Social Justice Syllabus Term: Fall 2014 Course #: RLST 110 Instructor: Mrs. Sandra Morgan, M. Div Office Room # Phone #: 219-381- 9383 E-mail: sandimorg@comcast.net Hours (Available): by appointment or before or after class Instructor Background: Master of Divinity, Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, IL Doctorate of Ministry,(ABD) Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, IL Candidate for M.A. Research in Bible, Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, IL B.A. Social Work, University of St. Francis, Joliet, IL Director of Religious Education Course Time/Classroom # 7:00p.m.-10:p.m. Room # 264 Course Description: This course focuses on reading and discussion of social justice issues and Catholic Social Teachings and the mission of the Church. Prerequisites: none Learning Outcomes/ Competencies: Understand Catholic Social Teachings and Ecumenical teachings on social justice Analyze the motivation for social justice Assess charity and systemic structures of social justice Apply sources and methods of Catholic Social Teachings and Ecumenical teachings of social justice Become knowledgeable and articulate in the nine key themes of Catholic Social Teachings Compare and contrast cultural perspectives on the relationships between the individuals and the community Textbooks: Massaro, Thomas, S.J., Living Justice Melczek, Bishop Dale J., Created in God's Image (Available on internet) Laudato Si, On Care for our Common Home Encyclical Letter by Pope Francis(Available on internet) Instructor s handouts in class and/or on blackboard Learning Strategies: Reading 2400 NEW YORK AVE.! WHITING, IN 46394! TEL. 219-473-7770! 773-721-0202! FAX 219-473-4259
Lecturing, PowerPoint presentations, technology Group Discussions Oral Presentations Community Service Experiential Learning: Collaborative skills Leadership Skills Communication Skills Community Service Student responsibility: Arrive prepared for each class session having read assignments Participate fully Respect one another's comments Collaborate productively Listen actively to instructor and others Summarize, synthesize, paraphrase and evaluate source material Compose a paper, which includes elements of good writing skills by following the rubric of the General Education Expository Essay Rubric Engage in Community Service Project Complete all assignments on time Assessment: Exams (Midterm and Final) Class participation/attendance/assignments on time Class presentations Community Service Project Oral Presentations Written Essay on Project Written Essay on Social Justice topic Journal Reflections Exams (Midterm, Final, Quizzes) Class participation/collaboration/attendance/timely assignments Share ideas and thoughts respectfully in group setting Collaborate with fellow students Late assignments may not accepted Oral presentation for two minutes preview on community service project Who are you " What you will do? " Why did you pick this project? 30% of grade 10% of grade 5% of grade Written Paper on completed community service project and Oral Presentation " 500 word essay on your project after its completion " Follow of the General Education Expository Essay Rubric 30% of grade 2
" Explain your community service " How has this project helped or hindered you and the people you were working with? " How has community service helped you grow in the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity? " How has this broadened your view of charity and systemic structures? " You will present your project orally to the class. Written Essay of 500 words on a Social Justice topic from class 1. Follow of the General Education Expository Essay Rubric 15% of grade Journal Reflections Entries 10% of grade " Ten entries due as stated on the syllabus " Students will need an inexpensive notebook or composition book for journal entries. " The journal entries will include reflecting on one's experience in the world with social justice and the lectures/discussions of the particular class sessions. " Journal entry assignments are noted on the syllabus. " Topics for entries should be a reflection on the week's assigned readings, lectures and discussions or academic events. Class Policy for Assignments: All assignments must be turned in on the due date. Grading Scale: Grade Points A 100-92 A- 91-90 B+ 89-88 B 87-82 B- 81-80 C+ 79-78 C 77-72 C- 71-70 D+ 69-68 D 67-62 D- 61-60 F 59 and below Class Policy on Attendance: Because participation is part of your grade, missing class means you are missing important lectures, discussions and learning time. Please communicate with the instructor prior to missing a class. Missing a class more than two times displays a lack of concern. Please arrive on time as a courtesy to all participants. Please remember the policy of CCSJ is that a student may be asked to withdraw from the course if the student has three or more absences. Class Policy on Electronic Devices: During class, please have your mobile phone turned to mute or vibrate. Please do not engage in texting or emailing it is distracting, and you will be invited to leave the classroom. Class Participation: In this class full, active, and engaging participation is expected with respect for others at all times. At the end of designated classes you will write one journal article on a topic we have learned. 3
