This emphasis builds a critical framework for understanding social inequity, oppression, and movements for social justice. Courses may focus on literature by historically marginalized communities, including those oppressed by structures of race, gender, sexuality, physical and mental ability, citizenship and migration status, religion, class, and other vectors of identity and power. Courses may approach literature as a social space shaped by migration, violence, empire, law, history, geography, and politics, and therefore as a space of social contestation and social justice activism. This emphasis track enables students to ethically examine the possibilities and limits of literature and literary studies as tools to create a more just world for all.
Graduates of this emphasis track might pursue careers in: law, policy, nonprofit administration, social justice and human rights advocacy, education, academia, lobbying, government, community organizing, social work, consulting, management, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work. Students pursuing this track may wish to minor in Sociology, Public Health, CRES, Spanish, Chicano/a Studies, or Community Research and Service depending on their interests and goals.
In addition to adhering to General Education and School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts Requirements the Literatures in English major requires 48 units (some of which simultaneously meet general education requirements). Courses in the major must be taken for a letter grade and may not be taken on a pass/no pass basis unless the course is only offered on a pass/no pass basis. Students must complete all major course prerequisites with a C- or better.
Literatures in English, Literature and Social Justice Emphasis, B.A. Four-Year Course Plan
