Vincentian Poverty Studies, Minor
Goals
Overall Poverty Minor Mission and Goals
Drawing upon the Vincentian tradition of service to the poor and the community, the goal of the Niagara University Minor in Vincentian Poverty Studies (VPS) is to educate NU students about poverty in an in depth fashion that fully prepares them to deal effectively with the complexities and challenges that are created by poverty. An essential objective is to bring to life NU’s mission, which states in part, “Niagara seeks to inspire its students to serve all members of society, especially the poor and oppressed, in local communities and the larger world.”
To accomplish this, the minor seeks to create a lifelong commitment to combating poverty while providing students — regardless of major — the knowledge, skills, and practical experience needed to be effective in combating poverty.
VPS Fellows Mission and Goals
VPS Fellows will have similar goals to the full minor, but will not receive the same depth of study as students who undertake the full minor. The primary goal of the VPS Fellow option is to enable students in majors (e.g. Business, Education, Hospitality) that offer limited opportunities for electives to study poverty in greater depth than have otherwise been available and to receive recognition for their poverty related scholarship.
Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty (SHECP) Internship Option
This eight-week summer internship opportunity joins selected students (maximum of four) from Niagara University’s Vincentian Poverty Minor with students at universities from around the United States who are also engaged in the study and combating of poverty. The internship provides the opportunity for future leaders from around the country to become known to each other and to develop relationships via the internship.
Additional information about the Shepherd Internship is available from the Chairperson of the VPS. (Need to add information and application process to our Web pages).
Program Description
Components of the VPS Minor
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| SWK 120 | Understanding & Addressing Poverty | 3 |
| Required Courses | ||
| Select one of the following: 1 | 3 | |
| Social Stratification | ||
| Social and Political Philosophy | ||
| Christianity & Democracy | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select two elective courses. Partial list of courses that can be used to fulfill elective requirements for the minor: 2 | 6 | |
| Understanding & Addressing Poverty | ||
| Social Stratification | ||
| Social and Political Philosophy | ||
| Civil Liberties | ||
| Black Freedom Movement | ||
| Origins of the Urban Crisis | ||
| Christianity & Democracy | ||
| Native American Culture | ||
| Social Problems | ||
| Women in Society | ||
| Race and Ethnicity | ||
| Social Change | ||
| Diversity & Soc Justice | ||
- 1
Students are required to take REL 357 Christianity & Democracy, SOC 312 Social Stratification or PHI 304 Social and Political Philosophy as part of the three core courses for the minor. Students may take each course, using one for the core requirement and the second course as the required electives.
- 2
In addition to these courses, special topic courses or other courses that will have strong poverty content may be used to fulfill the elective requirement with permission of the Director of the VPS minor.
Poverty Related Experiential Learning
This requirement may be met in several ways. For example, it could be combined with senior seminars, honors thesis courses, and various special topic courses in the student’s major. An independent study option may also be used. The primary requirement is working with an agency that provides direct services to impoverished populations for a minimum of 125 hours. Readings, reflection papers, journals, and a thesis will also be required. Students may complete the required hours during the summer (see also the Shepherd Alliance Summer Internships) and complete the thesis requirement during the fall or spring semesters.
Components of the VPS Fellow Distinction
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Course | ||
| SWK 120 | Understanding & Addressing Poverty | 3 |
Two hundred and twenty five (225) Learn and Serve documented hours in agencies that have a specific focus on working with those in poverty. Summer internships, such as the Shepherd Alliance Internship, can be used to meet this requirement.
A senior thesis that focuses on poverty in combination with the student’s major field of study must also be completed and approved by the VPS Minor Chairperson.