Justice, Community and Leadership: Leadership Concentration, BA

How do we make the world a better, more equitable place?

This rigorous program of interdisciplinary study is designed for students passionate about addressing interconnected systems of injustice and oppression. Guided by our renowned, approachable faculty, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of social justice research and practice.

You’ll have numerous opportunities to work alongside communities and organizations, at home and abroad, to tackle real-world injustices. Along the way, you’ll hone your critical inquiry, adaptive and systems thinking, and collaborative problem-solving, all valuable skills in the new economy.

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Learn More About Our Program

Get to know our well-respected faculty and their specialties.

Faculty

CURRICULUM

Program Degree Requirements

Learning Outcomes

PLO 1: DEMONSTRATE knowledge of the ways systemic inequities (e.g. economic, racial, gender, environmental) are reproduced and interconnected historically and in our contemporary world.
PLO 2: UTILIZE critical transdisciplinary lenses to analyze unjust power relations and systemic oppression, centering the experiences, histories, and visions of oppressed communities.
PLO 3: USE appropriate library and information literacy skills, evaluate and apply research methodologies in ways that challenge dominant assumptions about knowledge production to articulate, interpret and contribute to social justice.
PLO 4: COLLABORATE with diverse community formations to imagine, co-construct, organize for and sustain strategies that contribute to a more just social order.
PLO 5: UTILIZE oral, written, artistic, expressive and new media formats to advocate for transformative social change with attention to audience and power relations.
PLO 6: DEMONSTRATE cultural humility and an understanding of one’s positionality within historical and intersecting systems of power.

Requirements

Required Courses

Take the following required courses:

Intro to Jcl (3 units)
Intro to Community Engagement (2 units)
Intro to Community Engagement (1 units)
Theory and Inquiry in JCL (4 units)
Environmental Justice (4 units)
The Global Community (4 units)
Advanced Leadership Theory (3 units)
Adv Leadership: Engaged Learn (1 units)
Special Topics (4 units)
Senior Capstone I (3 units)
Senior E-Portfolio (1 units)

Leadership Concentration

Take 11 units from the following:

Gender and Culture (4 units)
Kinship, Marriage & Family (4 units)
Issues in Globalization (4 units)
Global Perspectives on Race (4 units)
Urban Anthropology (4 units)
Anthropology of Religion (4 units)
Museum Studies (4 units)
Topics in Communication (200s) (3-4 units)
Intercultural Communication (4 units)
Interpersonal Communication (3 units)
International Communication (4 units)
Community Media (3 units)
Sustainability (4 units)
Sustainability Engaged Learn (1 units)
Creating Community
Creating Community EL
Special Topics in Ethnic Studi (4 units)
Critical Race Theory
Public History (4 units)
Public History EL (1 units)
Sport and Social Justice (4 units)
Community Health (4 units)
Multicultural Hlth & Wellness (4 units)
Facilitating Change (3 units)
Managing & Leading Organizatns (4 units)
Intercult-Interfaith Ldshp (3 units)
Interfaith Leadership EL (1 units)
Pol Parties, Soc Mvmnt, Int Gr (4 units)
Campaigns and Elections (3 units)
Introduction to Public Policy (3 units)
Intro to Public Policy EL (1 units)
Politics of Labor (4 units)
Politics and Race (3 units)
Politics and Race EL (1 units)
Politics in the Global Economy (4 units)
Human Rights (4 units)
Theories of Justice (4 units)
Whiteness (4 units)
Sociology of Families (4 units)
Gender and Society (4 units)
Interactive Theatre (3 units)
Interactive Theatre: EL (1 units)
Social Justice Praxis (4 units)

Justice, Community and Leadership: Leadership Concentration, BA + Single Subject Teaching Credential

Earn an JCL: Leadership, BA and a Single-Subject Teaching Credential at Saint Mary's in just four years through our Single Subject Teaching Credential Integrated Pathway!

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All Program Courses

Intro to Jcl (3 units)
Intro to Community Engagement (2 units)
Intro to Community Engagement (1 units)
Praxis: Special Topics (1 units)
Praxis: Communities (1 units)
Education Policy (1 units)
JCL Elective (1-5 units)
Theory and Inquiry in JCL (4 units)
Environmental Justice (4 units)
The Global Community (4 units)
Advanced Leadership Theory (3 units)
Adv Leadership: Engaged Learn (1 units)
Special Topics (4 units)
JCL UD Elective (1-5 units)
Senior Capstone I (3 units)
Internship (1-4 units)
Senior E-Portfolio (1 units)
Independent Study (1-4 units)

What can you do with a degree in JCL: Leadership?

This major helps you build skills in organizing people, understanding policy, communicating across different cultures, and seeing how social systems work in nonprofits, government, or mission-driven organizations.
(*Some careers may require extra certification or graduate school)

Community Organizer
Mobilizes residents, builds coalitions, and runs campaigns to advance local policy and social change

Nonprofit Program Manager
Designs, budgets, and evaluates community programs while supervising staff and reporting outcomes to funders

Policy Analyst (Entry-Level)
Synthesizes research and stakeholder input into briefs and recommendations for agencies or advocacy groups

DEI Coordinator
Implements inclusion training, tracks equity metrics, and supports employee/resource groups within organizations

Public Affairs & Advocacy Associate
Manages stakeholder outreach, prepares testimony, and coordinates communications on legislative priorities

Social Impact Consultant (Analyst)
Assesses community needs, maps systems, and recommends evidence-based interventions for mission-driven clients

Campaign Field Director
Leads voter outreach, volunteer operations, and data-driven field strategy for candidates or ballot measures

Community Health & Wellness Coordinator
Builds partnerships, delivers health education, and measures program impact in underserved communities

Saint Mary's Testimonials

"The Justice, Community, and Leadership (JCL) major is truly unique and impactful. It has assisted me in seeing our society, both past and present, from the perspectives of the oppressed, the marginalized, and the disadvantaged. which in turn, afforded me the opportunity to revitalize my own thoughts on many societal issues/contexts.”

Brandon Dela Cruz, Class of 2022

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