Global Peace, Human Rights, and Justice Studies

College of Humanities
Dean: Paul Sherwin

College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Dean: Joel Kassiola

Global Peace, Human Rights, and Justice Studies Program
HUM 352
415-338-1713
Co-Director: Karen Lovaas, Communication Studies

SCI 383
415-405-2467
Co-Director: Mariana Ferreira, Anthropology

Program

Minor in Global Peace, Human Rights, and Justice Studies


Program Scope

As its title demonstrates, the Global Peace, Human Rights, and Justice Studies Minor is closely aligned with the mission and core values of SF State. We live in a world fraught with warring and ecological devastation and threatened by the frequent failure of governmental and financial powers to fashion just and effective solutions. Yet there are historical and contemporary examples of individuals, groups, and countries working productively and creatively within and across national boundaries to stop violent conflicts, form affirmative alliances, and ensure that basic rights and freedoms are available to all.

Global Peace, Human Rights, and Justice Studies is an all-university, interdisciplinary minor in which students and faculty cooperatively study and explore the problems, issues, challenges, and opportunities to prevent war and to make this a more just, peaceable and sustainable world.

Career Outlook

The Minor in Global Peace, Human Rights, and Justice Studies provides critical thinking collaborative, and problem-solving skills relevant to students whatever their major course of study. These are the skills for analyzing and redressing the underlying roots of violence and injustice, including poverty, racism, sexism, heterosexism, imperialism, and environmental degradation. These are the skills that empower people to work more effectively to protect human rights and create systems of social justice.

Centers

The Global Peace, Human Rights, and Justice Studies Program works cooperatively with others in developing internships, sponsoring programs and conferences, and engaging in other educational projects in pursuit of peace and justice.

The Institute for Civic and Community Engagement (ICCE)

ICCE provides opportunities for civic engagement and leadership development at San Francisco State University for students, faculty, and community members. Through innovative courses, experiential learning, political engagement, participatory action research, and direct services, we partner the resources and expertise of the urban university with the knowledge and assets of diverse communities. Working locally, statewide, nationally, and internationally, we cultivate strong leaders who will effectively advocate for social, economic and educational inclusion, and fully participate in the civic life and political processes of their communities.

Public Research Institute

PRI draws upon the expertise of scholars on the SF State campus and in other academic institutions to conduct research in public health, public services and policies, and on strategies for disseminating data and social science methods to neighborhoods and communities.

Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute, Berkeley, California

Since 1965 the institute has been providing information on law and history to scholars, activists, and the media; and working for jobs, justice, and peace.

Events

Every year this program organizes an Annual Human Rights Summit in association with the course Anthropology and Human Rights (ANTH 588/788). All students are encouraged to participate in this event and may enroll in ANTH or COMM 699, or another internship of their choice, to earn credit for their work, with the consent of the instructor.

MINOR IN GLOBAL PEACE, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND JUSTICE STUDIES

Courses are 3 units unless otherwise indicated. On-line course descriptions are available.

Core Units
GPS 315/
IR 315  
Introduction to Global Peace Studies 3
     See adviser for second core course 3-4
Units in conflict resolution selected from: 3-4
IR 432 Model United Nations (4)  
PSY 547 Social Conflict and Conflict Resolution
COMM 531 Conflict Resolution (4)
Units in international law and organizations selected from: 3-4
GPS 375/
PHIL 375  
Peace, Law, and Human Rights  
IR 334 International Organizations: New World Order (4)
Units selected in the philosophies of peace and non-violence: 3
HUM 366 India's Gandhi  
PHIL 435 Human Rights in Global Perspective
PHIL 502 World Religions
Electives
Units chosen on advisement from the following: 6-8
ANTH 321 Endangered Cultures  
ANTH 588
ANTH 788
Anthropology and Human Rights (4)
COMM 449 Rhetoric of Criminality and Punishment (4)
COMM 461 Issues in Free Speech (4)
GPS 375/
PHIL 375  
Peace Law and Human Rights in the U.S. (If not taken in the core.)
HIST 317/
JS 317  
The Holocaust and Genocide
HIST 428 History of the United States since 1945
HIST 464 American Ethnic and Race Relations I: 1740-1890
HIST 465 American Ethnic and Race Relations II: 1890-Present
HUM 366 India's Gandhi (If not taken in the core.)
IR 330 World Law (4)
IR 334 International Organizations: New World Order (4) (If not taken in the core.)
IR 432 Model United Nations (4) (If not taken in the core.)
IR 544
SS 544
PLSI 544
Women in the World
PHIL 435 Human Rights in Global Perspective (If not taken in the core.)
PLSI 552 Individual Rights in the Constitution (4)
PSY 547 Social Conflict and Conflict Resolution (If not taken in the core.)
SOC 461 Ethnic Relations: International Comparisons (4)
USP 515/
GEOG 667 
Environmental Justice: Race, Poverty, and the Environment
ANTH 699 
or    
COMM 699 
Individual Study (1-3 units; maximum of 3 units total)
The following electives are available for field study or internship, on advisement:
GPS 699 (1-3), IR 640 (1-5), PHIL 680 (1-3), WGS 698 (1-3)
Program total 21-26