Social Responsibility Graduate Program (HURL)
Offered through the Department of Human Relations and Multicultural Education
in the School of Education
through collaboration with
the Departments of Sociology and Anthropology,
and Global, Ethnic, and Women's Studies
B118 Education Building
Phone: 320.308.3124
Fax: 320.308.2932
E-mail: socialresponsibility@stcloudstate.edu
Web site: www.stcloudstate.edu/socialresponsibility
Department Chairperson: Dr. Oladele Gazal
Department Secretary: Ms. Tebra Petersen
Graduate Co-Coordinators: Dr. Ajay Panicker and Dr. Mumbi Mwangi
Graduate Faculty: Andrzejewski, Berila, Finan, Greider, Hackman, Hakim, Hofmann, Hollengaugh,
Ore, Panicker, Philion, Scheel-Keita, Schultz, Tademe, Tripp, Zerbib, Zuo
Admission Requirements Specific to the Program
- For admission consideration to the program, a candidate must first meet the minimum GPA admission requirements of the School of Graduate Studies at St. Cloud State University.
- The GRE is not required.
- Admission decisions are made throughout the year as completed application files are received . Students may be admitted for fall, spring and summer terms.
- When all application materials are received, the completed application file is sent to the graduate program for review by a faculty committee. An academic recommendation is returned to the School of Graduate Studies for final review and an admission decision. Applicants are notified immediately of the admission decision and can start the next academic term if appropriate and feasible to their situation.
- An applicant should include in his or her application an intent statement explaining his or her interest and background in global, social and environmental responsibility.
- The written intent statement and application will be closely examined. The department is interested in the reason why the student is attracted to the program.
Application Deadlines Specific to the Program
Length of Program — Measured by Semesters
- Part-time student: five to six semesters taking six credits per semester.
- Full-time student: three semesters taking 12 credits per semester.
- Full-time student: four semesters taking nine credits per semester.
- The program has been designed to accommodate both part-time and full-time students.
- The program can be completed by taking evening courses only.
Graduate Assistantship Overview
- Three to five graduate assistantship positions are generally sponsored each year, and are available both fall and spring semesters.
- Social responsibility graduate assistants generally disseminate information about the program, recruit students from underrepresented groups, and provide support for students within the social responsibility program.
Degrees and Plans Offered
- Master of Science in Social Responsibility: Plan A (Thesis) at 32 credits
- Master of Science in Social Responsibility: Plan B (Starred Paper) at 32 credits
- Master of Science in Social Responsibility: Plan C (Professional Portfolio) at 36 credits
The Program
The Department of Human Relations and Multicultural Education provides education in self-awareness and skills essential for living and working in a pluralistic, democratic society. Human relations is a multi/interdisciplinary applied field in the study and practice of social responsibility within western and non-western cultures. The department is committed to addressing the serious questions of survival, equity and quality of life facing people around the world. The curriculum presents the voices and perspectives of groups which have historically been excluded from the western canon. Investigative and critical thinking skills are taught in which mainstream and alternative viewpoints are examined for values and veracity.
Human relations graduate courses examine the impact of power, resources, cultural standards, and institutional policies and practices on various groups in our society and develop active citizenship skills for participatory democracy. Specifically, the department addresses issues of social and environmental justice within a global context related to race, gender, class, age, religion, disability, physical appearance, sexual/affectional orientation, nationality/culture, and species.
Human Relations 1) collaboratively offers an interdisciplinary Master's of Science in Social Responsibility with sociology, and women's studies; 2) provides quality courses that fulfill the human relations requirement for teacher licensure in the state of Minnesota; 3) provides courses, resources, and leadership in meeting the SCSU mission and various accreditation standards on multicultural, gender-fair, disability-aware, GLBT-sensitive education. The graduate courses develop and enhance personal and professional skills in individuals, organizations, and global social responsibility for a wide range of non-profit, public and private sector positions in advocacy, education, communications, health, government, social services, business, and international careers.
This interdisciplinary master's degree in social responsibility addresses a citizen's responsibility to others, to society, and to the environment. It provides a solid academic foundation of the theory and practice of social responsibility, historically and contemporarily, within western and nonwestern cultures. It offers practical skills for involved citizenship at the local, state, national, and global levels within a democratic and culturally diverse context.
Constructive approaches to the pressing issues of equality, resource distribution, work, education, health, safety, survival, and environmental sustainability are explored in a personal, professional and global context. Specifically, the curriculum will provide knowledge and skills on the issues of race, gender, class, disability, age, national origin, sexual orientation, species, labor, global human rights, the environment and other issues of social responsibility. Students will develop skills in critical analysis, investigation, research, writing, and socially responsible citizenship.
As serious issues of cultural diversity and global sustainability become more salient features of every society, a broad foundation of academic inquiry has been developing in many traditional fields as well as emerging disciplines which explores theories, paradigms and methodologies of social responsibility. The study of social responsibility is not founded in any one traditional discipline. Rather it is multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary, spanning every discipline from humanities to social science to education, business, science and technology. This interdisciplinary degree in social responsibility will provide knowledge and skills to persons who wish to respond to these demands.
For course descriptions, find listings in human relations and multicultural education, sociology, community studies and women's studies.
