Bachelor of Arts - Social Justice and Catholic Studies

The Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Social Justice and Catholic Studies reflects St. Mary’s University’s vision and mission as an institution founded in the Catholic intellectual tradition committed to developing the whole person (body, mind, and spirit), and preparing its students to live with integrity, compassion, and confidence as lifelong learners and engaged citizens dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge for the service to the community.

This is a unique interdisciplinary program that encourages critical reflection on the structural injustices that characterize society, both locally and globally, and upon the Catholic tradition and its engagement with the world. Drawing upon the theories and practices of a wide range of different disciplines, this degree equips students with the critical, analytical, and ethical skills necessary to live and work responsibly in an increasingly integrated global community.

The program has two streams: Social Justice and Catholic Studies. All students complete a common degree core as well as a suite of required and elective courses from different disciplines in their chosen stream. To ensure breadth, students are also required to complete a minimum number of courses from the other stream. Senior students in the program participate in Directed Community Service providing them with an important opportunity to apply what they have learned through experiential learning. In the final year of study, students complete a Major Research Project.

In addition to pursuing graduate studies, the SJCS degree equips students to be employed in a variety of social and community services, including: Indigenous outreach officer, social services case aid, child and youth worker, life skills coach, community centre worker, community liaison worker, community service worker, development service worker, drop-in centre worker, family service worker, group home worker, halfway house worker, peer support worker, residential counsellor, settlement worker, social assistance officer, social welfare officer, street outreach worker, transition home worker, veteran’s field worker, women’s centre officer, youth worker, religious outreach worker, community organizer