Minor in Poverty, Justice, and Human Capabilities

Program Learning Outcomes for the Minor in Poverty, Justice, and Human Capabilities

Upon completing the minor in Poverty, Justice, and Human Capabilities, students will be able to:

  1. Understand theoretical approaches to poverty and justice that draw from the capabilities framework, economics, history, sociology, philosophy, and other fields. Students will have in-depth knowledge of approaches to enhancing human flourishing and will understand the social, institutional, and political contexts that underlie deprivations and inequities.
  2. Demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the multiple influences on well-being beyond income and material wealth, including gender, racial, and ethnic disparities, and the impact of colonialism on the Global South. Students will be able to provide examples from different geographic regions,  not exclusively from one country or region, and be able to apply the capabilities approach when evaluating these disparities.
  3. Gain, through direct service, experiential knowledge of the challenges faced in disadvantaged communities.
  4. Achieve an interdisciplinary knowledge of approaches to enhancing human well-being and mitigating human deprivations. Students will be able to apply this knowledge in evaluating potential policy solutions.
  5. Demonstrate the oral, written, and visual communication skills essential for sophisticated and successful advocacy.
  6. Become a global citizen by understanding the role that advocacy and service play in addressing poverty, strengthening justice, and improving well-being. 

Requirements for the Minor in Poverty, Justice, and Human Capabilities

Students pursuing the minor in Poverty, Justice, and Human Capabilities must complete:

  • A minimum of 6 courses (18-22 credit hours, depending on course selection) to satisfy minor requirements.
  • A minimum of 3 PJHC Service Credits from the direct service learning experiences.
  • A maximum of 2 courses (6 credit hours) from study abroad or transfer credit. For additional program guidelines regarding transfer credit, see the Policies tab. 

The courses used to meet the PJHC minor are generally open to all Rice students, including those not pursuing the minor; however, in some courses with limited space, preference will be given to declared minors. An exception is PJHC 470, which is only open to declared PJHC minors who will have completed the minor's service learning requirement by the end of the semester.

The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this minor. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the minor’s academic advisor or, where applicable, the Program Director. (Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the minor's Official Certifier). Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.

Summary

Total Credit Hours Required for the Minor in Poverty, Justice, and Human Capabilities18-22

Minor Requirements

Core Requirement
PJHC 371POVERTY, JUSTICE, AND HUMAN CAPABILITIES3
Elective Requirements
Global South
Select a minimum of 1 course from the Global South category (see course list below).3-4
Race and Ethnicity
Select a minimum of 1 course from the Race and Ethnicity category (see course list below).3-4
General
Select up to 2 courses from the General category or select 2 additional Electives from the Global South and/or the Race and Ethnicity categories (see course lists below).6-8
Direct Service Learning Experience 1
Students must complete a total of three PJHC Service Credits. See below for more information.
Capstone Requirement
PJHC 470ADVANCED SEMINAR IN POVERTY, JUSTICE, AND CAPABILITIES3
Total Credit Hours18-22

Footnotes and Additional Information 

Course Lists to Satisfy Requirements

Elective Requirements

Students must complete a total of 4 courses (12-16 credit hours, depending on course selection) from the Global South, Race and Ethnicity, and General categories as listed below to satisfy the Poverty, Justice, and Human Capabilities minor's Elective Requirements. Additional courses from the Global South or Race and Ethnicity lists can be used to fulfill the General category requirement. Students must select separate and distinct courses to fulfill the Global South and Race and Ethnicity category requirements. As course offerings may vary from year to year, students are urged to consult with the undergraduate advisors (see https://pjhc.rice.edu/) at the beginning of each semester. Please note that not all courses listed below will be offered every academic year. 

