Where Your Passion Meets Action

Civic and Community Engagement Minor

At Maxwell, we believe good citizenship is not just a concept. Good citizenship is the active pursuit of a more harmonious and inclusive society by civically engaged citizens, primed with the knowledge and experience to put ideas into action.

As a student minoring in civic and community engagement (CCE), you shape your own future while creating positive change in the lives of others. This minor is designed to focus and deepen your community engagement skills around your unique area of interest.

From day one, you will personalize your experience through your work in the classroom and in the community. Turn your passion into action!

Requirements

Core Requirements

Four required courses (12 credits) explore important topics such as deliberative citizenship, community engagement, social movements, leadership, data-driven research, policy analysis, conflict management, public affairs and nonprofit management.

Connective Coursework (Electives)

Two elective courses (6 credits) provide additional skills and context necessary to deepen understanding of society's most complex issues and possible solutions.

Community Engagement Internship

Students spend eight to ten hours per week at a community placement of their choice and attending periodic seminar meetings. Students learn organizational dynamics, including the challenges of nonprofit funding, public budgeting, volunteer management, community relations and leadership during times of crisis.

Research Seminar

CCE students develop a research question that addresses a social issue or community challenge; then, study past interventions to help inform and shape future action. Students create and give a presentation of their findings at the end of the semester.

MAX Courses

While students can choose electives and courses from across Syracuse University, many of CCE’s foundational courses are MAX courses. Popular among students for more than two decades, MAX courses are taught by teams of social science faculty to explore citizenship and current issues in public and international affairs.

Critical Issues for the United States (MAX 123)

Explore perspectives of the meaning of the American dream, its past and its future, through the lens of social science disciplines, taught by teams of Maxwell's renowned faculty.

Global Community (MAX 132)

Learn dynamics of worldwide society and its cultures, global economy and political order. Explore tensions within these realms, and attempts by different communities to either participate in or to hold themselves aloof from “global culture.”

Quantitative Methods for the Social Sciences (MAX 201)

Develop skills necessary to analyze data and evaluate research including research design, sampling design, descriptive and inferential statistics, data sources for social science, constructing data sets, reading and constructing tables and charts.

An Engaged and Engaging Community

Small class sizes help students create meaningful connections that spur creativity and action. Every semester, the entire CCE community comes together for meals, field trips, workshops and more.

Students standing in front of the George Washington statue in Maxwell Hall