GLI 402: Democracy and Justice for All

 

Request permission to enroll in GLI 402

 

Course description  

Read Plato, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Kimberle Crenshaw, W.E.B. DuBois, Stacey Abrams, and Aristotle. 

This course explores foundational texts related to civics and democracy and is meant to prepare undergraduates to make a difference in the lives of high school students from marginalized communities by serving  as Teaching Assistants for the Academy of Civic Life. Students will read contemporary and classical texts exploring Citizenship, Labor, Representation, Social Justice, and Activism. Through classroom debates and writing assignments, students will examine how these historical texts and foundational ideas can be put in conversation with the writers of today, and they will study how the past connects to current events around the world. To supplement the readings, students will also be exposed to a range of relevant media including art, film, journalism, and new media. Students will learn about civic engagement by creating, implementing, and presenting projects that bring positive change to their community.

 

Course details and SBC categories 

• Semester: GLI 402 will be held in Spring 2024. 
• Meeting time: The class meets on Tuesday/Thursday from 10:00 am–11:20 am
• SBC Categories: USA and EXP+
• Credits: 3 credits
• Prerequisites: There are no course prerequisites, but permission of instructor is required to enroll. (Request permission to enroll here) 

 

Who should take GLI 402? 

• Are you passionate about helping your neighborhood through hands-on projects? 
• Do you want to learn how to be a more engaged member of your community? 
• Are you interested in democracy, justice, labor, and activism?

• Do you want to think about issues of government, politics, and protest at a local and global level? 
• Do you want to explore the foundational texts of civic life in the U.S. and around the world? 

If so, you are a perfect fit for GLI 402. We hope to see you in class

 

What are the goals of the course? 

• Introduce students to foundational texts about citizenship, labor, representation, justice, and activism and put these texts in conversation with contemporary thinkers and issues.
• Develop an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship
• Engage in class debates and writing assignments relating these texts and foundational ideas to current events, global politics, and students’ communities. 
• Learn about civic engagement by creating, implementing, and presenting community-based projects. 
• Look at issues of democracy, government, and protest at both the local and global level. 
  
  

 

Who is teaching the course? 

Tracey L. Walters is Professor of Literature in the Department of Africana Studies at Stony Brook University where she also holds an affiliate appointment with the Institute for Globalization Studies, the Department of English, and Women’s and Gender Studies. She is an interdisciplinary, transcultural scholar of Africana Studies, and writes about the experiences of African diasporic women through the lens of feminist studies and cultural studies. She is a leading scholar of Black British literature and Classica Africana, a subfield of classical studies. 

 

How can I apply for a TA position? 

Students who enroll in GLI 402 are eligible to apply for a paid teaching assistant (TA) position  that will take place in Summer 2024! Visit our How to Apply page for more information about this TA opportunity.

 

Want more info? 

• Watch a recording of our virtual information session, in which Dr. Walters and Dr. Amy Cook discuss the GLI 402 course and the Academy of Civic Life. 
• If you have questions, please email academyofciviclife@stonybrook.edu.