Elective Course Category: Global South
Select a minimum of 1 course from the following:minimum of 3
PERSPECTIVES ON MODERN ASIA
HISTORY AND ETHNOGRAPHY
NEOLIBERALISM AND GLOBALIZATION
THE FOURTH WORLD: ISSUES OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
THE WORLD AND SOUTH ASIA
SOUTH ASIAN STUDIES
SEX, MONEY, AND POWER AROUND THE WORLD
MODERN GIRL AND ASIA IN THE WORLD
URBAN LAB ISTANBUL
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ADVANCED TOPICS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT *
THIRD WORLD LITERATURE
CONTEMPORARY ANGLOPHONE LITERATURES
GLOBAL FICTIONS
TOPICS IN CULTURAL STUDIES *
TOPICS IN LITERATURE AND CULTURE *
FROM DECOLONIZATION TO GLOBALIZATION
GENDER AROUND THE WORLD
SUSTAINABLE WATER PURIFICATION FOR THE DEVELOPING WORLD
THE ATLANTIC WORLD: ORIGINS TO THE AGE OF REVOLUTION
MEXICO: 1910 TO PRESENT
MODERN LATIN AMERICA
SPECIAL TOPICS (minimum of 3 credit hours) *
CONTINUITIES AND CHANGES IN BRAZILIAN HISTORY
HISTORY OF SOUTH ASIA
MODERN MIDDLE EAST
MODERN ARAB HISTORY
GOLDEN AGE OF ISLAM
ENVIRONMENT, MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN LATIN AMERICA
POVERTY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN LATIN AMERICA
THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION
WORKERS' REVOLUTIONS, SUBALTERN SOLIDARITIES, AND THE MAKING OF EMANCIPATORY POLITICS
THE RISE AND FALL OF SLAVERY IN THE ATLANTIC WORLD, 1791-1888
MODERN SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING: GLOBAL AND LOCAL
INTRODUCTION TO LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES
SPECIAL TOPICS (minimum of 3 credit hours) *
LATIN AMERICAN POLITICS
COMPARATIVE URBAN POLITICS AND POLICY
INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN RELIGIONS
GENDER AND ISLAM
RELIGION AND GLOBAL POVERTY
CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM IN AFRICA
MAJOR ISSUES IN CONTEMPORARY ISLAM
CHRISTIANITY IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH
RELIGION AND POLITICS IN AFRICA
RELIGION AND LITERATURE IN AFRICA
SOCIOLOGY OF GLOBALIZATION
IDENTITIES IN A DIVERSE WORLD
GENDER AND SCIENCE
Elective Course Category: Race and Ethnicity
Select a minimum of 1 course from the following:minimum of 3
GLOBAL IM/MOBILITIES: BORDERS, MIGRATION, AND CITIZENSHIP
ANTHROPOLOGY OF RACE, ETHNICITY AND HEALTH
ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH IN/OF HOUSTON ASIA
WOMEN IN CHINESE LITERATURE
RACE, CLASS, GENDER IN EDUCATION
URBAN EDUCATION: ISSUES, POLICY, AND PRACTICE
INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE
THE AMERICAN WEST AND ITS OTHERS
CHICANO/A LITERATURE
YOUTH STUDIES
BLACK MANHATTAN: 1915-1940
RACE IN EARLY AMERICA: CREATING RACIAL IDENTITIES IN THE ERA OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
IMMIGRATION IN 20TH AND 21ST CENTURY UNITED STATES SOCIETY
RACE AND MEDICINE IN AMERICAN HISTORY
CONTEMPORARY CHINA
BLACKS IN THE AMERICAS
BLACK LIFE IN THE NINETEENTH-CENTURY UNITED STATES
MEXICO: 1910 TO PRESENT
LATIN AMERICAN CULTURAL TRADITIONS
MODERN LATIN AMERICA
CONTINUITIES AND CHANGES IN BRAZILIAN HISTORY
SLAVERY AND THE FOUNDING FATHERS
THE AMERICAN SOUTH
ENVIRONMENT, MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN LATIN AMERICA
POVERTY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN LATIN AMERICA
ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE AND THE ORIGINS OF AFRO AMERICA
THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION
19TH CENTURY WOMEN'S NARRATIVES
MODERN CHINA
BLACK AMERICA: FROM NADIR THROUGH THE GREAT DEPRESSION
RACE AND ETHNICITY IN LATIN AMERICA
JEWISH HISTORY, 1500-1948
THE RISE AND FALL OF SLAVERY IN THE ATLANTIC WORLD, 1791-1888
RACE, EDUCATION AND SOCIETY IN THE URBAN SOUTH
