Course Overview
Civic Engagement in America is constructed upon the framework of the Four Dimensions of the College, Career and Civic Life (C3) Inquiry Arc.
Civic Engagement in America is also designed to generate authentic assessments that address NCSS Programmic Standards Two, Four, and especially Standard Five (Professional Responsibility and Informed Action)
Getting Involved!
Civic Engagement in America: A Course Overview
Civic Engagement in America (HIST316) is a multidisciplinary course required for all History Education majors. Our goal is to encourage future teachers to simultaneously consider civic engagement in the context of the present, the past and the future.
The course is organized into three parts. In weeks one through four, students work collaboratively to identify key values, attitudes and actions that define America and Americans, while composing individual compelling questions in which to interrogate the past and present. In weeks five through eleven they analyze, interrogate and evaluate key historical moments where engaged Americans stood up for these values. The final weeks of the course are devoted to the future, where our students work to inspire the next generation of Americans to become effective, informed and engaged citizens. Our final project requires students to go into local schools and help 4th and 8th grade students design service projects of their own choosing that will benefit their community.
