PJHC 371 (Poverty, Justice, and Human Capabilities) is the introductory core course for the PJHC minor. The course provides an overview of the study of poverty, justice, and human capabilities, and draws from the capabilities framework and multidisciplinary approaches to improving human well-being in communities around the world. The course aims to increase students’ engagement with broader debates on current issues and to enhance their communication and advocacy skills. Readings address not just material deprivations but also gender, racial and ethnic disparities, sexual orientation, health status, education, human rights, and political freedoms. 

• Students gain an introductory knowledge of theoretical approaches to poverty and justice, with applications in the US, Asia, Africa, South America, and other regions.
• Students learn to approach policy issues from global perspectives and to articulate varying approaches to poverty and justice in different global regions.
• Students study examples from different geographical regions and not exclusively from one country or region.
• Students learn to apply the human capabilities approach to gender, racial and ethnic disparities, sexual orientation, health status, education, human rights, and political freedoms.
• Students become familiar with the practices of contributing to and editing Wikipedia. Their final project includes contributing substantially to an existing article or creating a new article on a topic related to the course material.
• Students improve and refine their oral, written, and visual communication skills through oral presentations, class discussions, written responses to readings, and a polished, scholarly Wikipedia entry.
• Students increase their engagement with broader debates through attending lectures and public debates on topics relating to the course material and through writing and discussing topical issues raised in the press.