Social Justice

Truly understanding issues of social justice and taking effective action requires knowledge and skills in areas such as economics, politics, philosophy, education, religion, sociology, and more. OWU's social justice major will help you develop the knowledge and skills needed to analyze social injustices and theorize and work toward positive social change.

About the Major

Ohio Wesleyan's interdisciplinary social justice major brings together coursework, faculty expertise, and practical experience from many fields to help you cultivate the knowledge and skills to analyze social injustices and work toward positive social change. You will develop the knowledge and skills to think critically on the meaning of social justice locally and globally, examine the dynamics of societal conflicts, and analyze social issues from many perspectives.

The major also is highly flexible, allowing you to deeply explore issues related to areas such as race, global feminism, gender, Latin American culture, labor economics, poverty, civil rights, and the environment.

You will supplement your classwork with practical experience in an applied project, and you will have opportunities to explore other cultures through Travel-Learning Courses, Theory-to-Practice Grants, and service-learning projects.

Related Minors

Think Big

In the interdisciplinary Social Justice major, you take classes in many disciplines, and explore major issues from different perspectives. We emphasize intellectual curiosity, creativity, initiative, and synthesis.

You also have many opportunities to pursue undergraduate research, performed under the mentorship of expert faculty.

Research & Independent Study

Campus Activism

Sociology students surveyed 150 OWU students to understand factors behind social activism.

Exploring Greek Life Views

Diana Muzina '17 earned honors for her thesis on stereotypes and views of Greek women.

Access to Medicine in India

Valentina Marginean '16 studied access to medicine in India.

Conversations about Race

Morgan Christie '16 studied links between racial socialization, coping, & racial beliefs.

Watch the Video

Go Global

OWU offers many ways for you to take your studies off campus and gain a global perspective. Travel-Learning Courses combine classroom study with travel to areas of the world where you may study the issues discussed in class in the settings where those events are occurring.

Other travel-learning options include semester-long programs and Connection Grants, and spring break service trips.

Travel-Learning Courses Global Service

Comparing Social Divides

HannahJo Grimes '20 compared racism in America to sectarianism in Northern Ireland.

Helping Houston Heal

Katie Kuckelheim '19 joined OWU students to rebuild a Houston home after Hurricane Harvey.

Examining Trauma

Cara Harris '18 attended lectures on the psychology of The Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Get Real

Every social justice major completes an internship or faculty-mentored applied project.

These experiential components of the program will help you develop career-related skills, such as community organizing, working with and mediating diverse social groups,  presenting ideas in professional forums, and managing real-world projects.

OWU Connection Opportunities OWU Connection Grants

Change Agent

Rukevwe Diohwo '27 interned in Cleveland as a LEAP job coach for people with disabilities.

Empowering First-Gen Students

Dylan Hays '20, Meek Leadership Award winner, created a cohort for first-gen OWU students.

Using Art to Enrich Lives

Josh Martin '20 explored how Project Row Houses in Houston enriches with art.

Campaign Internship

Annie Miner '20 interned for Jessica Miranda's re-election campaign.

Powerful and Powerless

An Interfaith Service Team studied poverty & policy, working with lobbyists & politicians.

Inspired Teaching

OWU faculty are outstanding scholars and researchers—and passionate teachers. They will push you, challenge you, inspire you, and work with you on your own research and creative projects.

They can even pack a 3-minute lecture with ideas, insight, and imagination. Check out our unique I³ lectures.

I³ Lectures

Dr. Paul Dean

What a 10-Year-Old Taught Me about My Own Privilege

Watch the Video

Dr. Nancy Comorau

Black Texts Matter: Decolonize Your Reading List

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Highlights

Spring Break Service

Every spring break, teams of OWU students spread out across the nation and in Central America doing volunteer work. These Spring Break Service Week projects have provided community support in New Orleans, Chicago, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and many more locations. It's spring break with a greater purpose.

Spring Break Service Week

Citizens of the World

Founded in 2009, the Citizens of the World House creates a inclusive community where students from diverse backgrounds can share experiences, promote inclusiveness, and learn about the world around them. COW House members value acceptance, education, and understanding of diversity in all forms. The Citizens of the World House spreads cultural awareness and provides service both on campus and around the globe.

Small Living Units

Multiple Major Options

The social justice major includes courses from more than 10 departments, making double-major options easier for students. Combine social justice with a major in economics, politics & government, Spanish, or another discipline.

Student Board

Members of the Sociology/Anthropology Department Student Board serve as liaisons between students and faculty, interview candidates for faculty positions, and plan special events.

