Academic Opportunities
Courses with Civic Engagement Component
Grant Funds Community-Based Learning
Related
Links
Download Faculty Civic Engagement Course Design/Redesign Worksheet
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Community-based learning enhances typical coursework by encouraging students to apply the knowledge and tools gained in the classroom to issues affecting local communities and to issues that are of significant public interest.
During the 2007/08 academic year, the following departments offered courses with a civic engagement component. For more information>>>>
- American Studies
- Art
- Biology
- Educational Studies
- English
- Environmental Studies
- Geography
- Hispanic Studies
- Humanities Media and Cultural Studies
- International Studies
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Theatre and Dance
For years Macalester has brought together faculty, students and community organizations for research projects on issues such as poverty, immigration and health care. Faculty report that courses with community-based learning components encourage students to think creatively and to discover the meaning and relevance of their work outside the classroom.
As part of community-based learning, students work with faculty members and community organizations and leaders to develop research projects, collect and analyze data, and share their results and conclusions with the organizations and their professors. Research projects are driven by the work of the organization, but they are still academically related to the class. Not only does the community benefit, but students also greatly enhance their understanding of the subject. Recently Macalester was awarded a Learn and Serve America Grant from the Bonner Foundation to help fund these projects and activities To read more about the grant and projects funded, click here>>>>> There are regular academic
opportunities at some of our key
community partners, and each semester, a
number of faculty offer courses with a
community involvement component as well. |
