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Social Development and Social Justice
This interterm course explores social and community development as approaches to empowerment and achievement of social and economic justice for marginalized populations. The course includes a community laboratory experience. Prerequisites: SSC 222 and SWK 310 or consent of the instructor.
Section 01 of the course includes community laboratory experiences involving field trips to Wichita and southwest Kansas with exposure to local examples of marginalization and social development.
Participants in Section 02 travel to Mexico to encounter the realities of the country and how global issues affect its people. Various topics are explored, including urban/rural poverty, immigration issues, human rights and the role of religion and spirituality. Included in the course are opportunities to interact with local people through home visits and visits to social service and development projects. Students are exposed to the riches of Mexican art, culture and archeology. Bethel works with QUEST Mexico, a nonprofit organization devoted to creating social justice and peace through transformative, experiential education.