2026-2027 Academic Catalog

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Community Engagement and Service (CENS) Minor

Required Minor Courses
SPIA 1024Community Service Learning3
SPIA 4784Community Engagement Capstone3
Subtotal6
Elective Courses
Select 3-6 credits from each of the 3 categories below for a total of 12 credits.12
Community Topics (select 3-6 credits):
Leadership, Service, and Public Problem Solving
Principles of Collaborative Discovery
Diversity and Community Engagement
Leadership for Global Sustainability
Community Methods (select 3-6 credits):
Creative Collaboration
Collaborative Policy-Making and Planning
Community Analytics
Community Experiences (select 3-6 credits):
Study Abroad (variable credit)
Field Work/Practicum (variable credit)
The Washington Semester: Seminar in American Politics and Public Policy
Washington Semester: Politics, Policy and Administration in A Democracy
Subtotal12
Total Credits18

Graduation Requirements

Students enrolled in the minor must also complete the following graduation requirements:

  • Hours Requirement: Students must complete a minimum of 18 credit hours to earn the Community Engagement and Service minor.

  • GPA Requirement: Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 in courses used to fulfill this minor. To satisfy the requirements for the Honors Community Engagement and Service diploma, students must: (1) receive a grade of B or better in SPIA/UH 1024 and (2) must obtain a GPA of 3.0 or better in the courses used to satisfy the requirements of the CES minor. All courses listed above are used in calculating GPA.

  • Prerequisites: Some courses listed above have prerequisites or enrollment restrictions. Students should consult the Academic Catalog and/or contact their Academic Advisor for prerequisite and enrollment information.

  • Double Counting: No more than 50% of the graded course credits required for the Minor in Community Systems and Engagement minor may be double-counted by a student also enrolling in a major under the Bachelor of Arts in Public and Urban Affairs.

  • Additional Notes: Substitutions may be granted for courses not listed to count towards the minor electives with pre-approval of the minor coordinator.