Master of Arts in Social Justice

Overview

Loyola University is Jesuit and Catholic, a home to persons of many faiths, and sees its institutional vocation as “preparing people to lead extraordinary lives.”  Located in a great urban metropolis, Chicago, Illinois, on the shore of Lake Michigan, Loyola continues the centuries-old tradition of Jesuit academic excellence, a personal and community approach to education, and social relevance.  Now in its fortieth year, the Institute of Pastoral Studies educates spiritual leaders for church and community, and offers a variety of degree programs, all of which integrate self-awareness, world-awareness, and spiritual tradition-awareness.  

The M.A. in Social Justice

This program is created to serve a new generation of idealistic, pragmatic activists, offering them a solid grounding in spiritual and theological foundations, information bases on the key social justice issues today, the skills and tools of assessment and analysis in addressing these issues, best-practice strategies for effective work in advocacy and community development, an in-depth supervised internship at sites where social justice work is exemplary, and the practical tools of successful leadership in addressing social justice issues.  This degree is designed primarily for persons who are currently working or who intend to work as social change agents, environmental advocates, community activists, labor or community organizers, and advocates for marginated or exploited people.  The M.A. in Social Justice understands all of this work from a faith and values based perspective, grounding the work of social justice in religious, philosophical, and theological principles.  Students learn practical on-the-ground skills from qualified professionals as well as academic theory and analysis from a high-quality, interdisciplinary faculty.  The strengths of the program include:

• Participating in a comprehensive and integrated graduate program that educates, credentials, and shapes career paths in faith-based social justice work;
• Integrating experiential education with broad, in-depth learning, the skills of assessment and analysis, and the practice of community organizing and social advocacy;
• Providing a solid religious and theological grounding for social activism.

M.A. Degree Program

The M.A. in Social Justice is 36-credit hour program that includes twelve 3-hour courses.  It is done as a cohort program that includes two summers of intensive course work at Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus and a two-semester internship between September and May in between these intensive summer courses.  The degree is accomplished within an 18-month period.  New cohorts are begun the second week of June every year.

The twelve courses, of which are required for this degree include:

• Social Justice Foundations: Philosophical, Religious, and Theological Bases for Social Justice
• Liberation Theology: Social Justice Assessment and Analysis
• Diversity and Equity: Issues in a Socioculutral and Political Context
• Economics and Worker Rights
• Community Organizing and Community Development

• Internship I—Beginning Action-Reflection in Context [e-learning connection to IPS faculty]
• Internship II—Advanced Action-Reflection in Context [e-learning connection to IPS faculty]

• Social Ethics: Politics and the Global Economy
• Eco-Justice: Environmental Issues and Human Ethics
• Non-Violence, Reconciliation, and Mediation
• Practical Skills for Change Agents
• Integrating Seminar: Social Policy and Advocacy Skills

Admission Requirements

For admission to this degree program, all applicants must submit:

• A $40 application fee
• A completed application form
• Official transcripts of all undergraduate work and any graduate work
• Letters of recommendation (Three letters, at least two of which are from university professors familiar with the applicant’s academic readiness to do graduate work, and all of which attest to the applicant’s compatibility with the focus of this program)
• A personal statement (approximately 3-4 typed pages) describing academic and experiential background compatible with this degree and the applicant’s life-career interests in pursuing this program

Prerequisites

There are no formal prerequisites for this program and no academic testing requirements.  However, applicants must demonstrate in their personal statement and letters of recommendation their commitment and dedication to social justice.  Specific reference should be made to academic course work and out-of-classroom involvements such as immersion experiences, service trips, participation in social justice, environmental, and peace advocacy groups and campaigns. Admission to this program is competitive, and applicants will be selected on the basis of both academic readiness for graduate work and demonstrated interest and involvement in social justice groups and projects.

Application Deadlines

Applicants must submit all application materials to Loyola at least two months prior to the start-up of the cohort program in which they intend to enroll.  For example, for the cohort beginning in June 2005, materials should be submitted no later than April 10, 2005.  Applications will be processed as the completed materials are submitted, so early application is encouraged.

Contact Information