The Community Service Studies (CSS) Minor is a multidisciplinary program that provides a framework for understanding and engaging in critical social issues at the level of community. While the notion of community is increasingly complex, the program explores the nuances of community as defined through the lens of groups with common affiliation, identity, or grievance that may be geographically or non-geographically based. The curriculum relies heavily on community-based service learning courses and is designed to provide students with a foundation of analytical, reflective, interpersonal, and leadership skills. Through supporting university partnerships with Chicago-area community-based organizations, students gain a local perspective on social justice issues, including those built on race, class, and gender inequalities and other forms of social, economic and political exclusion.
The practice of service is often shaped by particular economic and cultural circumstances related to power, privilege, and identity. A central component of CSS is the importance of viewing communities through an asset lens and thus working to support existing community strengths rather than responding to needs. Students minoring in CSS therefore develop strong critical self-reflection skills that guide them as future leaders in making ethical and socially responsible decisions.
Course Requirements
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CSS 201 | CRITICAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT | 4 |
| CSS 302 | ASSET-BASED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICE | 4 |
| CSS 395 | COMMUNITY INTERNSHIP | 4 |
| Select one EL-CbSL (community-based service learning) course from the Approved Electives list | 4 | |
| Select two electives from the Approved Electives list | 8 | |
Approved Electives
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select two electives as noted above: | 8 | |
| BLACK FEMINIST THEORIES IN A U.S. CONTEXT 1 | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS | ||
| MURAL PAINTING 1 | ||
| COMMUNITY VIDEO PRODUCTION 1 | ||
| STUDENTS TEACHING ART IN THE ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM 1 | ||
| SERVICE LEARNING IN THE ARTS INTERNSHIP 1 | ||
| COMMUNITY-BASED APPLIED PRACTICE | ||
| ROMAN CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHT IN CONTEXT | ||
| CONTEMPORARY MORAL ISSUES | ||
| GOD, JUSTICE AND REDEMPTIVE ACTION | ||
| THE LIFE AND TIMES OF VINCENT DE PAUL | ||
| NOTABLE VINCENTIAN WOMEN | ||
| LIBERATION THEOLOGY: THEORY AND PRACTICE 1 | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN CATHOLIC THOUGHT | ||
| THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN WORLD POLITICS | ||
| COMMUNICATION, CULTURE AND COMMUNITY 1 | ||
| SOCIAL MOVEMENTS | ||
| GENDER AND COMMUNICATION | ||
| COMMUNITY JOURNALISM | ||
| CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING AND REFLECTION | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO NON-PROFIT MANAGEMENT | ||
| RESTORATIVE JUSTICE: ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PRISON | ||
| MASCULINITY, JUSTICE AND LAW | ||
| LAW AND POLITICS: PRISON POLICIES AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE | ||
| COMMUNITY-BASED TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS | ||
| INDEPENDENT STUDY | ||
| COMMUNITY FOOD SYSTEMS | ||
| URBAN AND COMMUNITY AGRICULTURE | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND ADVOCACY | ||
| URBAN GEOGRAPHY - EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING | ||
| GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS II: COMMUNITY GIS | ||
| SEMINAR IN SELECTED TOPICS (Sustainable Urban Food Systems) | ||
| HONORS SENIOR SEMINAR IN SERVICE LEARNING 1 | ||
| CONSTRUCTING LATINO COMMUNITIES | ||
| LATINO COMMUNITIES IN CHICAGO | ||
| GROWING UP LATINO/LATINA IN THE U.S. 1 | ||
| MOTHERHOOD IN LATINO COMMUNITIES 1 | ||
| COMMUNITIES WORKING FOR SUSTAINABLE JUSTICE AND PEACE: SERVICE IN CHICAGO AND THE U.S. 1 | ||
| SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL CHANGE | ||
| SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE | ||
| ANALYZING POVERTY, ITS CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES | ||
| PHILOSOPHY AND SOCIAL CHANGE | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE | ||
| AFRICAN-AMERICAN POLITICS | ||
| URBAN POLITICS | ||
| POLITICAL ACTION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE 1 | ||
| CAMPAIGNS AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT | ||
| INEQUALITY IN AMERICAN SOCIETY | ||
| THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN WORLD POLITICS | ||
| ETHICS IN WORLD POLITICS | ||
| THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM | ||
| LATINX PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| PSYCHOLOGY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE 1 | ||
| SERVICE LEARNING 1 | ||
| CONNECTING WITH YOUTH THROUGH RESEARCH, ADVOCACY, AND SERVICE: QUARTER I | ||
| CONNECTING WITH YOUTH THROUGH RESEARCH, ADVOCACY, AND SERVICE: QUARTER 2 | ||
| CONNECTING WITH YOUTH THROUGH RESEARCH, ADVOCACY, AND SERVICE: QUARTER 3 | ||
| RELIGION AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT 1 | ||
| ROMAN CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHT IN CONTEXT | ||
| FEMINIST ETHICS | ||
| LIBERATION THEOLOGY 1 | ||
| SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL WELFARE | ||
| COMMUNITY AND SOCIETY | ||
| RACE AND ETHNICITY IN THE CITY | ||
| RESISTING WHITE SUPREMACY | ||
| SOCIAL INEQUALITY | ||
| COMMUNITY BASED SOCIOLOGY | ||
| INTERNSHIP (upon approval) 1 | ||
| INTERMEDIATE SPANISH l: SERVICE LEARNING 1 | ||
| INTERMEDIATE SPANISH II: SERVICE LEARNING 1 | ||
| INTERMEDIATE SPANISH III: SERVICE LEARNING 1 | ||
| SOCIOLINGUISTICS OF HERITAGE LANGUAGE LITERACY | ||
| LATINO MEDIA AND DIGITAL CULTURE LITERACY | ||
| LATINO CULTURAL LITERACY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT | ||
| FEMINIST THEORIES | ||
| GENDER, VIOLENCE AND RESISTANCE | ||
| TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE: THEORY AND PRACTICE | ||
| TEEN VIOLENCE PREVENTION | ||
| WOMEN, SELF, AND SOCIETY SEMINAR | ||
| WRITING AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT | ||
- 1
EL-CbSL course.
Study Abroad Courses
Several Study Aboard experiences may be used to fulfill one or more course requirements for the Minor. Approval of these trips for the Minor must be obtained in consultation with the Director.