• Peace Studies and Social Justice

Requirements

There are no prerequisites for this course.

This course fulfills Pathways requirements in Reasoning in the Social Sciences, Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States, and Intercultural and Global Awareness.