Graduate Outcomes

Dylan Hays '20

Dylan is enrolled in the Master of Education program at Clemson University, where he is a graduate assistant for community leader development. At OWU he majored in Social Justice and Sociology/Anthropology.

Career Options

Rewarding careers in social justice can be found in government agencies, nonprofit organizations, religious institutions, law firms, and educational institutions. Graduates may work in areas such as aging, children & family services, civil liberties, homelessness, labor, poverty, victim services, and many other areas serving people in need.

Award Winner

Jessica Nare '08 is the Director of Leadership Programs at the Jewish Family Service of San Diego, a nonprofit dedicated to helping families move towards a better life and self-sufficiency. She won the Tannenbaum Prize from Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, for her work empowering young girls in the Jewish community.

Graduate School?

The social justice major can help prepare students for a variety of graduate programs, including law, public administration, dispute resolution, social work, public health, regional & international studies, dispute resolution, theology, and more.

Analyzing Economic Insecurity

Ben Andrews '12 earned both his Masters and PhD in Sociology from The Ohio State University. He currently works as a Research Analyst at Colorado State University, where he studied economic precarity and insecurity among students.

Headlines

Events

A Look at Social Justice

See All 18 Items
Faculty and Staff Involvement— Lisa Ho, Assistant Director of International and Off-Campus Programs, frequently works with students passionate about conflict resolution, peace and reconciliation, social justice and community engagement. Above, she talks with lecturers from Ulster University while on a Theory-to-Practice Grant with students.

Faculty and Staff Involvement

Lisa Ho, Assistant Director of International and Off-Campus Programs, frequently works with students passionate about conflict resolution, peace and reconciliation, social justice and community engagement. Above, she talks with lecturers from Ulster University while on a Theory-to-Practice Grant with students.
Food Justice Project in Delaware— Students participate in a food justice project to help aid food insecurity within the community.

Food Justice Project in Delaware

Students participate in a food justice project to help aid food insecurity within the community.
Class at Ulster University— The 2018 Northern Ireland Theory-to-Practice Grant team attends a lecture at Ulster University's Belfast campus.

Class at Ulster University

The 2018 Northern Ireland Theory-to-Practice Grant team attends a lecture at Ulster University's Belfast campus.
Service Project in New Orleans— Working with the St. Bernard Project is a popular option for Spring Break Interfaith Service Trips. The St. Bernard Project was started by an OWU alum and works to reestablish community in the Lower Ninth Ward.

Service Project in New Orleans

Working with the St. Bernard Project is a popular option for Spring Break Interfaith Service Trips. The St. Bernard Project was started by an OWU alum and works to reestablish community in the Lower Ninth Ward.
A Double Major, World Traveler and Community Activist— HannahJo Grimes '20 (middle), a double major in Black World Studies and Social Justice, combined her classroom learning with a Theory-to-Practice Grant to Northern Ireland and several local, community engagement activities right in Delaware.

A Double Major, World Traveler and Community Activist

HannahJo Grimes '20 (middle), a double major in Black World Studies and Social Justice, combined her classroom learning with a Theory-to-Practice Grant to Northern Ireland and several local, community engagement activities right in Delaware.
Leader in Activism— Annie Spink '18, a resident of the House of Peace and Justice, served as a leader in activism for the rights of indigenous people. She participated and lead several service trips to the Lakota nation in South Dakota.

Leader in Activism

Annie Spink '18, a resident of the House of Peace and Justice, served as a leader in activism for the rights of indigenous people. She participated and lead several service trips to the Lakota nation in South Dakota.
Painting Her Peace— Alix Templeman '19, a resident of the Tree House, invited campus members to "Paint Your Peace" and creatively express themselves on a collaborative community art piece. She used the event as her Fall 2017 house project. Alix is involved in environmental and feminist activism on campus.

Painting Her Peace

Alix Templeman '19, a resident of the Tree House, invited campus members to "Paint Your Peace" and creatively express themselves on a collaborative community art piece. She used the event as her Fall 2017 house project. Alix is involved in environmental and feminist activism on campus.
Spring Break Service— Students on Interfaith Service Teams can participate in environmental, LGBTQ+, religious, political, or civil activism and service.

Spring Break Service

Students on Interfaith Service Teams can participate in environmental, LGBTQ+, religious, political, or civil activism and service.
Examining Northern Ireland's Police Force— Daniel Delatte '19, Anna L. Davies '19, Eli Reed '19, Cara Harris '18, Adedayo Akinmadeyemi ’19, Lisa Ho, Leslie Melton and HannahJo Grimes '20 attend a lecture at Ulster University about the structure and monitoring of Northern Ireland's police force.

