Bard College at Simon's Rock: the Early College
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Social Action / Social Change Curriculum

Interdisciplinary course work and an in-depth internship are combined to provide students the theoretical knowledge and practical experience necessary to understand their work in the social studies.

At moderation, students identify a coherent set of interests that link past and future coursework and their interest in this concentration, as well as propose an internship. Internships here are broadly defined and may include work with advocacy and activist groups, traditional social service organizations, government and nongovernmental organizations, and placements that might be part of a junior semester abroad. Students in this concentration are encouraged to draw upon the internship and related experiences in their Senior Theses.

Students supplement coursework with student activities and clubs outside the classroom 

Students interested in this concentration must complete the following requirements:

  • Two introductory level social studies courses (before moderating)
  • A methods course
  • Four additional courses, at least two at the 300-level
  • An eight to 12 credit internship

Introductory Level Courses

Before moderating into the concentration, students take two introductory courses from the disciplines within the Division of Social Studies or from an Interdisciplinary area. Introductory courses in African American Studies, Anthropology, Economics, Environmental Studies, Geography, Politics, and Sociology can all serve to meet this requirement.

Intermediate Courses

Examples of intermediate courses that students in this concentration can take include:

  • Globalization (SOCS 224)
  • Political Psychology (PSYC 217)
  • One of the Women Writing Resistance courses in Literature
  • Environmental Ethics (PHIL 283)
  • Theaters of the Oppressed (THEA 236)
  • Modern China from the Margins (ASIA 225)
  • Writing for Social and Environmental Justice (COM 203)

Methods Courses

  • Life Histories (ANTH 223)
  • Introduction to Statistics (MATH 110)
  • Quantitative Research Methods in the Social Sciences (SOCS 309)

Advanced Courses

Examples of advanced courses that students in this concentration can take include:

  • Black Radical Thought (AFAM 307)
  • Critical Race Theory (AFAM 302)
  • Black Lives Matter (AFAM 308)
  • Global Political Ecologies (GEOG 313)
  • Politics by Other Means (POLS 326)
  • The Feminine and the Political (POLS 316)
  • Marx after Marx (POLS 327)
  • Sociology of Work (SOC 327)