CIVE6001: Critical Approaches to Civic Engagement

This course serves as the foundational course for students in the Master of Professional Studies in Civic Engagement. It is also open to other students interested in the history, theory, and practical applications of public participation in civic processes in arenas including electoral and neighborhood-level government, health care, social work, education, urban planning, environment, and others. Students will be introduced to graduate level inquiry and augment their critical thinking skills exploring forces and systems related to culture, power, race, democracy, and organizational structures along with theories of change, change methodologies, and impediments to change. Students will grapple with real-world challenges and topical content, engaging with relevant scholarship, readings, and interdisciplinary practices. Through the course, they will interact, lead, and build relationships in class and in their communities and/or workplaces. In doing so, students gain proficiency in critical thinking, community processes, and cultural competency. Students develop skills to be facilitators and leaders of change. This course offers students unique opportunities to engage in cross-disciplinary partnerships and creative problem-solving.

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