Interdisciplinary Studies
Community and Justice Studies Major and Minor
As a Community and Justice Studies student, you'll learn about systems of power and inequality, engage with communities, and graduate ready to build a more just and egalitarian world.
Imagine – and work toward – a world of economic and social justice for all.
Students explore the meaning and power of community by working with local non-profits, government agencies, and grassroots organizations to address real-world issues, from systemic racism to the lack of affordable housing.
Students learn about histories of oppression and exclusion in order to imagine a more equitable world where everyone can participate and thrive in their community.
Your Four-Year Journey
Students combine Community and Justice Studies with majors and minors in a wide range of fields, including Art, Economics, History, International Studies; Political Science, Theatre, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
In our foundational course, you’ll start to develop a sense of what social issues matter to you. We encourage students to explore lots of different courses during their first year so that they can find where they want to make a difference. You’ll take courses in philosophy, communication and culture, political science, psychology, and more. There are so many possibilities, and this year is all about exploring those possibilities.
In COMJ 270 Power, Society, and Social Change, you will engage with social theory in order to clarify your own commitments as a young scholar. You will continue to explore those commitments and also may take elective courses focused on ethics, the importance of place, or the power of political participation. This is the year to begin your community engagement journey if you haven't already.
This is a big year. In COMJ 460 Community Organizing and Civic Professionalism, you will learn concrete organizing skills that you can take with you into their community-based work while at Allegheny and beyond. You will also finalize the focus on your COMJ major and take your Junior Seminar, where you’ll learn research methods and develop proposals for your Senior Comp.
In your last year, you will conduct your Senior Comp and finish any remaining coursework. At this point, you will be deeply involved in community initiatives and will have developed strong relationships with faculty and community members. Some students may serve as teaching assistants and peer mentors, helping younger COMJ students find their path to a better world.
Career Outcomes
93
of Allegheny graduates are employed, in grad school, or in full-time service within six months.
80+
Acceptance rate to graduate and professional school for Allegheny students
Alumni Careers — A Sampling
Delaney Rohan, Alumna
Class of 2017
“ The intention is not to leave this place with a piece of paper. Rather, it is to make you aware of the world that you are stepping into and to teach you to take part in, challenge, and cultivate that world in meaningful, sustainable ways! ”