Social Transformation  (Certificate)


Do you have a passion for creating social change? Learn how social movements have shaped society, how diverse communities near and far have sought social change, and how you can develop new methods to solve social problems.



Program Description

Students enrolled in the certificate program examine how varied communities have faced and solved the needs of social change. They consider how to apply what they have learned in identifying just solutions to the social problems currently facing society. The areas of focus include a variety of themes such as:

  • civil rights movements
  • democracy movements
  • gender equality
  • gender justice
  • immigration
  • labor movements


Certificate Map

Major/Certificate Map archive


At a Glance: program details

  • Location: Tempe campus
  • Additional Program Fee: No
  • Second Language Requirement: No


Program Requirements

A student pursuing an undergraduate certificate must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at ASU. Undergraduate certificates are not awarded prior to the award of an undergraduate degree. A student already holding an undergraduate degree may pursue an undergraduate certificate as a nondegree-seeking graduate student.

Enrollment Requirements

Students pursuing the certificate must complete 15 credit hours of course work, of which at least 12 credit hours must be completed at the upper-division level. At least 12 credit hours must be completed at ASU. There is no language requirement. Courses for the certificate must be completed with a grade of "C" (2.00 on a 4.00 scale) or better. There are two required courses, a foundational core course and an upper-division capstone internship or independent study. The remaining nine credit hours must be taken at the upper-division level and selected from an approved list of courses.

Required courses:

  1. SST 220 Introduction to Social Transformation (3)
  2. an upper-division capstone internship or independent study: SST 484 Internship (3) or SST 499 Individualized Instruction (3)

Certificate elective courses:
In addition to the two required courses, certificate students must take three upper-division courses, or nine credit hours, related to social transformation and transformational knowledge. These courses may be chosen from the following course list. Additional related courses can be applied to the certificate with advisor approval.

AFR 325/JUS 326 Music as Political Discourse: Reggae, Calypso and Hip Hop, HU, H, G (3)
AFR 355 Democracy and Civil Society in Africa (3)
AFR 365/WST 364 Unruly Voices: Black Women and Cultural Narratives, HU, C (3)
AFR 420 Race, Ethnicity and Politics in the African Diaspora, SB, G (3)
AFR 470/WST 471 Women's International Human Rights (3)
AIS 394 Topic: Innovation for American Indian Sustainability (3)
APA 350 Inequality and Diversity in Education, L, C (3)
APA/AFR 352 Race, Space and the Production of Inequality, SB, C (3)
COM 312 Communication, Conflict and Negotiation (3)
COM 341 Social Contexts for Performance (3)
ENG 333 American Ethnic Literature, L or HU, C (3)
ENG 367 Environmental Issues in Literature and Film, L or HU (3)
ENG 371 Rhetoric of the Environmental Movement (3)
HST 306 Studies in United States History, HU or SB, H (3)
HST 354 Revolutionary Europe, SB, H (3)
JUS 320 Community and Social Justice, SB, C (3)
JUS 321 Wealth Distribution and Poverty, SB, C (3)
JUS 350 Immigration and Justice, SB, C (3)
JUS 375 Justice and Mass Media, SB (3)
JUS 394 Topic: Black Political Movements (3)
JUS 394 Topic: Cyberpolitics (3)
JUS 394 Topic: Prison Social Movement (3)
JUS 430 Social Protest, Conflict and Change, L or SB, C (3)
JUS 444 Environment and Justice, L, C (3)
JUS 460 Feminism and Justice, C (3)
JUS 474 Legislation of Morality, L or SB, C (3)
JUS 497 Topic: Social Enterprise: Innovation and Justice (3)
MHL 494 Topic: Music and Movement in Urban Culture (3)
MHL 494 Topic: Urban Movement Practices (3)
NLM 410 Social Entrepreneurship (3)
REL 379 Religion, Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict, HU, G (3)
REL 482 Religion, Violence and Conflict Resolution (3)
REL 494 Topic: Inquiry into Religion and Conflict (3)
SOC 352 Social Change, SB, G, H (3)
TCL 340 Chicana/o and Latina/o Politics and Policy, L, C (3)
TCL 341 Policy Issues in Chicana/o and Latina/o Urban Settings, C (3)
THP 482 Theatre for Social Change, C (3)
URB 405 Citizen Engagement and Community Building (3)
WST 375 Women and Social Change, SB, C (3)
WST 377 History of American Feminist Thought, H, C (3)
WST 378 Global Feminist Theory, L, G (3)
WST 380 Race, Gender and Class, SB, C (3)
WST 394 Topic: Women, Power and Leadership (3)

Depending upon a student's undergraduate program of study, prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this certificate.







Program Contact Information

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