Social Justice Curriculum and Pedagogy Programs

The Center for Social Justice supports the integration of rigorous disciplinary, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary study with work by offering courses and facilitating collaboration among diverse faculty and community members. Social justice curriculum and pedagogy promote student engagement with experiences and academic inquiry into social justice.

CBL: Social Action

UNXD 130 CBL: Social Action is a 1-credit, community-based learning (CBL) course through CSJ. Students link a course in which they are enrolled with community-based service and social justice work through reflection. 

UNXD 030 – CBL: Intersections of Social Justice (Summer, Online, 1 credit, Pass/Fail)

Intersections of Social Justice is an intensive 8-week online course for students who are in any volunteer or work placement in June and July. Integrating course content with community-based work, students learn and immediately apply core theories and skills for social justice work. At the same time, students learn with each other through reflection-based learning activities and digital media. Intersections puts the “learning” in “experiential learning.” Students enroll in the course for 1 credit, pass/fail.

Community-based Learning Courses

Community-Based Learning (CBL) at Georgetown University is an academic course-based pedagogy that involves student work with disadvantaged and underserved individuals or groups, or organizations working with and for disadvantaged and underserved individuals or groups. This form of learning is often called “service-learning.” The Community-based Learning model attempts to capture Georgetown’s central commitment to partnership with community representatives in designing mutually beneficial outcomes for CBL courses. Approximately 20 undergraduate CBL courses are offered during the academic year (fall, spring, summer) across all four undergraduate schools and School of Continuing Studies.

MLK Curriculum Project: “Teach the Speech”

CSJ supports Georgetown’s “Let Freedom Ring!” Initiative in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through the cross-campus MLK Curriculum Project – “Teach the Speech” – in partnership with the Provost’s Office and Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship. One of Dr. King’s texts is spotlighted across campuses during the Spring semester. Faculty have integrated King’s speeches including “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” “The Other America,” and “Beyond Vietnam” into their diverse curricula across five campuses. CSJ creates supplementary resources to assist faculty in weaving these texts into their courses. For more information and resources on this project, contact CSJ’s Executive Director, Dr. Andria Wisler. 

Social Justice Curriculum Infusion

CSJ staff members welcome the opportunity to meet with GU community members, including faculty and staff, to discuss ways in which social justice themes, speakers and inquiries can be infused into a wide spectrum of courses and programs. CSJ can offer pedagogical, assessment and content-based resources as well as provide introductions to appropriate social justice speakers and partners locally and globally. To schedule a meeting, contact csjcbl@georgetown.edu.