Civic Engagement

Daniel J. Walther, Brian McQueen, coordinators

As Alexis de Tocqueville noted in Democracy in America, one thing that distinguished the United States of America from other nations and contributed to the strength of its democracy was the significant amount of civic engagement at the local level. In recent years in light of incidents of racial injustice and assaults upon democracy, the United States of America has witnessed very public examples of civic engagement and social activism. The civic engagement minor is designed to prepare students to productively address the injustices and inequalities in today’s world. It does this by investigating both the past and the present in order to help students better comprehend the intersections of culture, society, and politics. Such an understanding enables and empowers students to become resilient leaders of positive change in a complex world as they serve democracy and promote social justice.

Students will

Develop a greater understanding of the social, historical, and political context that informs current events.
Understand systems of government, civic engagement, and social issues.
Develop the skills and experiences to become a positive agent of change in society.

Programs

Civic Engagement Minor