Steans Center > For Students > Community Service Studies > Community Service Studies Minor

Community Service Studies Minor

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 201CRITICAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT4
CSS 302ASSET-BASED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICE 4
CSS 395COMMUNITY INTERNSHIP4
Select one EL-CbSL (community-based service learning) course from the Approved Electives list4
Select two electives from the Approved Electives list8

Approved Electives

Course Title Quarter Hours
Select two electives as noted above:8
ABD 275
BLACK FEMINIST THEORIES IN A U.S. CONTEXT 1
ABD 290
SPECIAL TOPICS
ART 291
MURAL PAINTING 1
ART 292
COMMUNITY VIDEO PRODUCTION 1
ART 382
STUDENTS TEACHING ART IN THE ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM 1
ART 383
SERVICE LEARNING IN THE ARTS INTERNSHIP 1
ANT 322
COMMUNITY-BASED APPLIED PRACTICE
CTH 247
ROMAN CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHT IN CONTEXT
CTH 248
CONTEMPORARY MORAL ISSUES
CTH 282
GOD, JUSTICE AND REDEMPTIVE ACTION
CTH 290
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF VINCENT DE PAUL
CTH 293
NOTABLE VINCENTIAN WOMEN
CTH 341
LIBERATION THEOLOGY: THEORY AND PRACTICE 1
CTH 354
SPECIAL TOPICS IN CATHOLIC THOUGHT
CTH 386
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN WORLD POLITICS
CMNS 205
COMMUNICATION, CULTURE AND COMMUNITY 1
CMNS 323
SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
CMNS 361
GENDER AND COMMUNICATION
JOUR 374
COMMUNITY JOURNALISM
CSS 101
CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING AND REFLECTION
CSS 300
INTRODUCTION TO NON-PROFIT MANAGEMENT
CSS 310
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE: ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PRISON
CSS 311
MASCULINITY, JUSTICE AND LAW
CSS 312
LAW AND POLITICS: PRISON POLICIES AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
CSS 378
COMMUNITY-BASED TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS
CSS 399
INDEPENDENT STUDY
CSS 320
COMMUNITY FOOD SYSTEMS
ENV 245
URBAN AND COMMUNITY AGRICULTURE
ENV 344
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND ADVOCACY
GEO 133
URBAN GEOGRAPHY - EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
GEO 242
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS II: COMMUNITY GIS
GEO 395
SEMINAR IN SELECTED TOPICS (Sustainable Urban Food Systems)
HON 351
HONORS SENIOR SEMINAR IN SERVICE LEARNING 1
LST 202
CONSTRUCTING LATINO COMMUNITIES
LST 306
LATINO COMMUNITIES IN CHICAGO
LST 307
GROWING UP LATINO/LATINA IN THE U.S. 1
LST 308
MOTHERHOOD IN LATINO COMMUNITIES 1
PAX 200
COMMUNITIES WORKING FOR SUSTAINABLE JUSTICE AND PEACE: SERVICE IN CHICAGO AND THE U.S. 1
PAX 212
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL CHANGE
PAX 220
SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE
PAX 231
ANALYZING POVERTY, ITS CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES
PHL 250
PHILOSOPHY AND SOCIAL CHANGE
PPS 231
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
PSC 218
AFRICAN-AMERICAN POLITICS
PSC 223
URBAN POLITICS
PSC 282
POLITICAL ACTION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE 1
PSC 286
CAMPAIGNS AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
PSC 324
INEQUALITY IN AMERICAN SOCIETY
PSC 345
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN WORLD POLITICS
PSC 347
ETHICS IN WORLD POLITICS
PSC 362
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
PSY 220
LATINX PSYCHOLOGY
PSY 305
PSYCHOLOGY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE 1
PSY 306
SERVICE LEARNING 1
PSY 310
CONNECTING WITH YOUTH THROUGH RESEARCH, ADVOCACY, AND SERVICE: QUARTER I
PSY 311
CONNECTING WITH YOUTH THROUGH RESEARCH, ADVOCACY, AND SERVICE: QUARTER 2
PSY 312
CONNECTING WITH YOUTH THROUGH RESEARCH, ADVOCACY, AND SERVICE: QUARTER 3
REL 259
RELIGION AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT 1
REL 283
ROMAN CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHT IN CONTEXT
REL 322
FEMINIST ETHICS
REL 351
LIBERATION THEOLOGY 1
SOC 200
SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL WELFARE
SOC 212
COMMUNITY AND SOCIETY
SOC 231
RACE AND ETHNICITY IN THE CITY
SOC 248
RESISTING WHITE SUPREMACY
SOC 340
SOCIAL INEQUALITY
SOC 394
COMMUNITY BASED SOCIOLOGY
SOC 398
INTERNSHIP (upon approval) 1
SPN 124
INTERMEDIATE SPANISH l: SERVICE LEARNING 1
SPN 125
INTERMEDIATE SPANISH II: SERVICE LEARNING 1
SPN 126
INTERMEDIATE SPANISH III: SERVICE LEARNING 1
SPN 391
SOCIOLINGUISTICS OF HERITAGE LANGUAGE LITERACY
SPN 393
LATINO MEDIA AND DIGITAL CULTURE LITERACY
SPN 394
LATINO CULTURAL LITERACY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
WGS 300
FEMINIST THEORIES
WGS 303
GENDER, VIOLENCE AND RESISTANCE
WGS 320
TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE: THEORY AND PRACTICE
WGS 387
TEEN VIOLENCE PREVENTION
WGS 394
WOMEN, SELF, AND SOCIETY SEMINAR
WRD 377
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.

Content displayed from this DePaul University catalog page.

For more information, contact faculty director Ginger Hofman.