Civic Engagement Minor

Civic Engagement

IN THIS SECTION

Learn how to make positive social change

Discover the responsibilities of citizenship and prepare for effective democratic participation with the Civic Engagement Minor. As part of your training, you’ll complete an internship focused on urban studies, journalism, or political science, among other options.

Check out the different civic engagement courses waiting for you at Worcester State!
CM-384 Media Criticism
Evaluation and analysis of film, television, theatre, and radio performances, development of intelligent, ethical standards of judgment.
3 credits
EV-130 Environmental Problems and Solutions
The course is an introduction to human impacts on the earth and ecosystem processes. The complexity of these issues is examined through a series of case studies examining global, regional and local issues.
3 credits
GE-285 Sustainable Communities
Exploration of changes in U.S. and global economic landscape, 1970 to present. Approaches to sustainable economic development.
3 credits
PO-160 Introduction to Civic Engagement
What are the responsibilities of citizenship? How do we define community? What are the ways we can participate in civic life? This course in civic learning and civic engagement will help prepare individuals for effective democratic participation, which in turn promotes growth of healthy communities, global economic vitality, social and political well-being and democratic human interactions. Through a variety of readings and experiential activities, students will be introduced to the four core pillars in the Civic Engagement field: Civic and Democratic Knowledge, Civic and Democratic Skills, Civic and Democratic Values, and Civic and Democratic Action.
3 credits
PO-215 State and Local Government
Examines sub-national governments and politics in the United States; the structure and problems of these governments.
3 credits
PO-216 Political Parties and Interest Groups
Examines the organization, functions, and methods of political parties; the role of interest groups in the American political process.
3 credits
PO-217 The U.S. Congress
The nature and function of the United States Congress, including the complexities of the lawmaking process, Congressional elections, the relationship between individual members of Congress and their constituencies, major issues of public policy, and institutional relations between Congress, the Presidency, and the Judiciary.
3 credits
PO-230 Campaigns and Elections
This course examines political campaigns and elections in the United States, with a focus on the candidate nomination and electoral process, campaign structures and strategies, voting, political participation, public opinion, the media, political behavior, and the role of political parties.
3 credits
PO-262 Principles of US Public Policy
This course introduces students to how American public policy is formulated and how public policies can be evaluated. These theoretical and structural frameworks are then applied to a series of case studies of public policies to examine the role of politics in how the policy process works and to develop a fuller understanding of the political and ideological debates over contemporary public policy issues such as welfare, social security, heath care, education, labor, criminal justice, and the environment.
3 credits
PO-265 Racial and Ethnic Politics
This class will analyze the relationship between the United States government and racial and ethnic groups and explore the way that race is utilized in American politics. We will focus on issues affecting racial and ethnic communities in the United States, the politics behind racial and ethnic classification, and the use of racial and ethnic appeals in American political campaigns. The readings for this course will cover topics such as affirmative action, criminal justice reform, and civil rights. It will offer students an opportunity to analyze political speeches and advertisements that utilize race and ethnicity.
3 credits
PO-311 Environmental Politics and Policy
Investigation of the factors that determine the formation of public policy on the environment with consideration of the roles played by federal, state, and local regulatory agencies in the United States. Case studies will include global climate change, air and water pollution, energy, land use, brownfields, waste management, endangered species, and population growth.
3 credits
PO-319 Constitutional Law of Civil Rights and Liberties
This course will provide students with an analysis of law pertaining to civil liberties and civil rights in the Unites States, with attention also given to Massachusetts. Following the historical development of constitutional law in the United States, we will begin with pre-Civil War law to see how fundamental civil liberties and civil rights have been applied to the states.
3 credits
UR-310 Power, Politics and Decision-Making in Urban Communities
Exploration from multi-disciplinary approach of social power and its relation to decision-making in urban communities. Emphasis on theories of power, understanding research methodologies, and policy implications.
3 credits
UR-320 Power and Urban Insecurity
This class looks at how public policy relates to the social construction of race, class, and gender categories and how urban residents navigate such policies as part of their everyday struggle for survival and stability. We consider how popular discourse features dominant narratives of security, insecurity, and human worth when it comes to questions of how the social safety net is allocated. How do these narratives contribute to the way urban residents experience and interpret government on an everyday level? How do these narratives affect the way urban residents interact with the state and public institutions?
3 credits
UR-380 Public Policy and Cultural Diversity
This course will examine contemporary policy issues and problems deriving from cultural diversity. These will include areas such as immigration, population, demographics, affirmative action, public assistance, integration, separatism, political correct- ness, gender equality, and the role of organized religion in contemporary politics.
3 credits
CM-106 Communications and the Internet
Focuses on the social and educational implications of the Internet and the application of its various search tools as a means of communication.
3 credits
CM-107 Journalism and Democracy
This course introduces students to the history of American journalism and the role of journalism in democratic and non-democratic societies.
3 credits
CM-204 Analysis of News
This course introduces students to the conventions, ethical issues and the economics, political and socio-cultural forces that affect mainstream and alternative journalism today.
3 credits
CM-260 Introduction to Video
A beginning course in video program production, using lightweight and portable equipment.
3 credits
CM-305 Media for Nonprofits
This course covers the writing, research, planning and problem solving necessary to provide media services for a non-profit client.
3 credits
CM-340 Public Relations Strategy
Case study approach to public relations practices, problems, opportunities, and application to practical situations.
3 credits
CM-416 Media Law and Ethics
An overview of the US legal and justice systems and an examination of ethical issues in mass media.
3 credits
PH-130 Ethics: Human Conduct & Values
The nature of morality and value and their place in the world of human action.
3 credits
SO-300 Social Change
A study of the conditions, patterns, and consequences of social transformation with emphasis on institutional and individual patterns of adjustment and adaptation.
3 credits
SO-315 Social Movements
Processes by which new norms and forms of social organization emerge from group behavior, aggregate behavior, and social movements.
3 credits