Studies in Progressive American Social Movements

Coordinator: G. Fox and Company Professor of Economics Diane Zannoni

This minor explores the political, economic, cultural, ethical, and religious factors that have given rise to progressive social movements in America and the relationship between the academic study of these movements and practical political activity. The minor includes work from a variety of academic disciplines, an internship involving organizing experience, and a coordinate seminar.

To declare the minor, students should obtain a declaration of minor form from the registrar and take it to the coordinator of the minor, Professor Zannoni. If students do not declare the minor by the end of the sophomore year, they cannot be assured of a place in the coordinate seminar, a requirement for the minor.

Course requirements:

• Three courses selected from the core group listed below, no more than two of which may be in the same field.
• A fourth course selected from either the core group or the list of supplementary courses.
• Either a one-semester, one-credit internship/seminar or a two-semester, two- credit internship/seminar with a social organization (approved by a member of the SPASM faculty) based in or working on behalf of a dispossessed, disenfranchised, oppressed, or imperiled community. A file containing SPASM internships is in the Internship Office. The academic component of the internship is a coordinate seminar taken in the fall term of the internship. Students must have completed at least two courses in the minor before enrolling for the internship/seminar and must register for it as COLL 206. Organizing by Neighborhood: An Internship/Seminar Experience. The internship must be sponsored by a member of the SPSM faculty: Professors Greenberg, Kirkpatrick, Wade, Valocchi, or Zannoni.
• In satisfying requirements 1 and 2, students must take courses in at least three different fields. Any exemptions from the requirements must be requested in writing to the coordinator.
  • Core courses
    • HIST 361. Interpreting the American Dream
    • INTS 203. Human Rights in a Global Age
    • INTS 349. No Easy Walk to Freedom
    • PHIL 355. Moral Theory and Public Policy
    • POLS 326. Women and Politics
    • POLS 355. Urban Politics
    • RELG 262.Religion in American Society
    • SOCL 204. Social Problems in American Society
    • SOCL 312. Social Class and Mobility
  • Supplementary courses
    • AMST 409. Senior Seminar
    • HIST 235. Colonialism in the Americas
    • SOCL 214. Race and Ethnicity
    • SOCL 241. Mass Media and Popular Culture and Social Reality
    • SOCL 280. Women and Work
    • WMGS 234. Gender and Education
    • WMGS 369. Queer Studies: Issues and Controversies