Democracy and Justice Studies (DJS)
Courses
DJS 101. Introduction to Democracy and Justice Studies. 3 Credits.
This team-taught course will introduce students to a variety of theories about democracy and justice and offer examples of those who have attempted to put democracy and justice into practice, as well as the opportunity to apply these theories and examples in a high-impact experience.
Fall and Spring.
DJS 198. First Year Seminar. 3 Credits.
First Year Seminar, topics vary.
Reserved for New Incoming Freshman
Fall and Spring.
DJS 200. Mentoring for Equity and Inclusion. 3 Credits.
Students will serve as mentors for Green Bay high school students participating in the Federal TRIO Upward Bound program. Mentors will help promote the development of skills critical to academic success, will encourage students to aspire to college, will help overcome barriers to college attainment, and will act as a role model and resource for the underrepresented students served by TRIO programs. A critical component of mentoring will involve learning about the barriers that have historically limited access to college, including low income, racism, and sexism. Mentors will work with local TRIO students at least four hours per week for twelve weeks and will provide mentoring as well as tutoring support.
Fall and Spring.
DJS 204. Freedom and Social Control. 3 Credits.
Explores definitions, concepts and theories used to explain and understand central features of social power. Themes include the struggle for social justice, the history of punishment in Western society, and the legal and extralegal management and disciplining of individuals and groups.
Fall and Spring.
DJS 221. Law and Equality in Historical Perspective. 3 Credits.
Americans hold equality to be one of the central principles of our democracy. Our Declaration of Independence articulates the ideal that "all men are created equal." And our courts are intended to embody the principle that justice is blind - all are to be equal before the law. At the same time, our nation has embraced profound legal inequalities from the moment of its inception - most conspicuously in the law of slavery, but also in the legal regimes that governed the status of women, immigrants, wage earners, Native Americans, and others. This course examines the ideal of legal equality in historical perspective, beginning with the colonial era and ending in the present day. In units on the law of personal status, the impact of the Fourteenth Amendment, ideals of citizenship and belonging, and modern civil rights, we will investigate how Americans from the colonial era to the modern era have understood their legal rights and obligations to one another. We will investigate transformations in the legal meaning of citizenship and civil rights over time and consider the terms in which we uphold "equality" in our own historical moment.
Spring.
DJS 298. Independent Study. 1-4 Credits.
Independent study is offered on an individual basis at the student's request and consists of a program of learning activities planned in consultation with a faculty member. A student wishing to study or conduct research in an area not represented in available scheduled courses should develop a preliminary proposal and seek the sponsorship of a faculty member. The student's advisor can direct him or her to instructors with appropriate interests. A written report or equivalent is required for evaluation, and a short title describing the program must be sent early inthe semester to the registrar for entry on the student's transcript.
P: fr or so st with cum gpa > or = 2.50; or jr or sr st with cum gpa > or = 2.00.
Fall and Spring.
DJS 299. Travel Course. 1-6 Credits.
Travel courses are conducted to various parts of the world and are led by one or more faculty members. May be repeated to different locations.
P: cons of instr & prior trip arr & financial deposit.
DJS 303. Criminal Justice Process. 3 Credits.
A study of the components, relations, and processes of U.S. criminal justice. The criminal justice system is theoretically linked to larger social arrangements, including class and race-ethnic stratification. Ethical problems, such as group disparities in arrest and sentencing, are given special attention.
P: POL SCI 101 and SOCIOL 101
Fall Only.
DJS 320. Constitutional Law. 3 Credits.
This course examines the development of constitutional law across a variety of issue areas in the United States Supreme Court, focusing on civil liberties and civil rights. It is taught using the case law method, which consists of reading judicial opinions. In addition to learning about our individual freedoms and rights, we will identify, analyze, and evaluate the legal questions and legal arguments raised in Supreme Court cases.
P: POL SCI 101
Fall Only.
DJS 325. Law and Society. 3 Credits.
Explores how the courts can either promote or inhibit progressive social, political, and economic changes in contemporary American society. There is a great deal of emphasis placed on how to use theory to better understand the relationship between law and society.
P: HISTORY 206 or POL SCI 100 or 101 or SOCIOL 101
Spring.
DJS 330. Prison and Society. 3 Credits.
Prison and Society is an historical-comparative and critical social scientific look at the institutions, relations, and dynamics of correctional systems past, present, and future. Correctional systems (domestic and foreign) are theoretically linked to other societal arrangements, such as social class and race relations. Ethics and theories of justice are also considered.