Master of Science — Social Responsibility
Plan A, 32 credits; Plan B, 32 credits; Plan C, 36 credits
Research Courses
Plan A, 6 credits; Plan B or C, 0 credits
- Plan A: Thesis required, choose HURL, SOC, or WS 699, 6 credits
- Plan B: Starred Paper required
- Plan C: Project/Portfolio required
Core Courses
12 credits
- HURL 682. Advanced Theory and Issues in Human Relations, 3 credits
- SOC 679. Research Methods, 3 credits
- SOC 684. Sociology of Social Responsibility, 3 credits
- SOC 685. Sociological Theory, 3 credits
Focus and Context Courses
Plan A, 5 credits; Plans B and C, 8 credits
Students should balance their elective choices between courses that foreground a particular issue in social responsibility (focus topics) and courses providing theoretical and/or historical contexts for understanding multiple issues (context topics). This list is updated periodically and students may substitute other courses with the advisor’s consent.
Focus Courses
2 credit minimum
- HURL 507. Indians and Contemporary Human Rights Issues, 3 credits
- HURL 511. Heterosexism, 3 credits
- HURL 512. Disability Rights, 3 credits
- HURL 514. Gender Issues in Education, 3 credits
- HURL 517. Global Issues in Gender, 2 credits
- HURL 518. Xenophobia, 3 credits
- HURL 520. Human and Animal Relations/Rights, 3 credits
- WS/ETHS 505. Women of Color, 3 credits
- SSCI 576. Black and American: Issues in Afro-American Studies, 3 credits
- SOC 568. Inequality in the Capitalist World System, 3 credits
- SOC 573. The Sociology of Sexualities, 3 credits
- SOC 582. Sociology and the Global Politics of Food, 3 credits
SOC 650. Sociology of Aging and the Life Course, 3 credits
SOC/WS/HURL 630. Topics in Social Responsibility, 1-3 credits with advisor permission.
Context Courses
2 credit minimum
- HURL 502. Current Issues in Human Relations, 1-3 credits
- HURL 508. Global Human Relations, 3 credits
- HURL 513. Diversity in the Workplace, 3 credits
- HURL 515. Human Relations of Science, 2 credits
- HURL 516. Critical Analysis of Media, 3 credits
- HURL 518. Xenophobia, 3 credits
- HURL 519. Genocide and Oppression, 3 credits
- HURL 550. Theory and Practice, 3 credits
- SOC 512. Self and Society, 3 credits
- SOC 532. Global Nature: Society and Environment, 3 credits
- SOC 555. Sociology of Work , 3 credits
- SOC 560. Social Problems and Social Policy, 3 credits
- SOC 562. Seminar, topic approved with advisor’s permission, 3 credits
- SOC 572. Sociology of the Family, 3 credits
- SOC 574. Culture and Family, 3 credits
- SOC 575. Sociology of Health and Illness, 3 credits
- SOC 581. Advanced Seminar in Social Inequality, 3 credits
- SOC 582. Sociology and the Global Politics of Food, 3 credits
- SOC/WS 593. Gender, Space and Society: Global Perspectives, 3 credits
- SOC 602. Seminar in Social Psychology, 3 credits
- SOC 656. Seminar in the Sociological Study of Organizations, 3 credits
- SOC 672. Family Theory and Research, 3 credits
- SOC 689. Advanced Analysis of Deviance in Society, 3 credits
- WS 515. Feminist Theory, 3 credits
- WS 645. Feminist Scholarship and the Construction of Knowledge, 3 credits
- HURL/SOC/WS 630. Topics in Social Responsibility, 1-3 credits with advisor permission
Professional Development Courses
Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C, 6 credits
Professional development courses give students the opportunity to develop skills relevant to the practice of social responsibility in a variety of practice settings. Students taking Plan C may count up to three credits of internship experience as professional development credits.
- ANTH 502. Ethnographic Research Methods, 3 credits
- ANTH 592. Field Research in Anthropology, 1-6 credits
- HURL 591. Change Agent Skills, 3 credits
- HURL 592. Practicum in Social Change, 1-3 credits
- HURL 620. Research Methods in HURL, 2 credits
- HURL 622. Professional Writing and Reporting in HURL, 2 credits
- HURL 680. Internship in Human Relations, 2-8 credits
- HURL 681. Teaching Social Justice, 3 credits
- SOC 556. Complex Organizations, 3 credits
- SOC 578. Advanced Statistics and Practice, 3 credits
- SOC 644. Internship, 3-6 credits
- SOC 680. Seminar in Sociological Practice, 3 credits
- WS/HURL 506. Sexual Assault Advocacy Training, 3 credits
- WS 545. Women and Computers, 3 credits
- HURL/SOC/WS 630. Topics in Social Responsibility, 1-3 credits with advisor permission
Elective Courses
Plan A, 3 credits, Plan B, 6 credits; Plan C, 10 credits
Choose from any of the courses listed above or others with advisor’s consent. Students are encouraged to use their elective credits in an internship.
- SOC 644. Internship, 3-6 credits
- HURL 680. Internship in Human Relations, 2-8 credits
- HURL/SOC/WS 630. Topics in Social Responsibility, 1-3 credits with advisor permission
