Interested in getting credit for community involvement? Now you can!
Get credit for community involvement by taking Dynamics of Community Involvement (INTS 201.3), a 200-level, three credit course, offered in Term 2 (starting January 2012)! The course is offered through the College of Arts and Science, in partnership with the ULC, and expands on the experiences of Alternative Reading Week (ARW) (if you'd like more information about ARW, click here). Although it is an Arts & Science course, any student at the U of S may be eligible to take this course.
Check one of the items below for more information, or contact the instructor at n.vanstyvendale@usask.ca.
Course Description
Course Focus
Time Commitment
Prerequisites
Evaluation
Recognition
Registration
Course Description
This course takes place in the classroom and the community. As a community service-learning (CSL) course, "Dynamics of Community Involvement" engages students in active, hands-on learning in the community. It also asks students to bring this knowledge into the classroom, where they will connect their practical experiences to academic concepts related to community involvement. Classroom discussion and written assignments will further engage academic materials with community-based knowledge. Students will spend 2 hours per week in the classroom. In addition, students will be placed with a community-based organization, working with the organization for 2 hours per week throughout the term, except during Alternative Reading Week (ARW) in February, when they will participate in ARW activities. In lieu of a final exam, students will have the opportunity to work alongside University and community partners on a community project. This course is applicable to many disciplines and fields of study, and students will be encouraged to make links between their own scholarly interests and the course material.
What is the focus?
In addition to focusing on a variety of topics relevant to community involvement—for example, poverty, literacy, activism, non-profit boards, volunteerism, globalization, clientalization, and Aboriginal issues, to name a few—“Dynamics of Community Involvement” asks students to consider how active citizenship and participation effect and define community. The course also asks how the University, as a representative of similar institutions, and its students build relationships with the larger community.
Time Commitment
The course is offered in Term 2 of the 2011/2012 academic year. The course "tutorials" are practical experience hours in the community with the community partner organizations. Students in this course are required to complete all components of the Alternative Reading Week program (for more information, visit the ARW website).
Prerequisites
This course is open, by permission only (see 'Registration' below), to students in Arts and Science or those who can take an Arts and Science course as an elective in their program. Students in the course are required to participate in Alternative Reading Week 2012 (click here for information on ARW), held during and around the February mid-term break. To register in this course, students must have a minimum of 30 credit units completed at the U of S.
Students outside of the College of Arts and Science who are unsure of their eligibility can email n.vanstyvendale@usask.ca and we'll see what we can do!
NOTE: If you don't qualify for the course, you can still be a regular participant in ARW 2012.
Evaluation
Students will be evaluated on classroom participation and discussion; critical reflection exercises; classroom attendance and completion of service hours; feedback from a chosen community-based organization; a presentation; a project proposal; a final project; and a range of short writing assignments throughout the term. There is no final exam for this course. Sweet!
Recognition
For Arts and Science students participating in ARW through the co-curricular program, ARW continues to offer certificates of completion and letters of appreciation. Students participating in ARW as part of the "Dynamics of Community Involvement" course will receive course credit, not a certificate. For added recognition, students in the course will receive a letter honouring their contribution to the ARW and community service-learning programs.
Registration
Students who have been accepted into the Alternative Reading Week 2012 program will be able to register in the course by permission of the course instructor. Click here to register :).
NOTE: Although Alternative Reading Week is free, regular tuition fees apply for the "Dynamics of Community Involvement" course.
