Humanities & Teacher Education

What is SAAJ?

The Social Action and Justice (SAAJ) Program is a four-course, interdisciplinary program focused on issues of social justice such as human rights, wealth and poverty, the interplay of religion and culture, and the role of media in shaping social movements.  The program includes historical, theoretical and practical perspectives on social issues, providing knowledge and opportunities for social action to students interested in a variety of vocations.  The program encourages students to reflect on how their choices of world view and vocation will affect their lives and society in the twenty-first century.

What does SAAJ entail?

In each of the first three semesters, students and faculty members engage in service-learning activities appropriate to the issues they are studying, providing opportunities for students to be in the community exploring possible vocational choices.  The first two courses in the program are small seminars composed of 18 students and a faculty member.  Based on student interests and with faculty guidance, each class will read, discuss, research, and write about primary texts related to social justice issues.

What General Education requirements does SAAJ fulfill?

Students who complete the four-semester SAAJ sequence will receive credit for the following general education requirements: first-year seminar, ENG 101, literature, and REL 301.

SAAJ in Action

SAAJ students at the Union Rescue Mission on Skid Row where they prepared and served food to the homeless.

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