Class Dates Class One September 3 Class Two September 10 Class Three September 17 Topics/Assignments: Introduction to one another and to course syllabus Judgment of the Nations MT 25: 35-41 Community Service Expectations What is Social Justice? Dorothy Day: Entertaining Angels Journal Reflection Entry I Due READ CHAPTERS ONE AND TWO Social Justice and the Mission of the Church Unity and Variety 1 Cor 12: 4-11 Required Reading: Living Justice Chapter 1 Handouts for Community Service Going Public with your Faith Wedding at Cana John 2:1-11 Required Reading: Living Justice Chapter 2 Written Assignment: Journal Reflection Entry II Due Class Four September 24 Class Five October 8 READ CHAPTER THREE AND FOUR Inheriting the Tradition of Catholic Social Teaching Pearl of great price MT 13: 44-48 Required Reading: Living Justice Chapter 3 Approval of Service projects Written assignment: Journal Reflection Entry III Due The Sources and Methods of Catholic Social Teaching Parable of the Good Samaritan Luke 10:30-37 Required Reading: Living Justice Chapter 4 Written assignment: Journal Reflection Entry IV Due READ CHAPTER 5 Nine Key Themes of Catholic Social Teachings The Golden Rule MT 7:12 Required Reading: Living Justice Chapter 5 Laudato Si, On Care for our Common Home Encyclical Letter by Pope Francis Written assignment: Journal Reflection Entry V Due READ TWO FEET OF SOCIAL CHANGE Choose community service project Written assignments due on Feb. 20: Statement on Servant Leadership community project and why you chose it Two minute oral presentation on your Community Project; What you chose and Why? Two Feet of Social Change: Charity and Systemic Structures Required Reading: Systemic Change-A Primer (Handout) Group projects (in class) 4
Class Six October 15 Class Seven October 22 ~Mid-Term~ ~Social Justice Essay Due~ READ COMMUNITIES OF SALT AND LIGHT Similes of Salt and Light MT 5:13-16 Salt and Light Family, Community and Participation Required Reading: Communities of Salt and Light, U.S. Bishops (Handout) Group Projects (in class) Journal Reflection VI Class Eight October 23 Class Nine October 29 Class Ten November 5 READ BISHOP MELCZEK S PASTORAL LETTER ON RACISM The Dignity of Every Person and Human Rights A Call to Conversion Required Reading: Created in God's Image, Bishop Dale J. Melczek (Handout) Parts I-III A Call to Conversion Required Reading: Created in God's Image, Bishop Dale J. Melczek Part IV-V Written assignment: Journal Reflection Entry VII Due READ HANDOUTS Immigration: Gospel Without Borders Judgment of the Nations MT 25:40 Required Reading; Handouts Immigration Reform and Reflection Beatitudes- MT 5: 3-10 Journal Reflection Entry VIII The Call to Justice: Structural Justice Gaudium et Spes and Dignitatis Humanae Peace and Disarmament: Just War Theory Written assignments: Journal Reflection Entry IX Due Please remember to be working on your social justice service project 5
Class Eleven November 12 Colonialism and Economic Development READ HANDOUTS The Dignity of Work: Rights of Workers Gentle Mastery of Christ- MT 11:28-30 Required reading: Handouts Journey against Hunger St. Paul The Lord s Supper 1Cor 11: 20-22 Global Poverty and the Common Good Option for the Poor: Hunger, Poverty and the Bible Multiplication of loaves John 6:1-15 Class Twelve November 19 November 26 Christology as Liberation: Body of Christ, Broken for the World Seamless Garment John 19: 23-24 Catholic Bioethics and Human Life Directives on Ethical and Religious Ethics for Catholic HealthCare Journal Reflection Entry X Happy Thanksgiving Class Thirteen December 3 Class Fourteen December 10 READ CHAPTER SIX AND SEVEN The Role of Catholic Social Teaching Today The Role of the Priest Required Reading: Living Justice Chapter 6 Future Directions for Catholic Social Teaching Required Reading: Living Justice Chapter 7 Written assignment: Servant Leadership Community Service Project paper due You are required to be in class for oral presentations Oral Presentations of Servant Leadership Community Service Projects (5-7 Minutes) ~Oral final Exams~ You are required to be in class for oral final exams Student Success Center (formerly Tutoring Center): The Student Success Center supports Calumet College of St. Joseph students through an interactive learning experience. Students work with tutors to develop course competencies and study skills such as time management, 6
test preparation, and note taking. In addition, students are provided with tutoring support to help pass courses, to improve grade point average, and to promote continuing education and career advancement. Tutors have a specific charge: to help students learn how to master specific subject matter and to develop effective learning skills. The Student Success Center is open to all students at Calumet College of St. Joseph at no charge and is available to support academic courses at the introductory and advanced levels. For assistance, please contact the Student Success Center at 219 473-4287 or stop by room 413. The Supplemental Instruction (SI) Program is an academic support program designed to increase student performance and retention. The SI Program provides peer-assisted study sessions to aid students in academic courses that often prove challenging. Weekly study sessions are led by a supplemental instructor, a peer facilitator who helps students master course content and practice effective study skills. In SI sessions, students are provided with an opportunity to review lecture notes, clarify difficult concepts, discuss ideas, and study for tests in group settings. SI sessions are for students who need or want supplemental instruction in courses in which SI support is provided. Students may attend as many sessions as they deem helpful. For more information regarding the SI Program, contact the Academic