CIVIC STUDIES MINOR – THEMATIC PATHWAYS
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Core requirement (3 credits)
Students complete one of the following foundational courses:
In exceptional cases, with the approval of the Civic Studies Director, another foundational course (for example, EDEL 100, EDST 100, or RELS 110) may substitute for the core, provided the student completes a Civic Studies framing assignment or module.
Electives (15 credits): Students complete 15 hours of approved Civic Studies electives. They may choose any combination from the approved list, or organize their coursework within one of the thematic pathways below.
Capstone: Students complete a Civic Studies capstone paper or project connected to one of their minor courses (core or elective), demonstrating integrative learning and applied democratic engagement.
THEMATIC PATHWAYS
Students are not required to declare a pathway. These are advising tools to help students and faculty build coherent, purpose-driven programs of study.
Civic Leadership & Public Problem-Solving
Who this pathway serves: Political Science, Public Affairs, Business, Management, Organizational Communication, Social Work, Nonprofit/Philanthropy, and students preparing for leadership roles in organizations and communities.
Required core (3 credits), One of the following: HONR 390 or CVIC 200.
Recommended electives (select 15 credits from courses such as)
EDHI 102 – Introduction to Students as Leaders
COMM 310 – Communicating Democracy
POLS 130 – American National Government
POLS 337 – State and Local Politics
PLAN 430 – Housing and Community Development
EDST 100 – Introduction to Education Systems and Policy
PHIL 202 – Ethics
Law, Justice & Public Safety
Who this pathway serves
Criminal Justice and Criminology, Pre-Law, Sociology, Psychology, Social Work, Philosophy, Political Science, and students interested in courts, policing, human rights, and public safety.
Required core (3 credits)
One of the following: HONR 390 or CVIC 200.
Recommended electives (select 15 credits from courses such as)
POLS 140 – Introduction to Law
CJC 211 – Race, Gender, and Justice
CJC 229 – Decision-Making and Ethics in Criminal Justice
CJC 333 – Policing in a Free and Diverse Society
POLS 491 – Political Violence and Human Rights
PHIL 203 – Social Philosophy
POLS 270 – Political Theory
Media, Communication & Democracy
Who this pathway serves: Journalism, Media and Telecommunications, Communication Studies, Public Relations, Marketing, English, Political Science, and students interested in public opinion and political communication.
Required core (3 credits)
One of the following: HONR 390 or CVIC 200.
Recommended electives (select 15 credits from courses such as)
JOUR 101 – Media and Society
COMM 310 – Communicating Democracy
COMM 322 – Communication and Popular Culture
COMM 404 – Political Communication
POLS 375 – Media and Politics
GEOG 121 – Geography, Culture, and Diversity
PHIL 240 – Society, Discipline, and Control
Note: Focuses on how communication shapes civic identities, participation, and democratic debate. Ideal for students who want to work at the intersection of media and public life.
Education, Equal Opportunity & Democracy
Who this pathway serves:
Elementary and Secondary Education, Social Studies Education, Special Education, Educational Studies, Sociology, History, and students interested in educational policy, curriculum, and youth development.
Required core (3 credits)
One of the following: HONR 390 or CVIC 200.
(Students in this pathway are strongly encouraged to take EDEL 100 or EDST 100 as part of their plan, and, when appropriate, as an approved core substitute.)
Recommended electives (select 15 credits from courses such as)
EDEL 100 – Education in a Democratic Society
EDST 100 – Introduction to Education Systems and Policy
EDFO 420 – Social, Historical, and Philosophical Foundations of Education
EDTE 370 – Technology Policy and Ethics
HIST 202 – United States History, 1877 to the Present
HIST 215 – Women in American History
SOC 235 – Sociology of Gender
PHIL 215 – Philosophy of Race
Advising note: Highlights the role of schools and educators in sustaining democracy, advancing equity, and preparing young people for civic life. Valuable for future teachers and for students interested in education policy or community-based education work.
Environment, Place & Civic Futures
Who this pathway serves: Natural Resources and Environmental Management, Geography, Urban Planning, Architecture/Planning, Sustainability, Economics, and students interested in place-making, environmental justice, and community development.
Required core (3 credits)
One of the following: HONR 390 or CVIC 200.
Recommended electives (select 15 credits from courses such as)
NREM 371 – Outdoor Recreation and Society
NREM 390 – Honors Colloquium in Natural Resources
GEOG 121 – Geography, Culture, and Diversity
GEOG 434 – Maps, Environment, and Society
PHIL 230 – Environmental Ethics
PLAN 430 – Housing and Community Development
ECON 310 – American Economic History and Development
Note: Connects environmental issues, land use, and spatial justice to questions of democracy, participation, and community resilience.
Pluralism, Religion & Civic Identity
Who this pathway serves: Religious Studies, Philosophy, Sociology, History, Women’s and Gender Studies, Political Science, and students interested in interfaith work, identity, diversity, and pluralism in democracy.
Required Core (3 credits), one of the following: HONR 390, POLS 300, or CVIC 200.
(Students in this pathway are strong candidates for the foundational-course exception using RELS 110 or EDST 100, with the required Civic Studies framing assignment.)
Recommended electives (select 15 credits from courses such as)
RELS 110 – World Religions
RELS 111 – Religion at Work
RELS 285 – American Religious Diversity
PHIL 215 – Philosophy of Race
SOC 235 – Sociology of Gender
POLS 474 – Women and Politics
HIST 413 – Post–World War II America
PHIL 202 – Ethics
Note: Explores how religious traditions, race, gender, and memory shape civic identities, conflict, cooperation, and the pursuit of justice in diverse democracies.