Bachelor of Arts in Social Justice and Sustainability

Plan and promote sustainable methodologies

The Social Justice and Sustainability (S.J.S.) major builds on Franklin’s commitment to fostering a more just and sustainable world. A self-designed major, it aims to allow students to explore key topics, theories, skills and applications at the intersections of social justice and sustainability. The S.J.S. program has the explicit goal of helping the next generation of leaders, public servants, and private citizens to understand and navigate the key issues facing our world today. It provides students with interdisciplinary and experiential learning opportunities that link theoretical approaches to practical applications. This major helps students think across disciplines, through explorations of theories, concepts, case studies, and issues in Social Justice and Sustainability. The major is designed to develop skills in areas such as conflict resolution, advocacy, policy design, analysis and implementation, sustainable business plans, and sustainability design, assessment, and communication. The major integrates the practical application of theoretical knowledge and skills in the form of fieldwork, service, internships, and academic travels.

The major in Social Justice and Sustainability provides excellent preparation for a variety of careers in the public and private sectors. Potential future careers include possibilities in local and international agencies; with advocacy groups for human rights, environmental justice, welfare, or sustainability; in community organizations, in development and aid organizations, in governmental institutions, in think tanks, and in consulting firms. Graduates could work as crisis mediators, policy analysts, conflict resolution specialists, journalists, media producers, organizers or lobbyists. Depending on the focus chosen, this major is also an excellent choice for students considering graduate studies in the social sciences, the humanities, economics, environmental studies, and law, as well as further study related to social, political, and economic equality.

Social Justice and Sustainability Requirements

*All Bachelor of Arts degrees require a total of 120 credits consisting of Core Requirements, Major Requirements, and General Elective courses. Prerequisites may be required for courses outside of the major.

Administrative Procedures

The S.J.S. major is self-designed and closely monitored by trained S.J.S. advisors and the S.J.S. Advisory Board responsible for the major. The S.J.S. advisors represent their candidates at an annual S.J.S. Advisory Board meeting. There are four overarching topics that anchor the major and help orient students as they find their specific focus: Understanding Poverty and Wealth, Environmental Limits, Human and Nature Rights, and Global Migration and Mobility.

• Immediately after declaring their S.J.S. major, students will work closely with one of the S.J.S. advisors to design their curriculum as it relates to their own specifically defined approach and chosen focus. This curriculum will be presented to the S.J.S. Advisory Board as a formal proposal of study after completion of the foundation course. The formal proposal must include the choice of a focus in one of the overarching topics, the plan of 200 and 300-level courses to be taken for the initial year of coursework in the major, a list of three internship possibilities and a rationale for how these fit into the self-designed curriculum.
• After the initial coursework, two further proposals to be submitted to the S.J.S. Advisory Board will outline the remaining coursework and the area and content of the two chosen capstone courses.

Eligibility and Requirements

This program is designed specifically for ambitious and independent students who wish to take on the challenge of designing their own major in Social Justice and Sustainability. Students with a GPA of 3.2 or higher after completion of 30 credits at Franklin (or who transfer in with 30 or more credits and a transfer GPA of 3.2 or higher) are eligible to pursue the program.

Cost & Fees

• US Nationals / Permanent Residents and Canadian Nationals
  Academic Tuition Includes Academic Travel (Required, two weeks each semester): $40,800 per year
• All Other Nationalities
  Academic Tuition Includes Academic Travel(Required, two weeks each semester): CHF 49,100 per year

Foundation Course (3 Credits)

S.J.S. 100 Sustainability and Social Justice: Ethics, Equality, and Environments

Major Courses (39 Credits)

Individually designed programs include a total of 39 credits (13 courses) spread across at least three disciplines, 24 of which must be at the 200 or 300-level, including at least one 3-credit Academic Travel with a focus in social justice and sustainability.

Capstone Requirement (6 Credits)

Two of the following:

S.J.S. 499 Capstone: research-based thesis

Tuition and Fees

US nationals or permanent residents / Canadian nationals

Cost of Attendance

The actual cost of attendance will vary depending on circumstances, based on how far you have to travel to reach Franklin, the choices you make regarding meals and housing, and more. The costs can be broken into Direct vs. Indirect costs (see below).

