Program: Minor in Civic and Community Engagement
Program Description
The Civic and Community Engagement minor is designed for students who want to apply what they learn at CSUN toward making positive changes in their communities and the world. The minor provides skills for students to successfully integrate their academic and professional interests with their desire to create healthy, humane, successful and sustainable communities. Students will combine their CSUN coursework and collaborations with community partners to become informed and active members and leaders in society.
The Civic and Community Engagement minor also can contribute to the professional development of students. Those who complete the minor will have at least two significant experiences with community service, fieldwork or internships with nonprofit or government organizations. Such experiences can help students make important contacts in their chosen professions, and students can develop important skills for collaborating respectfully and responsibly with others. Such experiences also clarify how topics from the classroom can be applied in real-world circumstances.
The minor’s requirements make it easy to integrate with a student’s General Education courses or the student’s major or minor. Students who select the Civic and Community Engagement minor should not be delayed in meeting their graduation requirements.
Two courses from the Civic and Community Engagement program are required for the minor:
CCE 200 Introduction to Civic and Community Engagement (3)
CCE 490 Civic and Community Engagement Capstone (3)
In addition, the minor requires 12 units focused on a theme or discipline, with 3 of those units classified as community service or fieldwork, or an internship with a nonprofit or government agency. At least 9 of the 18 units taken for the minor must be from upper division courses. Students have two tracks for selecting their courses to fulfill the minor.
Program Requirements
Complete one of the following two tracks:
Track I: GE Path
1. Required Courses (6 units)
CCE 200 Introduction to Civic and Community Engagement (3)
CCE 490 Civic and Community Engagement Capstone (3)
2. GE Path Courses (9 units)
General Education Paths connect three GE courses in related topics. Students can use one of the following GE Paths (9 units) to meet part of the requirements for the Civic and Community Engagement minor: Arts, Media and Culture; Global Studies; Principles of Sustainability; Health and Wellness; and Social Justice. The courses offered for each GE Path vary each semester. Students should select their GE Path courses in coordination with the CCE director.
3. Community Service, Fieldwork, Internship (3 units)
In addition, students are required to take one course (3 units) that contains a significant experience in community service, fieldwork or internship with a nonprofit or government organization. Students are encouraged to find this course within the GE Path they have chosen. Internships require the approval of the CCE director.
Track II: Selected Discipline
1. Required Courses (6 units)
CCE 200 Introduction to Civic and Community Engagement (3)
CCE 490 Civic and Community Engagement Capstone (3)
2. Selected Discipline Courses (9 units)
Students can fulfill some of the requirements for the minor by selecting three courses (9 units) from a particular department or program (called the Selected Discipline). These courses can double-count from GE requirements, from a student’s major or minor, or simply from a field of interest to a student (general electives). The courses should be selected in coordination with the CCE director.
3. Community Service, Fieldwork, Internship in Selected Discipline (3 units)
In addition, students are required to take one course (3 units) from the Selected Discipline that contains a significant experience in community service, fieldwork or internship with a nonprofit or government organization. If the program or department does not offer such a course, students can select a course from another program or department with the approval of the CCE director.
Total Units Required in the Minor: 18*
*9 units must be upper division.
Contact
Civic and Community Engagement Program
Director: Amanda Baugh
Santa Susana (SN) 237
(818) 677-4733
Student Learning Outcomes
Students who complete the Civic and Community Engagement minor will:
- Collaborate with community organizations in a respectful and responsible manner.
- Clearly express the missions and priorities of the organizations they serve.
- Locate resources and take effective action for community service projects.
- Reflect on what they learn personally and professionally from their community service.
- Apply the concepts, vocabulary and skills acquired in their CSUN courses to their community service experiences.
- Analyze the dynamic relationships among individuals, communities and organizations, including the social, economic and environmental influences on them.