The Program in Poverty, Justice and Human Capabilities (PJHC) provides students with a multifaceted understanding of poverty and inequality in the United States and internationally. This minor emphasizes a “capabilities approach,” which considers what people are able to do and be — for example, live to old age and engage in economic and political activities — rather than focusing strictly on their access to basic necessities.
The program also acknowledges gender inequality, systemic racism and the legacy of colonialism and postcolonial disparities as powerful influences on human well-being, both in the United States and globally. Through high-caliber undergraduate courses and service-learning experiences, students gain a deeper understanding of the structural factors underlying poverty and human well-being.
A key goal of the program is to enrich students’ understanding of poverty and inequality so that, regardless of their choice of occupation, they will maintain a longstanding commitment to enhancing the wellbeing of all people, and to become leaders in solving local and global problems.
Learn more about the minor in the Program in Poverty, Justice and Human Capabilities >