Direct Costs

These will appear on the billing statement each semester and may vary based on the cost of housing and meal plan the student chooses. These costs include tuition, university fees, room, and board as well as Swiss health insurance. Exact amounts or averages for these costs (for example for housing or insurance) are provided below.

Tuition and Fees	Per Semester	Per Year
Academic Tuition Includes Academic Travel (Required, two weeks each semester)	$20,400	$40,800
Annual University Fees	$710	$1,420
Orientation Fee (new incoming students only)	$500	$500
Housing and Meals
Average Residence Hall	$5,045	$10,090
Meal Plan (required for all first-year students)	$1,600	$3,200
Health Insurance
Average Insurance for Non-Swiss citizens*	$790	$1,580

*Swiss law requires that all students are covered by Swiss medical insurance. The cost varies according to the age of the student. For information regarding the cost of Swiss medical insurance for 2017-2018 please see Health and Counseling.

Indirect Costs

These costs are incidental to the student’s attendance and are fully managed by the student and their family. These costs include travel costs to/from Franklin each semester, the purchase of books and supplies as well as personal costs for weekend travel, toiletries, and such. Each family can reduce these costs by planning travel early, sending care packages from home that include lower-priced toiletries, buying used books and more.

Typical Expenses	Per Semester	Per Year
Books and other materials	$700	$1,400
Travel to and from campus (average cost of an intercontinental flight)	$1,000	$2,000
The average cost for personal expenses, off-campus meals, independent travel (based on student surveys)	$1,500	$3,000

Total Average Cost of Attendance

Based on the above estimates and average costs, the typical total cost of attendance for a non-Swiss, new incoming undergraduate student (e.g. a first-year undergraduate student, incoming study abroad student or transfer student) coming from the US or Canada would calculate as follows:

	Average Direct Costs	Average Indirect Costs	Total
First Semester	$29,045	$3,200	$32,245
Second Semester	$28,545	$3,200	$31,745

Non-US or Canadian national or a permanent US resident

Cost of Attendance

The actual cost of attendance will vary depending on circumstances, based on how far you have to travel to reach Franklin, the choices you make regarding meals and housing, and more. The costs can be broken into Direct vs. Indirect costs (see below).

Direct Costs

These will appear on the billing statement each semester and may vary based on the cost of housing and meal plan the student chooses. These costs include tuition, university fees, room, and board as well as Swiss health insurance. Exact amounts or averages for these costs (for example for housing or insurance) are provided below.

Tuition and Fees	Per Semester	Per Year
Academic Tuition Includes Academic Travel (Required, two weeks each semester)	CHF 24,550	CHF 49,100
Annual University Fees	CHF 710	CHF 1,420
Orientation Fee (new incoming students only)	CHF 500	CHF 500
Housing and Meals
Average Residence Hall	CHF 5,045	CHF 10,090
Meal Plan (required for all first-year students)	CHF 1,600	CHF 3,200
Health Insurance
Average Insurance for Non-Swiss citizens*	CHF 790	CHF 1,580

*Swiss law requires that all students are covered by Swiss medical insurance. The cost varies according to the age of the student. For information regarding the cost of Swiss medical insurance for 2017-2018 please see Health and Counseling.

Indirect Costs

These costs are incidental to the student’s attendance and are fully managed by the student and their family. These costs include travel costs to/from Franklin each semester, the purchase of books and supplies as well as personal costs for weekend travel, toiletries, and such. Each family can reduce these costs by planning travel early, sending care packages from home that include lower-priced toiletries, buying used books and more.

