Civic Scholars

Civic Scholars are required to participate in a seminar (the “Proseminar”) during their first semester in the program and throughout their sophomore year; during the first semester the Proseminar carries a half-credit, and it is not credited during the sophomore year. The proseminar meets roughly every other week, and attendance at every session is mandatory. Proseminar takes place on Monday evenings from 5:15-8:00 PM, and students cannot schedule classes, extracurricular activities, or work during that time.

Through facilitated discussion, workshops, readings, and meetings with invited speakers participants in the Civic Scholars Proseminar will gain a vocabulary and capacity for skills to support thoughtful, sustained civic engagement. In Proseminar, students will:

+ Achieve a deeper understanding of one’s own identities and values
+ Contextualize social issues using cultural, sociological, historical, and political lenses
+ Understand structures of inequity, power, and privilege and their implications
+ Recognize connections between local and global issues
+ Learn about the various approaches and roles through which to engage with social issues and affect social change
+ Cultivate aptitude to think in interdisciplinary terms and integrate civic engagement and academic experiences
+ Develop abilities to facilitate dialogue about social issues and civic engagement
+ Improve skills to conduct applied research that contributes to scholarship or practice addressing social issues

First Year Proseminar

In the First Year Proseminar, students are enrolled in a half-credit course that meets bi-weekly on Monday evenings. Each session consists of discussions, workshops, reflections, and/or speakers on the following:

+ Root causes of social injustice including Capitalism, Cisheteropatriarchy, Colonialism, and White Supremacy
+ Mutually beneficial collaborations with community partner organizations
+ Community building, self-care, and community care

Sophomore Proseminar

In the Sophomore Proseminar, students build upon the skills and knowledge developed in their first year. Civic Scholars meet bi-weekly on Monday evenings in a non-graded Proseminar.

Each session expands on the topics of the previous year and students take on leadership roles by facilitating sessions for first-year meetings.

Completion of four courses under the following categories:

1.One course that incorporates academic work and community engagement or an Academically Based Service Course (ABCS);
2. Two courses that address a civic/social issue in depth;
3. One that supports the proposed capstone project, in terms of the subject matter and/or the methods required to complete the project.

Examples of some courses that fulfill requirements will be provided to students before each registration period and are updated as courses change at the University. Generally, we encourage students in their first semester in the program to not be concerned about taking classes that fulfill Civic Scholar requirements.

Participation in community service or social advocacy work for a minimum of four semesters. For one semester, Civic Scholars are required to work with one of Civic House’s Community Partners. Community engagement should entail at least 15 hours per semester, ideally through an ongoing commitment of one (1) or more hours per week. During at least one of these semesters, the Civic Scholars should assume a leadership role.