Bachelor of Liberal Arts – Social Justice Studies Concentration
Unique Offerings
Social Justice Studies is grounded in an understanding of the central role nonviolent social movements and citizen organizations play in a democratic society. This also empowers you to take a more active role in your community.
You can take courses in each of the following five core subject areas:
- Social Movements and Democracy
- Organizing and Building Social Movements
- Civic Engagement, Policy-making, and Government
- Leadership Development
- Social Issues
General Requirements
The degree requirements for graduation are satisfied when you complete:
A total of 180 quarter credits (at least 45 credits taken at Antioch University), including:
- Up to 48 credits of prior learning
- At least 60 upper division credits
- Three required core courses:
- Liberal Studies Seminar; Diversity, Power & Privilege; Inquiry & Research
- An area of concentration (six required courses)
- Four quarters of study at Antioch University Seattle (or more)
- A portfolio of your work reflecting academic progress
- A Senior synthesis project and Symposium presentation
Length of Program
Most students graduate from the B.A. completion program in two years or less. Completion of 180 quarter credits is required for graduation.
Tuition & Fees
- Tuition: $560 per credit
- Required fees: $145 per quarter
- $6,865 tuition and required fees per quarter, full time (12 credits)
- $27,460 typical annual tuition and fees
- Credits documented for Life Experience: $140 per credit
Annual tuition and fees based on 2013-14 rates for four quarters. Antioch University Seattle students typically attend classes all year.
Career Opportunities
Opportunities may include work within political and grassroots organizations with a focus on social justice or within governmental agencies concerned with social justice issues. This area also is appealing if you are interested in teaching social studies or in strengthening your civic engagement.
Program Summary
The goal of the Social Justice Studies concentration is to prepare you for work within political and grassroots organizations with a focus on social justice or within governmental agencies concerned with social justice issues. This area also is appealing if you are interested in teaching social studies or in strengthening your civic engagement.
Social Justice Studies is grounded in an understanding of the central role nonviolent social movements and citizen organizations play in a democratic society. This also empowers you to take a more active role in your community.
Core Coursework
Social Movements and Democracy
Courses meeting this requirement address the history of nonviolent social movements and discussion of the place of social movements in democratic and nondemocratic societies. Other areas include developing vision, analysis and strategy within activist groups, the importance of citizen empowerment and values, spirituality, and social justice. This may also include introductory level skill-building in organizing and group skills. A sample class that meets this requirement is Nonviolence, Social Movements, and Democracy.
Organizing and Building Social Movements
A course in this area explores the theory and practice of social movement building and/or community organizing, using conceptual frameworks from activist theory, sociological perspectives, and social work. The course helps students understand the community organizing and movement-building process as well as see how it has worked in a number of social movements in the United States and abroad. This course requirement includes project-based learning in which students participate in activities with one or more local groups. A sample class that meets this requirement is Community Organizing in Action.
Civic Engagement, Policy-making and Government
These classes explore aspects of citizenship and government relevant to social justice work. Areas of study include the role of government, running for political office, political parties, and ways citizens can influence the government policy-making process through testifying at hearings, lobbying and related activities. Students also might explore the use of the electoral process as a way to bring about change. Project-based learning could involve lobbying activities or working on a political campaign. A sample class that would meet this core requirement is American Government and Policy-making.
Leadership Development
These courses help students develop practical skills in group leadership, such as meeting facilitation, conflict resolution, and group development, and/or a class with a focus on personal and professional development, encouraging students to see themselves as leaders empowered to initiate projects in their communities. The class could include simulations and/or project-based learning. Sample classes that meet this requirement include:
- Group Facilitation
- Facilitating Democratic Participation
- Group Process
- Transformational Leadership
- Communication for Empowerment
Social Issues
Two courses in social issues, such as the following:
- Wealth and Poverty in America
- Children and Social Policy
- Globalization and Development: Issues in the Global South
- Homelessness
- Race, Racism, and Social Justice
- Gay and Lesbian Studies
- Women’s Studies
- Gender Studies
Sample Electives
- Advanced Group Facilitation
- Facilitating Democratic Participation
- Nonviolent Communication
- Diversity, Power, and Privilege
- Community Organizing
- Creating a Just, Peaceful, and Sustainable Future: Contemporary Organizing Efforts
- Economics
- History courses relevant to the student’s area of interest in social justice
- Additional courses in social issues (such as those listed above)
- Extended internship
Sample Community/Field-based Learning Experiences
- Practicum with a King County youth justice program
- Practicum with a women’s domestic violence shelter
- Service learning project with an immigrant rights advocacy program
- Community organizing for enforcement of the endangered species act
Sample Synthesis Projects
- A critical essay on wealth, poverty, and a livable minimum wage
- Researching and writing a policy statement for a county government health department to secure medical rights for people living with AIDS
- Designing and hosting a forum for neighbors to come together to address issues of racism in their community
Aaron Dietz
BA Liberal Studies, 2007
Antioch has a good reputation, he says, for being able to educate self-learners and for keeping students involved in the learning process. He says he was able to create classes geared toward writing and publishing his own book, something he says would have been much harder to do at a state college.
