SJ Social Justice

Appendix F

Course Expectations, Student Learning Outcomes, and Links to Goals for Social Justice (SJ)
(3 units)

SF State Studies courses are expected to engage students with the core values of San Francisco State University. Courses approved to satisfy SF State Studies requirements are expected to meet the spirit of these requirements. The theme of the designation should be infused into the course but is not required to be the primary theme or topic of the course. Although some assignments must address the theme, it is not required that all assignments do so.

Students earning baccalaureate degrees from San Francisco State University must complete a three-unit course that is designated as a Social Justice (SJ) course. Any course (one in general education, a major, a minor, a certificate, complementary studies, or an elective) that is designated an SJ course may meet this requirement. Students may use the same course to fulfill more than one requirement, if the course is designated as meeting more than one requirement, but the units will be counted only once.

Course Expectations for Social Justice (3 units; may be an overlay)

To be certified by the Baccalaureate Requirements Committee as meeting the Social Justice (SJ) university requirement,

1. The course may be a lower or upper division course, with or without prerequisites, a transfer course or a course taken in residence, and it may be anywhere in the curriculum (e.g., GE, major, minor, certificate, electives, etc.). Each student earning a baccalaureate degree from San Francisco State University is required to complete at least one social justice class.

2. The course must address social constructions of identity, hierarchy, power, and privilege; community resistance and empowerment; and social justice. The social constructions may be related to variations among humans, including such factors as abilities, ages, cultures, genders, geographic locations, histories, immigration statuses, languages, national and ethnic identities, racializations, religions, sexualities, socio-economic classes.

3. The course syllabus must list the university-approved student learning outcomes for social justice and link them to activities and/or assignments that students complete to demonstrate they have met the outcomes.

Student Learning Outcomes for Social Justice (3 units; may be an overlay)

After completion of a course designated as fulfilling the Social Justice requirement, students will be able to:

1. analyze, articulate, and apply principles of social justice in addressing social constructions of identity, hierarchy, power, and privilege; and

2. identify ways in which they can contribute to social justice within local communities, nations, or the world.

Links between Educational Goals and Outcomes for Social Justice

The student learning outcomes were developed in relationship to the “Educational Goals for the Baccalaureate at San Francisco State University.” The chart below illustrates that relationship for social justice. The numbers correspond to the way the educational goals and student learning outcomes are numbered above.