Social Thought & Polic. Econ 494PI - Praxis

Spring
2026
01
3.00
Rachel Weber

W 11:15AM 1:45PM

UMass Amherst
83094
Machmer Hall room W-32
rachelweber@umass.edu
This course teaches students to apply social theory to the real-life experience of their required STPEC internship. Students are encouraged to draw on knowledge acquired in prior Gen Ed and core STPEC courses to explore connections between theory and practice as they analyze various aspects of the organizations. Class structure and assignments promote group communication, multi-disciplinary dialogue, and critical self-reflection. Course assignments focus on a self-designed project related to the student's internship placement and include multiple peer-edited drafts of a critical analysis of the internship, a self-reflective essay, an oral presentation, and a final cumulative paper. This course, plus STPEC 498Y, satisfies the Integrative Experience requirement for BA-STPEC majors.

This course tackles the latest developments in racial capitalism by analyzing social struggles and organizations since the economic crisis of 2007. Using the latest research on gender, class, race, empire, and sexuality this course looks at how crisis and struggle are simultaneously shaping the world. For the final project students will write a paper focusing on social struggles during the pandemic.
Fulfils the I.E. Requirement for STPEC students

Permission is required for interchange registration during the add/drop period only.