Support Programs Office at 219 473-4352. Statement of Plagiarism: If an instructor or other Calumet College of St. Joseph personnel find that a student has plagiarized or been involved in another form of academic dishonesty, the instructor or other personnel may elect to bring the matter up for judicial review. The maximum penalty for any form of academic dishonesty is dismissal from the College. The procedures for judicial review are listed under the section of CCSJ handbook that addresses student grievances. PLEASE NOTE: All papers can and may be submitted for checks on plagiarism from the Internet/Electronic sources/databases. Citation Guidelines: Calumet College of St. Joseph uses citation guidelines, generally MLA or APA format, to document sources quoted or paraphrased in student papers. Check the syllabus for each course to see what each instructor requires. The Library has reference copies of each manual; the Bookstore has copies for sale when required by the instructor. In addition, there are brief MLA and APA checklists in your spiral Student Handbook and Planner and on the Library website and literature rack. These texts show how to cite references from many sources, including electronic media, as well as how to space and indent the Works Cited and References pages respectively. EBSCO and ProQuest articles provide both formats for you to copy and paste. Proper documentation avoids plagiarism. Withdrawal from Classes Policy: After the last day for class changes has passed (see College calendar), students may withdraw from a course in which they are registered with permission from the faculty member conducting the course. A written request detailing the reason(s) for the withdrawal must be filed with the Registrar. The Registrar must receive written request for withdrawal by the last day of classes prior to the final examination dates specified in the catalogue. Written requests may be mailed to the Registrar or faxed to the College fax number 219-473-4259. Students are to make note of the refund schedule when withdrawing from courses. The request is forwarded to the faculty member, who makes the final determination to accept or deny the request. If the request is honored, the student will receive notification of official withdrawal; if denied, the notification will indicate why the withdrawal is disallowed. An official withdrawal is recorded as a "W" grade on the student's transcript. Dropping a course without written permission automatically incurs an "F" grade for the course (see Refund Schedule). NEW GRADE NOTICE: Failure to Withdraw (FW) = The student does not complete withdrawal paperwork with the Registrar s office nor does the student notify the instructor of their intent to withdraw due to an illness, accident, grievous personal loss, or other circumstances beyond the student s control. This grade is submitted by the instructor at the end of term. 7
Disability Services: Disability Services strives to meet the needs of all students by providing academic services in accordance with Americans Disability Act (ADA) guidelines. Students must meet with the Coordinator of Disability Services to complete an intake form in order to request an accommodation and/or an auxiliary aid (e.g., additional time for tests, note taking assistance, special testing arrangements, etc.). It is the student s responsibility to contact the Academic Support Programs Office to request an accommodation at least one month prior to enrollment for each academic term. Students who are requesting an accommodation and/or an auxiliary aid must submit documentation from a professional health care provider to verify eligibility under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and/or the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The cost of obtaining the professional verification is the responsibility of the student. If a student believes that he or she needs a reasonable accommodation of some kind because of a physical, psychological, or mental condition, he or she should contact Disabilities Services. The Coordinator will secure documentation pertinent to the disability and work with faculty and staff, if necessary, to address the matter. All questions and inquiries pertaining to disability services should be directed to the Disability Services Coordinator at 219-473-4349 CCSJ Alert: Calumet College of St. Joseph utilizes an emergency communications system that transmits messages via text, email, and voice platforms. In the event of an emergency, of weather related closings, or of other incidents, those students who are registered for the system shall receive incident specific message(s) notifying them of the situation. Please sign-up for this important service at any time on the College s website. Alternatively, you can register at the time you register for classes. This service requires each user to register once per academic year. Therefore, at the beginning of each academic year, please remember to re-register for the system. This can be done at: http://www.ccsj.edu/alerts/index.html. School Closing Information: CCSJ Alerts: An emergency communications system that transmits messages via text, email, and voice platforms. Please sign-up for this important service at any time on the College s website. This can be done at: http://www.ccsj.edu/alerts/index.html. Internet: http://www.ccsj.edu http://www.emergencyclosings.com Facility: Calumet College of St. Joseph Phone: 219.473.4770 Radio: WAKE 1500AM~ WGN 720 AM~ WIJE 105.5 FM~ WLS 890 AM~ WZVN 107.1 FM~ WBBM NEWS RADIO 78 TV Channels 2, 5, 7, 9, 32 8