PMA 4960

Agents of Change: Community Organizing for the Public Good

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2014-2015.

Agents of Change is aimed at engaging undergraduates from across the university in the study of what it means and involves to be an effective and ethical change agent in a democratic society.  The course includes readings from academic literatures in theater, political theory, educational philosophy, international and community development, adult education, history, American studies, planning, and social movements.  In addition, students complete writing assignments, engage in class discussions, listen to guest lectures, observe films and actively participate in performance and service-learning projects.  Through the use of democratic, critical and multicultural pedagogies, the course engages students in a variety of activities aimed at developing their knowledge and skills in active listening and dialogue across diverse perspectives, and in relationship building with their peers, the instructors, and community partners.  Course activities are process-oriented, drawing from theories of transformational and experiential learning that assist students in developing their abilities as self-directed, autonomous and socially responsible learners.  Students are required to co-facilitate class sessions with the instructors and share the responsibility for selecting appropriate learning objectives, content, process, format and activities.  They work in groups to identify and collaborate with community partners to plan, design, implement and evaluate a service-learning project.

When Offered Spring.

Permission Note Essay application required.

Comments Co-meets with DSOC 4940 lecture 2.

View Enrollment Information