Applied Social Justice Learning Goals and Outcomes

The educational goals and objectives of the PhD program are to prepare leaders to be change agents in schools, libraries, organizations, and communities. Specifically, graduates of the PhD in Applied Social Justice will be able to:

• Use theory to address pressing issues of social injustice.
• Analyze and critique existing research using qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method research techniques.
• Produce original research providing a contribution to the understanding of causes of injustice and/or a contribution to solutions that pursue social justice.
• Develop policy recommendations for particular professional environments that create, maintain, and expand social justice.
• Offer critique and insight about contemporary debates concerning the major themes of Catholic social teaching, and how these themes play out in the actions, policies, and practices in the daily life of individuals and institutions: option for the poor and marginalized; dignity of work and rights of workers; call to family, community, and participation; care of God’s creation; life and dignity of the human person; and solidarity.