CASA 101 PZ -Critical Community Studies

Institution: Pitzer

Description: Utilizes Southern California as a case study to examine how global trends impact local issues. Working in a seminar format, students discuss how power shapes social and environmental problems, network and coalition building, and political movements. The class utilizes a ï¿½cluster bombï¿½ approach to several topics, providing a theoretical and contextual framework for understanding broad-scale public policy failures. Special topics include environmental justice, immigration, homelessness, education, gangs, and the prison system. We are particularly interested in links between exclusion and structural violence, symbolic devises of Othering, the growth of a surveillance society, and movements toward more just urban landscape. Several fields experiences, including a trip to the U.S.-Mexico border, expand on course themes. This course is part of CASA, a three credit program, which includes taking two courses simultaneously (CASA 101 & 105) and engaging in a 125-hour fieldwork fellowship with a local community organization. Classes and fellowship take place off campus, with transportation provided. FMI see https://www.pitzer.edu/casa-pitzer/pitzer-ontario/the-program/

Prerequisite(s): Please check course schedule for requirements.

For up-to-date information on current course offerings and details, please refer to the Pitzer class schedule on MyCampus2 Portal.