M.A. Transformative Social Change, Peace and Justice Studies Specialization

Admissions Requirements

Applicants for the M.A. Transformative Social Change, Peace and Justice Studies Specialization must submit the following documents:   

• Application for Admissions   
• An official transcript from an accredited university demonstrating successful completion of a master's degree, with a 3.0 GPA or better;   
• Professional resume or CV;   
• Personal statement; and   
• One Letter of recommendation   

University Learning Experience

Virtual Learning Experience (VLE) - Required, Community Learning Experience (CLE) - Required

All new students begin their studies with a Welcome Week. Welcome Week activities, including a degree program orientation, are held online during the week ahead of the start of the fall and spring semesters. Participation is strongly encouraged.

All students are also required to attend a 5-day Virtual Learning Experience (VLE) held online at the beginning of each semester. The VLE offers didactic/topical, research, and practice-oriented seminars, sessions introducing each core course in the program, and group meetings of the program as a whole. The virtual conferences also involve informal exchanges with other students and program faculty for mentoring and socialization to the field. Additionally, students are required to attend an in-person Community Learning Experience once every two years (fall of odd years).

M.A. students attend until they have begun their M.A. Project or Thesis.   

Fieldwork

Students may choose to participate in an optional semester-long Practicum in Professional Practice (TSC 8151), where they participate in twenty hours each week in a nonprofit, educational, community or governmental setting, and write up a review of that experience at the end of the semester. Participation in fieldwork is subject to the student’s state of residence. Contact the Admissions Department for more information. 

Program Specific Requirements

Residential Conference Substitution Process  

If students would like to substitute attendance at a professional conference for attendance at one of the VCs, they need to identify a faculty member who will sponsor them in this request. The conference must be at least five days, in accordance with Saybrook’s Virtual Conference. Students must complete the “Authorization Request to Substitute for Virtual Conference” form and submit it for approval no less than 30 days before the VC to be substituted.  

Following the conference, students must complete the “Confirmation of Attendance at Substitute Conference” form and send to their faculty sponsor. After review and approval, the faculty sponsor will then forward it to the degree Department Chair, who will complete the recording process. Tangible documentation of attendance for the entire event is required, along with a copy of the completed Authorization Request signed by the supervising faculty member and any other required academic work or learning product required by the supervising faculty member.  

Mode of Delivery

Hybrid Online Learning Model   

The M.A. Transformative Social Change, Peace and Justice Studies Specialization degree program combines online learning with periodic in-person residential conferences.  For distance online or hybrid courses, the total hours of work typically required for any class of work reflects: 1) synchronous and asynchronous components that facilitate faculty-student and student-student interaction (virtual classrooms, discussion boards, and chats) and 2) independent learning components (readings, recorded lectures, written assignments, and quizzes).    

Required Courses

• RES 1500 - Research Literacy for Practitioners 3 credit(s)
• TSC 1025 - MA Project Preparation 3 credit(s)
• TSC 6400 - Ethics for Transformative Social Change: Thinking Like a Global Citizen 3 credit(s)
• TSC 6610 - Social System Transformation Theory 3 credit(s)
• TSC 6615 - Overview of Transformative Social Change Interventions 3 credit(s)

•  

• RES 9200 - Master’s Project Research 3 credit(s)

• OR

• RES 9400 - Master’s Thesis Research 6 credit(s)

Peace and Justice Studies Specialization Core

• TSC 6510 - Theory and Practice of Nonviolence 3 credit(s)
• TSC 6550 - Conflict Resolution Theory and Methods 3 credit(s)
• TSC 6590 - Peace and Justice Studies 3 credit(s)

Electives

• TSC 3220 - African Diaspora: African American Cultural History & Psychology 3 credit(s)
• TSC 6500 - Ecological Psychology 3 credit(s)
• TSC 6515 - Organizing for Community Health & Well-Being 3 credit(s)
• TSC 6510 - Theory and Practice of Nonviolence 3 credit(s)
• TSC 6520 - Gender and Society 3 credit(s)
• TSC 6530 - Social Impact Media: Stories for Change 3 credit(s)
• TSC 6535 - Social Media and Theories of Social Change 3 credit(s)
• TSC 6540 - Assessing Digital Media Campaigns 3 credit(s)
• TSC 6545 - SIM Production Knowing the Tools, Distinguishing the Purpose 3 credit(s)
• TSC 6555 - Creating Outreach Campaigns for Social Impact Media 3 credit(s)
• TSC 6560 - Approaches to Socially Engaged Spirituality 3 credit(s)
• TSC 6570 - Race, Class, and Gender 3 credit(s)
• TSC 6585 - The Human Right to Adequate Food 3 credit(s)
• TSC 6592 - Immigration and Social Justice 3 credit(s)
• TSC 6594 - Peacebuilding 3 credit(s)
• TSC 6620 - Psychology of Disability, Rehabilitation, and Empowerment 3 credit(s)
• TSC 7050 - Transformative Learning and Change 3 credit(s)
• TSC 7077 - Building Sustainability: The Global Crisis 3 credit(s)
• TSC 7079 - Building Sustainability: Present Practices in Community and Society 3 credit(s)
• TSC 7085 - Globalism and Power 3 credit(s)
• TSC 7115 - Refugee Trauma and Resiliency 3 credit(s)
• TSC 7116 - Global Civil Society Activism and Social Change 3 credit(s)
• TSC 7075 - Global Governance and the Quest for a Peaceful, Just and Sustainable World 3 credit(s)