Bob Hasegawa
B.A. Liberal Studies, 2003
Now Eleventh District Democratic Representative, he says his experience at Antioch surprised him by pushing him beyond his areas of concentration and stretching him in directions he'd never thought of going.
Carson Marshall
B.A. Liberal Studies, MA Whole Systems Design, 2001, 2003
He learned the program supports everyone's unique exploration. He said he realized he could create the way he wants to present himself to the world.
Cheryl Honey
BA Liberal Studies , 2004
It was serendipitous that she ended up going to Antioch. She says her advisers taught her she had special gifts to offer this world and she didn't have to ask for permission to make her unique contribution.
Chris Plyman
BA Liberal Studies, 2009
He happened to be walking along Sixth Avenue in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood when he came upon Antioch University. It looked like a place where he could do some exploring, so this retired Army warrant officer decided to give it a try.
Colleen Crotty
BA Liberal Studies, 2007
Antioch teaches you to look at things differently and to get involved in the community. She says she wouldn't trade her experience for anything.
Danielle Cameron
B.A. Liberal Studies, M.A. Psychology, Art Therapy with Mental Health Counseling, 2002
She says the more she learned about Antioch, the more she realized it was a school most likely to help her get where she wanted to go. She says it is the school for students who are independently motivated.
Debra Sund
BA Liberal Studies - Individualized Program: Holistic Early Childhood Education , 2008
She very much appreciates the freedom at Antioch and the smaller class size. She says it has a supportive and comfortable atmosphere for an adult learner
Dimitri Azadi
BA Liberal Studies - Individualized Program: Leadership and Diversity Studies, 2009
When many of his friends came to Antioch for their undergraduate studies, they told him it was a wonderful experience. He says he feels as though he is putting energy into his own well-being at Antioch.
Dollviola Eldred
B.A. Liberal Studies - Current student, M.A. Psychology - Mental Health Counseling, 2007
The only thing she needed to succeed was a good education and — thanks to Antioch — she has advanced in her career and predicts she will continue to climb.
Lance Wischler
BA Liberal Studies, 2007
He says the personal attention he experienced from his first phone call to the admissions department was a factor in coming to Antioch. The personal touch allowed him to feel like he mattered, and that he was not simply another number to be shuffled through the process.
Margie King Bloch
B.A. Liberal Studies, M.A. Whole Systems Design — Organization Systems Renewal, 1997
She chose Antioch because she wanted to learn more about the changing face of leadership, and she wanted to do it in an experiential educational setting
Maria Teresa Blankenship
BA Liberal Studies - Individualized Program: Psychology, Health Healing & Herbalism; MA Psychology, Mental Health Counseling, 2006
With a background in nursing and her interest in health healing, herbalism and psychology, she created a program for herself that she describes as an unforgettable journey.
Mary Sherhart
B.A. Liberal Studies, 1999
She says Antioch is an intense experience, a great place for self-motivated and well disciplined people with lots of meaty life experience under their belts.
Oliver Chadd
BA Liberal Studies, 2007
He was up for the unique method in which Antioch educates. He says he was always a quiet student and knew Antioch was set up in such a way he would be in situations where he could not just fade into the background.
Patricia Cavit
BA Liberal Studies, 2005
She says her independant study was an excellent experience. She was able to investigate exactly the areas she was interested in and receive mentoring from the advisers who were supervising.
Rachel Beals
BA Liberal Studies, Spiritual Studies concentration, 2009
Antioch's Spiritual Studies concentration, she says, is a one-of-a-kind undergraduate program. Her priority? She wants to reduce the isolation and despair so many people face today.
Richard Long
BA Liberal Studies, 2007
He chose Antioch because of its commitment to adult education and its social ideology. He says if the concept that a student, through study, research and relationships, obtains the basic philosophies of the institution they attend, then he is a better student, friend and person.
Stephanie McDonald
BA Liberal Studies - Individualized Program: Depth Psychology; MA Psychology, Mental Health Counseling, 2007 & 2011
Antioch is a transformational place where you can find your voice, build confidence and thrive, according to Stephanie McDonald. After completing her BA, her desire to continue learning was on fire and she entered Antioch University Seattle's graduate program in mental health counseling.
Tina Grant
BA Liberal Studies, 2007
Antioch is a place where you can find what it is you want to do with the rest of your life. She says it is not that the teachers will tell you, but that they create a space for you to explore, experiment and find what it is that fills you with passion.
Young-wha Coulter
B.A. Liberal Studies, 2007
Getting credit for life experience was validating for Coulter, who had been a para-educator working with elementary special education children in the Highline School District.
