Urban Poverty Studies, Minor
Drawing on the long tradition of Saint Louis University's commitment to the city of St. Louis, the interdisciplinary minor in urban poverty studies is an examination of local, national and global forms of poverty, inequality and social injustice in urban environments.
Curriculum Overview
Through coursework and practical experience serving in the city of St. Louis, students from across academic disciplines will think critically about the most pressing problems faced by people living on the margins in contemporary cities. In addition, they will investigate the ways in which the minor can supplement their major field of study.
The 15-credit interdisciplinary minor is open to all undergraduates at the University, regardless of their college/school or major.
Courses listed below in each category are only a sample of the overall course options which fulfill requirements for the minor. No course may fulfill more than one urban poverty studies minor requirement.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Courses | 6 | |
| Choose two courses (6 credits) on the nature of justice, urban social and political problems and social ethics with an Urban Poverty-Introduction attribute. They should be 1xxx level courses. | ||
| Examples are: | ||
CORE 1600 | Ultimate Questions: Theology | |
CORE 1700 | Ultimate Questions: Philosophy | |
PHIL 1050 | Introduction to Philosophy: Self and Reality | |
SOC 1500 | The Urban Community: Race, Class, and Spatial Justice | |
| Four Areas of Specialization | 6 | |
| Choose at least two courses in one of the following areas with Urban Poverty attributes. | ||
| Examples are: | ||
| Urban Poverty - Cycles of Exclusion | ||
AAM 2000 | Freedom Dreams: Intro to African American Studies | |
CCJ 3500 | Race, Ethnicity, and the Criminal Justice System | |
CMM 4320 | Communicating Across Racial Divisions | |
PHIL 4820 | Philosophy and Race | |
PSY 4330 | Psychology of Oppression | |
| Urban Poverty - Immigration and Globalization | ||
ASTD 3020 | American Mosaic: Literature & Diversity | |
LAS 3000 | Introduction to Latin American Studies | |
SOC 3180 | Immigration | |
THEO 3415 | Christ and Color: Liberation Theology | |
| Urban Poverty - Health Care | ||
HSCI 2000 | The U.S. Health Care System | |
NURS 3100 | Healthcare Policy, Finance and Regulatory Environments | |
PUBH 2300 | Contemporary Issues in Global Health | |
SOC 2360 | Health Inequalities in the U.S. | |
| Urban Poverty - Theory of Social Justice | ||
ENGL 2250 | Conflict, Social Justice and Literature | |
PHIL 4840 | Catholic Social Thought | |
PSY 4330 | Psychology of Oppression | |
THEO 2515 | Social Justice | |
| Additional Electives | 3 | |
| One additional course from any category with an Urban Poverty attribute. | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Non-Course Requirement: Community Service
At least four terms (or their equivalent) of approved community service, averaging at least 30 hours per term.
Substitutions
In unusual circumstances, students may (at the discretion of the director) substitute relevant courses not listed above by contracting with the instructor to write a substantive paper related to urban problems or community service. Contracts must be approved no later than the second week of classes.
Continuation Standards
Students must have a GPA of 2.00 in urban poverty studies minor coursework to be retained in the minor.