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.
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 18-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.
Leadership
Cooper-Sadlo, Shannon, Ph.D.
Program Coordinator
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 |
|---|---|---|
| General Courses | 3 | |
| Choose at least one course on the nature of justice and social ethics with an Urban Poverty-General attribute. | ||
| Examples are: | ||
ASTD 3200 | The Urban Crisis | |
PHIL 1050 | Introduction to Philosophy: Self and Reality | |
THEO 1000 | Theological Foundations | |
THEO 2515 | Social Justice | |
| Applied Courses | 3 | |
| Choose at least one course which is focused on urban social and political problems with an Urban Poverty-Applied attribute. | ||
| Examples are: | ||
ASTD 2600 | American Places | |
POLS 2200 | U.S. State and Urban Politics | |
SOC 1500 | The Urban Community: Race, Class, and Spatial Justice | |
SOC 2080 | Urban Issues: Poverty in a Global Perspective | |
| 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 | ||
AAM 2000 | Freedom Dreams: Intro to African American Studies | |
CMM 4320 | Communicating Across Racial Divisions | |
PHIL 4820 | Philosophy and Race | |
CCJ 3500 | Race, Ethnicity, and the Criminal Justice System | |
PSY 4330 | Psychology of Oppression | |
| Urban Poverty - Immigration and Globalization | ||
ASTD 3020 | American Mosaic: Literature & Diversity | |
LAS 3000 | Introduction to Latin American Studies | |
POLS 3800 | The Structure of Poverty: Globally and Locally | |
SOC 3180 | Immigration | |
THEO 3415 | Christ and Color: Liberation Theology | |
| Urban Poverty - Health Care | ||
HSCI 2000 | The US Health Care System | |
SOC 2360 | Health Inequalities in the U.S. | |
NURS 3100 | Healthcare Policy, Finance and Regulatory Environments | |
PUBH 2300 | Contemporary Issues in Global Health | |
THEO 2525 | Theological Bioethics: Medicine and Morality | |
| Urban Poverty - Theory of Social Justice | ||
ENGL 2250 | Conflict, Social Justice and Literature | |
PHIL 4840 | Catholic Social Thought | |
POLS 3800 | The Structure of Poverty: Globally and Locally | |
PSY 4330 | Psychology of Oppression | |
THEO 2515 | Social Justice | |
| Additional Electives | 3 | |
| One additional course from any category with an Urban Poverty attribute. | ||
| Senior Capstone | 3 | |
| Complete the Senior Capstone course or an approved 3-credit senior capstone, practicum, or seminar in the student’s major. The course must culminate in a paper and an oral presentation on a topic involving urban poverty in the chosen Area of Specialization for the minor. | ||
UPS 4960 | Senior Capstone | |
| Total Credits | 18 | |
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.