Opportunities and Resources

Justice Studies values civic and community engagement.  We encourage students to find ways to be involved with and contribute to their communities.  As articulated on the Civic Engagement Webiste, civic engagement involves “preparing individuals to be active and responsible participants in a representative democracy dedicated to the common good.” 

Justice Studies offers many opportunities for civic and community engagement, including the following:

Courses:

JUST 401. Internship in Justice Studies. 4 credits.

This course allows students to receive academic credit for work experienced in an agency or organization related to the justice studies major. Students should consult the justice studies director for assistance in arranging approved internships. Prerequisites: JUST 200  and JUST 399 . Successful completion of four additional justice studies courses.  This course may be taken only once for credit. 

JUST 403. Nelson Institute Seminar. 3 credits.

Students enrolled in this course will be assigned to consider a contemporary problem Justice Studies. Working individually and in teams, students will first study the problem, and then propose workable solutions. Prerequisite: Junior or senior status and permission of the instructor. This course may be taken twice for credit. 

JUST 404. Practicum in Community-Based Research. 3 credits.

This course provides students with an intensive, collaborative community-based research experience working in partnership with a community organization or group. Students will integrate and apply principles and conceptions of justice and methods of scholarly inquiry to a community-identified problem. This course may be taken twice for credit. Prerequisites: JUST 200 , JUST 399  and permission of the instructor.


Other Programs:

Nelson Institute

Gandhi Center


Contact:

For more information about civic and community engagement opportunities in Justice Studies, please contact the departmental advisor, Daisy Breneman.


University Opportunities and Resources

JMU University Studies Civic Engagement

JMU Civic

JMU Community Service-Learning

Study Abroad

Madison Collaborative: Ethical Reasoning in Action

Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services

Center for International Stabilization and Recovery

Office of Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability

Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE)

Furious Flower Poetry Center


Local Community Opportunities

The Community Service-Learning website contains a database with a more comprehensive list of local agencies; however, here are some that may be of particular interest to Justice Studies majors:

Fairfield Center

NewBridges Immigrant Resource Center

The Collins Center & Child Advocacy Center

Our Community Place

Harrisonburg-Rockingham Community Services Board

Church World Service Immigration and Refugee Program

The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank

Second Home

Boys and Girls Clubs

Gift and Thrift

Gemeinschaft Home

United Way of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County

The ARC of Harrisonburg and Rockingham

Valley Associates for Independent Living


External Opportunities

Please note this is not an endorsement of the organizations, their politics, or the programs, but rather just a list of some opportunities that may be of interest to Justice Studies majors:

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