Examples of Current and Future CEAC Courses

American Government POL 120-2 Honors with Professor Christine Kelly

This traditional American Government course covers U.S. political institutions, political culture and the policy making process but with a special emphasis on citizenship and participation in American democracy. In addition to standard academic assignments and measures, students will complete 15 hours of community-based learning at St. Paul’s Community Development Corporation in Paterson , NJ. Student’s final project includes a thesis-driven policy analysis addressing the community-problem their service addresses. Students will choose from 6 service options available on site.

“Media That Matter” COMM 399-03 with Professor Gina Guerrieri

This hybrid course, which blends aesthetics and civics, will focus on media that have been created expressly for communicating and/or promoting positive social change; it will also provide a forum within which to consider how to engage in a positive way within your community. 

“Management and Marketing/Business” MGT 451 with Professor Ali Mir

The content of the course deals with planning, scheduling, organizing and controlling projects. The course includes discussions on topics such as Strategic Management, Organizing, Using Project Tools and Systems, Team Management, and Leadership. The primary emphasis of the class will be on the processes and tools used in Project Management. Students will work with a community partner in order to develop these skills.

“Methods of Teaching Secondary Social Studies: Teaching/Learning for Civic Competence/Civic Engagement” CISE 411 with Professor Burton Weltman

The purpose of this course is to introduce prospective social studies teachers to some of the theories, methods and materials of teaching middle and high school social studies. The course consists of a series of activities that prospective teachers can use to teasch students in their own classes. Each of these activities has civic competence as its core goal and most of the activities require prospective teachers to plan civic engagement experiences for their students. As such, the course gives prospective teachers experience in planning and implementing civic competence and civic engagement projects of their own which, in turn, they will be able to use with their students.

“Issues and Trends in Early Childhood Education” CIEC634 with Professor Janis Strasser

This course examines recent issues and trends in early childhood education in the areas of inclusion, observation and assessment of children in classroom settings, and multicultural perspectives and diversity issues. Additionally, the ethical responsibilities and dilemmas of early childhood teachers and their roles as advocates for children, families, community and society, and colleagues, are explored.

Summer ’06:

“Community Systems” NUR 410 Summer and Fall 2006 with Professor Connie Bareford

Focuses on the role of the community as it relates to the health status of individuals, families and groups. Community behavior as well as the sociopolitical dynamics of health/illness care are explored.

Web II with Professor Kristen Palana

Future CEAC Courses:

“Civic Engagement: Theory & Practice POL 399 (Spring ’07) with Professors Wartyna Davis & Christine Kelly

This course explores theories of citizenship and participation in the U.S. context. Material covered includes the literature on “civic engagement” and asks students to investigate the meaning of community in a diversity of contexts. Connections between community participation and political efficacy are explored. Students must complete 30 hours of service learning and a portfolio project which combines reflective journaling and a thesis-driven essay addressing their service experience in the context of the literature.

“Community Based Learning” URBN 298 (Spring ‘07) with Professor Howard Lune

This course is intended primarily for students admitted into William Paterson University’s Urban Studies Program, or who are considering a minor in Urban Studies. Its aim is to enable students to apply the perspectives and concepts of the discipline while they are working with a community-based organization. The community is used as a classroom where students learn through their experiences in a community setting.