Social Transformation

Program Overview

In the Social Transformation (STR) concentration, students learn to be scholar-practitioners who link theory to activism and engagement in social issues, and contribute to a body of knowledge that can directly lead to social change, based on emancipatory, humanistic, and transpersonal values. Students are provided with a common language and theoretical grounding, from which to creatively explore and address specific concerns, from local issues, such as violence prevention in schools, to broader global civil society issues, such as social justice, peace, human rights, globalization, and cultural “isms” (e.g., racism, sexism). Students may also choose to deepen their knowledge in four certificate areas: Violence Prevention and Response, Community Health and Development, Peace and Conflict Resolution, and Building Sustainability.

In addition to regular course work and Residential Conference seminars, Social Transformation students and faculty participate in an ongoing online learning community. The community site includes student and faculty bios, and areas on Social Transformation-related scholarships and fellowships, employment and internship opportunities, journals and publication opportunities, and a calendar of upcoming conferences and events relevant to the interests of those in the Concentration. The community also features student- and faculty-created “interest areas,” where participants share information, research, videos, and web links on topics such as Social Media and Social Activism; Middle East Dialogue; Diversity, Multiculturalism and Inclusion; Human Trafficking; and NGO Activism in Africa.

Students completing the Social Transformation concentration have found a broad range of professional opportunities for their training, including: designing a student retention program for Native American students, working with the California Attorney General’s office on domestic violence policy, developing a new model for the emancipation of foster care youth, evaluating community programs for at-risk youth, establishing a program for maintaining economic viability for Tibetan refugees in Nepalese camps, working with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and NATO peacekeepers in Kosovo, developing corporate-community partnerships to further environmental education, and creating a community-based model for school improvement. Several are involved in domestic and youth violence prevention and intervention and in diversity training programs. In addition to their organizational and activist work, some Social Transformation graduates teach at the college or university level in a variety of disciplines.