Spring.
DJS 348. Gender and the Law. 3 Credits.
The changing legal status of women and LGBTQ+ people in relationship to other social forces; major historical landmarks in the development of their legal rights and current status in such areas as property rights, family law and employment opportunity; legal tools in the struggle for equality.
P: sophomore standing
Fall Even.
DJS 361. Historical Perspectives on American Democracy. 3 Credits.
Examination of historical thinking in scholarly work and public life and study of the making of modern American freedom, equality and democracy, past and present.
Fall Only.
DJS 362. Power and Change in America. 3 Credits.
Study of the dynamic relations between political economy and social structure and the formation and impact of social movements, politics and ideologies in modern America.
P: POL SCI 101 or Sociol 202.
Spring Odd.
DJS 363. Topics in Democracy and Justice. 3 Credits.
Explores a single theme pertaining to democracy and justice from an interdisciplinary perspective. Variable content. Course is repeatable for credit if topics differ; may be taken 3 times for a total of 9 credits.
REC: DJS 101
Fall and Spring.
DJS 400. Mentoring for Equity and Inclusion. 3 Credits.
Students will serve as mentors for Green Bay high school students participating in the Federal TRIO Upward Bound program. Mentors will help promote the development of skills critical to academic success, will encourage students to aspire to college, will help overcome barriers to college attainment, and will act as a role model and resource for the underrepresented students served by TRIO programs. A critical component of mentoring will involve learning about the barriers that have historically limited access to college, including low income, racism, and sexism. Mentors will work with local TRIO students at least four hours per week for twelve weeks and will provide mentoring as well as tutoring support. 400 Level students will complete an additional substantiv project.
P: DJS 101
Fall and Spring.
DJS 461. Social and Political Criticism. 3 Credits.
Operating as a seminar, we examine the role of the American social critic and the practice of social criticism on the political left, right and center. Then, operating as a writing workshop, we compose pieces of political, social and cultural criticism for possible publication.
P: DJS 360 or 361 or SOCIOL 302 or 307.
Spring.
DJS 470. Senior Seminar in Democracy and Justice Studies. 3 Credits.
Rigorous analysis of an important social change issue or of the work of an important social change theorist. This capstone includes high impact experiences such as community-based learning, collaborative assignments, or undergraduate research. Course is not repeatable for credit.
P: Junior Status
Fall and Spring.
DJS 478. Honors in the Major. 3 Credits.
Honors in the Major is designed to recognize student excellence within interdisciplinary and disciplinary academic programs.
P: min 3.50 all cses req for major and min gpa 3.75 all UL cses req for major.
Fall and Spring.
DJS 495. Teaching Assistantship. 1-6 Credits.
The student and supervising teacher must prepare a statement that identifies the course with which the assistantship will happen, objectives for the assistantship, and expectations in order to fulfill the course objectives. Students are not eligible to receive credit in both the course they assist the instructor with and the teaching assistantship in the same semester. Typically student has previously taken the course prior to enrollment in the assistantship. Course is repeatable for credit.
DJS 496. Project/Research Assistantship. 1-6 Credits.
The student must prepare a research proposal, and both parties should identify the research arrangement and how the student will complete the work to fulfill the course objectives within the assigned term.
P: jr st.
DJS 497. Internship. 1-12 Credits.
Supervised practical experience in an organization or activity appropriate to a student's career and educational interests. Internships are supervised by faculty members and require periodic student/faculty meetings. Course is repeatable for credit.
P: jr st.
Fall and Spring.
DJS 498. Independent Study. 1-4 Credits.
Independent study is offered on an individual basis at the student's request and consists of a program of learning activities planned in consultation with a faculty member. A student wishing to study or conduct research in an area not represented in available scheduled courses should develop a preliminary proposal and seek the sponsorship of a faculty member. The student's advisor can direct him or her to instructors with appropriate interests. A written report or equivalent is required for evaluation, and a short title describing the program must be sent early in the semester to the registrar for entry on the student's transcript. Course is repeatable for credit.
P: fr or so st with cum gpa > or = 2.50; or jr or sr st with cum gpa > or = 2.00.
Fall and Spring.
DJS 499. Travel Course. 1-6 Credits.
Travel courses are conducted to various parts of the world and are led by one or more faculty members. May be repeated to different locations.
P: cons of instr & prior trip arr & financial deposit.