Typical Expenses	Per Semester	Per Year
Books and other materials	CHF 700	CHF 1,400
Travel to and from campus (average cost of an intercontinental flight)	CHF 1,000	CHF 2,000
The average cost for personal expenses, off-campus meals, independent travel (based on student surveys)	CHF 1,500	CHF 3,000

Total Average Cost of Attendance

Based on the above estimates and average costs, the typical total cost of attendance for a non-Swiss, new incoming undergraduate student (e.g. a first-year undergraduate student, incoming study abroad student or transfer student) coming from the US or Canada would calculate as follows:

	Average Direct Costs	Average Indirect Costs	Total
First Semester	CHF 33,195	CHF 3,200	CHF 36,395
Second Semester	CHF 32,195	CHF 3,200	CHF 35,395

Scholarships & Financial Aid

At Franklin, we see financing your education as an investment and partnership among you, your family, and the University. About 70 percent of Franklin students receive financial aid in a variety of forms, such as need- and merit-based scholarships, government, and private aid and engagement incentives. Franklin offers scholarships, financial aid, and other initiatives, and various external programs are available based on citizenship and need assessment. Together we will create your financial aid package and carefully guide you through your financing options.

Need-based Aid

Students of all nationalities are encouraged to apply for financial aid. Information about how and when to apply, various aid programs available and eligibility are available in our dedicated section on Financial Aid.

Scholarships and Merit Awards

Merit scholarships are given to students who have demonstrated high academic achievement and are renewed each year, for four years. These scholarships are automatically awarded at the time of admission and are not based on need or family income. Priority is given to students applying for admission by the December 1, 2017, deadline. After December 1, we may continue to award merit scholarships, if funds are still available. For more information, students are advised to contact our office in Lugano.

Below is a range of awards available for the incoming class of Fall Semester 2018.

Merit Award Amounts for US Students (US dollars)	Merit Award Amounts for Students outside of the US (Swiss francs)
$22,000	CHF 28,500
$18,000	CHF 24,500
$16,000	CHF 22,500
$12,000	CHF 18,500
Up to $5000	Up to CHF 5000

Swiss Matura Initiative

Specific financial incentives are available for students holding a Swiss national high school diploma (Matura).

Starting with the 2016-17 academic year, Franklin University Switzerland offers students holding a Swiss national high school diploma ('Matura') the opportunity to earn a Bachelor's degree in a discipline of their choice in a program designed just for them.

Life-long Learning Scholarship Program

The Life-Long Learning Scholarship Program (L.L.L.S.) supports students by preparing them to be career-ready upon graduation from Franklin, not only with regard to academic foundations in their respective disciplines but also by providing them with skills that are essential in public and private sector employment in a wide variety of settings. By participating in the Life-Long Learning Scholarship program, students will experience a strong sense of engagement with the University, develop leadership skills, and have the opportunity to learn and develop practical skills in a number of fields and areas.

L.L.L.S. Program Eligibility for Students

1. All undergraduate students enrolled at Franklin University Switzerland with full-time status (a minimum of four semester courses) may apply for an L.L.L.S. position.
2. A cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher is required to be eligible for the L.L.L.S. program.
3. All applicants MUST have an account in good standing with the University in order to be eligible for the L.L.L.S. program.
4. Resident Assistants are eligible for L.L.L.S. positions for a maximum of 5 hours per week and only with permission from their supervisors.

L.L.L.S. Position Levels

The L.L.L.S. positions are classified into various levels. First-year students start with simpler, service-oriented positions and progress to more challenging positions with greater responsibility and increased complexity during their upper-class years.

• Tier I: Task-oriented. Entry-level students learn basic career skills and experienced students have proven to be dependable. Students may have time to study while conducting projects after their assigned tasks have been completed.
• Tier II: Students learn project management and more advanced career skills. Experienced students have the capacity to train and supervise beginner level students. Students do not have time to study during their assigned projects.
• Research Assistant or other Academic Assistant Position: Students perform basic to advanced academic research and complete academic projects. Students do not have time to study during their assigned projects.

The L.L.L.S. program allows students to experience a strong sense of engagement with the University, develop leadership skills, and have the opportunity to learn and develop practical skills in a number of fields and areas. Students are expected to maintain communication with their supervisor about the schedule, tasks, and deadlines. Supervisors are expected to provide training for L.L.L.S. students to fully acclimate the student to the new role.

L.L.L.S. Administration

At the beginning of each semester, information about open L.L.L.S. positions and the application process is sent to students' Franklin email accounts. The L.L.L.S. Program is coordinated by the Dean of Student Life and Engagement in collaboration with the Vice President for Finance and Administration and the Franklin Bursar.