MODERN SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING: GLOBAL AND LOCAL
TOPICS IN LATIN AMERICAN HISTORY
THE BLACK CITY: AFRICAN AMERICAN URBAN LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES
BLACK AT RICE: HISTORIES OF THE UNIVERSITY
RACE AND MEDIA
SPECIAL TOPICS (minimum of 3 credit hours) *
INTRODUCTION TO LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES
AFRICAN AMERICAN POLITICS
LATINO POLITICS IN THE UNITED STATES
RACE, ETHNICITY, AND POLITICS IN AMERICA
RACE AND PUBLIC POLICY
SEX, GENDER, AND POLITICAL REPRESENTATION IN LATIN AMERICA
MULTICULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY
RELIGION AND HIP HOP CULTURE IN AMERICA
RELIGION AND BLACK LIVES MATTER
INTRODUCTION TO THE BLACK CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES
THE RELIGIOUS THOUGHT OF MARTIN L. KING, JR. AND MALCOLM X
WHAT'S RELIGIOUS ABOUT BLACK RELIGION?
SOCIAL INEQUALITY
HOUSTON: THE SOCIOLOGY OF A CITY
RACE AND ETHNIC RELATIONS
MULTIRACIAL AMERICA
SOCIOLOGY OF RELIGION
RACE, SOCIETY AND POPULATION CHANGE
AFRICAN AMERICAN-JEWISH RELATIONS: RACE, RELIGION, POLITICS, AND POPULAR CULTURE
ART AND ACTIVISM: CRITICAL STUDY OF HOPE IN TIMES OF CRISIS
RACE, GENDER, CLASS IN FILM
RACE AND FAMILY SEMINAR
RACE AND ETHNICITY SEMINAR
RESEARCH SEMINAR: THE HOUSTON AREA SURVEY
SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION
IMMIGRATION IN A GLOBAL WORLD
RACE, MIGRATION, AND HEALTH SEMINAR
INEQUALITY AND URBAN LIFE
THE CITY IN LATIN AMERICA
LATIN AMERICAN WOMEN'S CULTURE
SEX AND GENDER IN MODERN JEWISH CULTURE
Elective Course Category: General
Select up to 2 courses from the following (or select 2 additional Electives from the Global South and/or the Race and Ethnicity categories)0-6
ETHNOGRAPHIES OF CARE
GLOBAL HEALTH JUSTICE: HEALTHCARE INEQUALITIES IN CONFLICTS
MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
SPECIAL TOPICS (minimum of 3 credit hours) *
BIOLOGY FOR VOTERS
APPROPRIATE DESIGN FOR GLOBAL HEALTH
ECONOMICS OF HUMAN CAPITAL
HEALTH ECONOMICS
QUEER LITERARY CULTURES
FEMINIST THEORY
INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL HEALTH
INTEGRATED APPROACHES TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY HEALTH
VIOLENCE IN AMERICA: A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE
DISPARITIES IN HEALTH IN AMERICA
SPECIAL TOPICS IN HEALTH SCIENCES *
SEX, GENDER, AND FAMILY IN EUROPE, 1300-1700
19TH CENTURY WOMEN'S NARRATIVES
HISTORY OF FEMINISM
IMMIGRATION AND THE STATE: 19TH & 20TH CENTURY
RACE, EDUCATION AND SOCIETY IN THE URBAN SOUTH
AMERICAN RADICALS AND REFORMERS
THE HISTORY OF HUMAN RIGHTS
HISTORY OF MEDICINE: FROM ART TO SCIENCE
THE BLACK CITY: AFRICAN AMERICAN URBAN LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES
SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
ADVANCED SEMINAR IN POVERTY, JUSTICE, AND CAPABILITIES
ADVOCATING FOR IDEAS TO CHANGE THE WORLD
HEALTH POLICY
URBAN POLITICS
LATIN AMERICAN POLITICS
POLITICAL REPRESENTATION IN CONTEMPORARY DEMOCRACIES
CIVIL WARS
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS
POLITICS OF AMERICAN NATIONAL SECURITY
EDUCATION POLICY
CONDITIONS OF DEMOCRACY
PSYCHOLOGY OF GENDER
SOCIOLOGY OF GENDER
SOCIOLOGY OF WORK AND OCCUPATIONS
SOCIOLOGY OF IMMIGRATION
SOCIOLOGY OF GLOBALIZATION
MEDICAL SOCIOLOGY
SOCIOLOGY OF DISASTER
HEALTH DISPARITIES IN THE UNITED STATES
GENDER SEMINAR
SOCIOLOGY OF FOOD
POPULATION HEALTH SEMINAR
FAMILY SEMINAR
GENDER AND HEALTH
COMMUNITY BRIDGES TRAINING
INEQUALITY AND URBAN LIFE
SEXUAL DEBATES IN THE U.S.: SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXTS OF SUPREME COURTS DECISIONS
PRE-SEMINAR IN ENGAGED RESEARCH
ENGAGED RESEARCH PRACTICUM
ENGAGED RESEARCH SEMINAR