Examining Northern Ireland's Police Force

Daniel Delatte '19, Anna L. Davies '19, Eli Reed '19, Cara Harris '18, Adedayo Akinmadeyemi ’19, Lisa Ho, Leslie Melton and HannahJo Grimes '20 attend a lecture at Ulster University about the structure and monitoring of Northern Ireland's police force.
Travel-Learning in Britain— Dr. Comorau shows students Izzy Sommerdorf '18 and Sarah Gielink '20 an interactive map of London while visiting the London, Sugar and Slavery exhibit at the Museum of London Docklands.

Travel-Learning in Britain

Dr. Comorau shows students Izzy Sommerdorf '18 and Sarah Gielink '20 an interactive map of London while visiting the London, Sugar and Slavery exhibit at the Museum of London Docklands.
Exploring Outside his Discipline— Business major Adedayo Akinmadeyemi ’19 explored his interest in social justice while traveling to Northern Ireland on a Theory-to-Practice Grant in summer 2018.  Akinmadeyemi also used his passion for photography to document every location he visited and every Belfast local he met.

Exploring Outside his Discipline

Business major Adedayo Akinmadeyemi ’19 explored his interest in social justice while traveling to Northern Ireland on a Theory-to-Practice Grant in summer 2018.  Akinmadeyemi also used his passion for photography to document every location he visited and every Belfast local he met.
Activism On and Off Campus— Students can partner with different social justice clubs and groups to attend marches in DC or in Columbus. Recent marches include women's rights, gun control and climate change awareness.

Activism On and Off Campus

Students can partner with different social justice clubs and groups to attend marches in DC or in Columbus. Recent marches include women's rights, gun control and climate change awareness.
SLU Life— Members of the Sexuality and Gender Equality House (SAGE) focus on justice and equality issues within female and LGBTQIA+ populations.

SLU Life

Members of the Sexuality and Gender Equality House (SAGE) focus on justice and equality issues within female and LGBTQIA+ populations.
The Sociology of Sectarianism— Daniel Delatte '19, Anna L. Davies '19 and Eli Reed '19 listen to two sociologists from Queens University Belfast explain the sociological differences between sectarianism in Northern Ireland and racism in America.

The Sociology of Sectarianism

Daniel Delatte '19, Anna L. Davies '19 and Eli Reed '19 listen to two sociologists from Queens University Belfast explain the sociological differences between sectarianism in Northern Ireland and racism in America.
Women's March on Washington— Aimen Shah '20 poses with her protest sign at the Women's March on Washington. On campus, Aimen is actively involved in women's rights activism.

Women's March on Washington

Aimen Shah '20 poses with her protest sign at the Women's March on Washington. On campus, Aimen is actively involved in women's rights activism.
Service Project in Pittsburgh— Rene Garcia '18 helps with food justice projects through Repair the World in Pittsburgh, PA.

Service Project in Pittsburgh

Rene Garcia '18 helps with food justice projects through Repair the World in Pittsburgh, PA.
House of Peace and Justice— Members of the House of Peace and Justice are actively involved in on and off campus service, activism and justice. The house's common room is frequently used for meetings and documentary screenings.

House of Peace and Justice

Members of the House of Peace and Justice are actively involved in on and off campus service, activism and justice. The house's common room is frequently used for meetings and documentary screenings.
Daring to Understand— Char Gross '20 spent Spring Break serving with an Interfaith Service Team at a Muslim mosque and community center in Columbus, Ohio. In 2018, Char co-lead a team to an Interfaith Center in Philadelphia. She lives in the Interfaith House on campus.

Daring to Understand

Char Gross '20 spent Spring Break serving with an Interfaith Service Team at a Muslim mosque and community center in Columbus, Ohio. In 2018, Char co-lead a team to an Interfaith Center in Philadelphia. She lives in the Interfaith House on campus.

Department Contact Info

Location

Elliott Hall 205
Ohio Wesleyan University
Delaware, OH 43015
P 740-368-3906
E soan@owu.edu

Department Contact

Chair: Paul Dean
Professor in the Department of Sociology & Anthropology
Elliott Hall 312
740-368-3837
psdean@owu.edu

Academic Assistant: Deborah Lovell
Academic Assistant
Elliott Hall 205
740-368-3906
djlovell@owu.edu