The MA in Social Justice and Community Development degree program provides a solid foundation of knowledge and skills for social activists and community development professionals.  This cross-denominational program engages students through a faith- and values-based perspective and provides:

• an interdisciplinary foundation in justice theories and religious social teachings

• a comprehensive, integrated curriculum, useful for various career paths in community development and social justice

• practical tools in community organizing, social analysis and change, communication and non-violence, advocacy in public policy, working with volunteers, grant writing, and fundraising

The degree is designed for those aspiring to affect faith-based, social transformation in communities as well as to those committed to restoring economic equity, social justice, and ecological health, especially with regard to underserved, marginalized, or exploited populations.

Students in the program choose from two concentrations:

The Community Development Concentration is ideal for those with established careers or experience in the field of community development. Through hands-on experiences, students develop multiple competencies that aim to address infrastructure and support service gaps in traditionally underserved communities. This concentration is the result of a new partnership between the Seminary Consortium for Urban Pastoral Education (SCUPE) and Loyola’s Institute of Pastoral Studies.

The Social Justice Concentration is designed for those who are relatively new to the field of social justice and community development. This concentration is especially relevant for recent graduates looking to acquire practical skills that will help them become community leaders and agents of social change.

For more information go to the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University