Civic Engagement and Social Action

What does it mean to be engaged with your community? What can students participating in civic engagement projects learn from others in universities in places like Haiti, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, Bangladesh and the United States? This course will examine historical, philosophical and practical elements of civic engagement while exploring the underlying question of what it means to be civically engaged in the early 21st century. Together, students will explore issues related to political participation, civil society, associational life, social justice, and personal responsibility, as well as how issues like race and socio-economic status impact civic participation. The class reflects a balance between study and practice of engagement which includes interrogating theoretical notions of civic life while also empowering students to be active participants in the communities in which they are situated. The culminating project asks students to propose a civic engagement project in their home or local community. Speakers and workshop leaders from will be presented by civic leaders, local officials, global not-for-profit leaders, and volunteers from communities proximate to participating OSUN campuses. This course will feature workshops, lectures and seminar discussions including students from all Network Collaborative sessions and the OSUN Online Civic Engagement Course.

This network course includes an online section that is open to enrollment to OSUN students across the network. Please visit the OSUN Online Courses for further information.

This course counts towards the Civic Engagement certificate.

Bard College Berlin offers this course under the name "Civic Engagement and Engaged Research: Berlin Lab".