UCOP A-G Approved: Section G – Elective – Grades 11-12 (Interdisciplinary)

In this course, students explore multiple definitions of social justice and methods used to promote social change. Students begin by evaluating how self and group identities shape individual perception and communities by investigating social identities and the agents of socialization. Students evaluate power dynamics by analyzing the distribution of wealth and power. Students investigate how public policy is developed to identify how lawmakers, community organizations, lobbyists, and popular movements shape policy and create a platform to affect social change. Students examine the historical importance and the contemporary relevance of struggles to overcome inequality and injustice. Students apply their understanding of social justice by identifying existing issues present in their own school and community. Students evaluate emerging social justice movements on a local, state, national, and global level by studying social justice issues, movements, pedagogy, and case studies. This course will consider the impact that the arts and social movements have on each other. Historical and theoretical materials will be contextualized by guest lectures, collaborations with local organizations, discussions, and performances by local artists, social justice advocates, lawyers, and community workers. Students will learn skills to proactively address issues of social justice, focusing on effective group and inter-group communication and organizing, development and implementation of action plans, linked learning projects, participation in discussion via community building circles, the critique of media, research, analysis of statistics with meaningful reflection.