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Summer 2025 Advanced Standing and Fall 2025 
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Social Work and Juvenile Justice Undergraduate Minor

The Social Work and Juvenile Justice undergraduate minor is designed for students who want to increase their knowledge of the juvenile justice system and service environments for diverse youth populations. This 16 unit minor is fit for students in the behavioral and social sciences and any student interested in developing a broad knowledge of issues in the field of juvenile justice. The minor is of particular interest to students wishing to pursue graduate studies in social work, law, sociology, psychology, public health or education.

 

Required Courses

SOWK 200xm Institutional Inequality in American Political and Social Policy

Units: 4

Historic and philosophical roots of inequality for minority groups in the United States and implications for public policy.

Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter

SOWK 324 Juvenile Justice in America

Units: 4
Terms Offered: FaSp

The historical and current context of America’s juvenile justice system and its influence on children, youth and families.

Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter

SOWK 350 Adolescent Gang Intervention

Units: 4

The incidence of gangs (particularly in the Los Angeles area), gang interventions, and policies developed to address the growing gang situation.

Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter

SOWK 424 Community Experience in Juvenile Justice Environments

Units: 4
Terms Offered: FaSp

Provides in-class and on-site community experiences to increase knowledge and understanding of youth experience in a range of social environments focused on juvenile justice.

Instruction Mode: Lecture
Grading Option: Letter

Program Outcomes

Robert Hernandez Video

Robert Hernandez, senior lecturer, shares how this new minor will prepare students to positively impact underserved youth.

Additional Information

For more information, please contact Robert Hernandez, assistant teaching professor.