Urban Poverty Studies, Minor
Drawing on the long tradition of Saint Louis University's commitment to the city of St. Louis, Missouri, the interdisciplinary minor in urban poverty studies is an examination of local, national and global forms of poverty, inequality and social injustice in urban environments.
Leadership
Cooper-Sadlo, Shannon, Ph.D.
Program Coordinator
Curriculum Overview
Through coursework and practical experience serving in the city of St. Louis, students from across academic disciplines will think critically about the most pressing problems faced by people living on the margins in contemporary cities. In addition, they will investigate the ways in which the minor can supplement their major field of study.
The 15-credit interdisciplinary minor, which is administered by the Micah Program, is open to all undergraduates at the University, regardless of their school or major. No affiliation with the Micah Program is required.
Courses listed below in each category are only a sample of the overall course options which fulfill requirements for the minor. The Micah program director will discuss with you the interdisciplinary courses that can be used for the minor. No course may fulfill more than one urban poverty studies minor requirement.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Courses | 6 | |
| Choose two courses (6 credits) on the nature of justice, urban social and political problems and social ethics with an Urban Poverty-Introduction attribute. | ||
| Examples are: | ||
| The Urban Crisis | ||
| Introduction to Philosophy: Self and Reality | ||
| Theological Foundations | ||
| Social Justice | ||
| American Places | ||
| State and Local Politics | ||
| The Urban Community: Race, Class, and Spatial Justice | ||
| Urban Issues: Poverty and Unemployment | ||
| Four Areas of Specialization | 6 | |
| Choose at least two courses in one of the following areas with Urban Poverty attributes. | ||
| Examples are: | ||
| Urban Poverty - Cycles of Exclusion | ||
| Freedom Dreams: Intro to African American Studies | ||
| Race, Ethnicity, and the Criminal Justice System | ||
| Communicating Across Racial Divisions | ||
| Philosophy and Race | ||
| Psychology of Oppression | ||
| Urban Poverty - Immigration and Globalization | ||
| American Mosaic: Literature & Diversity | ||
| Introduction to Latin American Studies | ||
| The Structure of Poverty: Globally and Locally | ||
| Immigration | ||
| Christ and Color: Liberation Theology | ||
| Urban Poverty - Health Care | ||
| The U.S. Health Care System | ||
| Healthcare Policy, Finance and Regulatory Environments | ||
| Contemporary Issues in Global Health | ||
| Health Inequalities in the U.S. | ||
| Urban Poverty - Theory of Social Justice | ||
| Conflict, Social Justice and Literature | ||
| Catholic Social Thought | ||
| The Structure of Poverty: Globally and Locally | ||
| Psychology of Oppression | ||
| Social Justice | ||
| Additional Electives | 3 | |
| One additional course from any category with an Urban Poverty attribute. | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Non-Course Requirement: Community Service
At least four terms (or their equivalent) of approved community service, averaging at least 30 hours per term.
Substitutions
In unusual circumstances, students may (at the discretion of the director) substitute relevant courses not listed above by contracting with the instructor to write a substantive paper related to urban problems or community service. Contracts must be approved no later than the second week of classes.
Continuation of Standards
Students must have a GPA of 2.00 in urban poverty studies minor coursework to be retained in the minor.