Footnotes and Additional Information 

Direct Service Learning Experience

As part of the Poverty, Justice, and Human Capabilities (PJHC) requirements, students must participate in an approved PJHC direct service learning experience. Students must complete 3 PJHC Service Credits. Students can choose from an array of options, including internships, service trips, and coursework to complete this requirement. Direct service learning experiences carry 1, 2, or 3 service credits. These options are described in detail at https://pjhc.rice.edu/service-learning-requirement/.

Policies for the Minor in Poverty, Justice, and Human Capabilities

Program Restrictions and Exclusions

Students pursuing the minor in Poverty, Justice, and Human Capabilities should be aware of the following program restriction:

  • As noted in Majors, Minors, and Certificates, i.) students may declare their intent to pursue a minor only after they have first declared a major, and ii.) students may not major and minor in the same subject.

Transfer Credit 

For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. Requests for transfer credit must be approved for Rice equivalency by the designated transfer credit advisor for the appropriate academic department offering the Rice equivalent course (corresponding to the subject code of the course content). The Office of Academic Advising maintains the university’s official list of transfer credit advisors on their website: https://oaa.rice.edu. Students are encouraged to meet with the applicable transfer credit advisor as well as their academic program director when considering transfer credit possibilities. 

Program Transfer Credit Guidelines

Students pursuing the minor in Poverty, Justice, and Human Capabilities should be aware of the following program-specific transfer credit guideline:

  • No more than 2 courses (6 credit hours) of transfer credit from U.S. or international universities of similar standing as Rice may apply towards the minor. 

Distribution Credit Information

The determination of distribution credit eligibility is done initially as part of the new course creation process. Additionally, as part of an annual roll call coordinated each Spring by the Office of the Registrar, course distribution credit eligibility is routinely reviewed and reaffirmed by the Dean’s Offices of each of the academic schools.  

Faculty and leadership in the academic schools are responsible for ensuring that the courses identified as distribution-credit-eligible meet the criteria as set in the General Announcements. Students are responsible for ensuring that they meet graduation requirements by completing coursework designated as distribution-credit-eligible at the time of course registration. 

Additional Information 

For additional information, please see the Poverty, Justice, and Human Capabilities website: https://pjhc.rice.edu/.

Opportunities for the Minor in Poverty, Justice, and Human Capabilities

Academic Honors

The university recognizes academic excellence achieved over an undergraduate’s academic history at Rice. For information on university honors, please see Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) and Distinction in Research and Creative Work. Some departments have department-specific Honors awards or designations.

Susan McAshan Summer Service Internship

Declared Poverty, Justice, and Human Capabilities minors are eligible to apply for funding to support a summer service internship. Students must have completed PJHC 371 by the end of the fall semester before their internships. Funding supports student interns’ direct service work with international or US-based community service organizations. Additional details may be found at the PJHC website: https://pjhc.rice.edu/

Additional Information 

For additional information, please see the Poverty, Justice, and Human Capabilities website: https://pjhc.rice.edu/.