Social Justice Studies Distinction

Visit Fall '26 SJS Course Schedule for our current offerings!

Social Justice Education @ Harper

Many students, just like you, wish to align their education and career paths with the needs of their communities. If you want to answer the call of service and civic engagement, Harper offers specialized course sections which are built around a social justice theme. The majority of our Social Justice Studies (SJS) courses fulfill general education requirements, allowing you to prioritize transfer goals and degree completion while remaining immersed in the work of imagining, analyzing, and achieving justice.

How to participate

There are two primary ways to engage in the Social Justice experience at Harper:

Social Justice Studies Exploration

This path is ideal for students who want to explore social justice curriculum in only a few subjects or with a specific professor. Every SJS course taken will be noted on your transcript. To pursue this path you will simply need to:

enroll in one or more specialized Social Justice Studies course sections.

Social Justice Studies Graduate Distinction

The SJS Graduate Distinction path is ideal for students who want the full Social Justice Studies experience. Upon completion of all requirements, SJS Scholars will earn a special Social Justice Studies Distinction on their transcript and diploma and receive special recognition at the annual Honors Convocation and Commencement. To pursue this path you will need to complete the following steps while earning your associate’s degree.:

successfully complete all 11-12 credit hours of SJS coursework required for the Social Justice Studies Distinction
successfully complete the capstone course CAP201: Social Transformation Capstone.

Student Testimonials

“Through the [Social Justice Studies] Distinction, you get your eyes opened and you become more aware of your surroundings. It’s almost like waking up again.”

“[The Social Justice Studies Distinction] is about becoming empowered to enact change on an in-depth, academically sound level. It’s about learning from cultures, not about cultures, and learning how to use my privilege in productive ways to make a difference.”

“A big part of it has been to change my perspective and look at the world in a deeper way than just surface level and what we have been socialized into; to challenge mainstream beliefs and the downplaying of our actions that keep us trapped as participants in a cycle of injustice. Historical change starts with the self.”

For more information, contact the Social Justice Studies Coordinator:

Michael Bentley
socialjustice@harpercollege.edu
847.925.6271