Student Originated Studies: Community-Based Learning
Last Updated: 01/07/2009
Fall quarter
Faculty: Alice Nelson Latin American cultural studies, Spanish language, community studies
Faculty Signature Required: To enroll, students must submit a project proposal or a draft in-program Internship Learning Contract. In addition, students need to complete a questionnaire available from Alice Nelson. Interested students should contact Alice Nelson by e-mail (nelsona@evergreen.edu) or meet with her at the Academic Fair on September 22, 2008. Group projects and multiple students at the same internship organization will receive priority consideration.
Major areas of study include areas of student interest such as bilingual education/literacy and ESL, social services organizations serving Latino/a populations, immigrants’ rights organizations, agriculture and food security, homelessness and affordable housing, non-profit organizations, working across cultural differences, and Latin American cultural studies.
Class Standing: Sophomores or above; transfer students welcome.
Prerequisites: At least two quarters of academic preparation related to the proposed area of study. Faculty signature required.
Student Originated Studies: Community-Based Learning offers opportunities for well-prepared students to create their own course of study and research. (See Prerequisites and Faculty Signature information.) In addition at least two credits of each student's work will be in collaboration with other students in the program. Options will include seminar discussions of topics relevant for students interested in community studies, workshops organized by staff and faculty working at the Center for Community-Based Learning and Action, and a weekly check-in to discuss ongoing learning. Student project work will be presented in a symposium at the end of the quarter. Groups of students working together on community-based projects will be given priority. So will groups of students who are interns at the same organization or who are interns at similar organizations (such as at several small farms or at several organizations working on housing issues). The faculty has a broad familiarity with local organizations and resources, particularly in Thurston County, as well as experience working with students from across the curriculum who are interested in integrating and applying their learning through community-based research, learning and activism.
Credits: 8, 12 or 16 per quarter
Enrollment: 25
Internship Possibilities: Yes, with faculty approval.
Special Expenses: May vary depending on student projects
Program is preparatory for careers and future studies in community development, education, cultural studies, and public policy.
Planning Units: Culture, Text and Language, Society, Politics, Behavior and Change