Certificate learning objectives
- Provide historical, philosophical, and theoretical foundations of civic engagement as a form of learning and engaged democratic citizenship.
- Convey research and evidence-based outcomes of community-based learning and service-learning as a sound pedagogical teaching and learning technique.
- Investigate curricular and co-curricular best practices within the contexts of inhibitors and facilitators of reciprocal campus-community collaborations.
- Engage in active community service, learning, teaching, programming, and assessment as a form of professional knowledge and skill development.
Program of study
The program length is approximately one year and can be started ANY academic term. For the convenience of our diverse student body, we offer courses fully online or online with a synchronous (scheduled evening or Saturday) meeting time. Refer to the ELP Course Planning Guide for current offerings and delivery formats.
Required Courses: The Graduate Certificate requires 18 academic quarter credits. (All credits can also be counted toward/rolled-over into a PACE Master's degree.) Students can complete required courses in any order.
Students can complete required courses in any order. Below are typical academic term offerings.
- ELP 542 Introduction to Service-Learning Theory and Evidence-Based Best Practices (Fall Term, 4 credits)
- ELP 543 Equity-Centered Civic Engagement: Curricular, Programmatic, and Leadership Strategies (Winter Term, 4 credits)
- ELP 522 Teaching Diverse Adult Learners (Spring Term, 4 credits)
- Elective Class (any term). Select ONE ELP course from the following list:
- ELP 520 Developmental Perspectives on Adult Learning;
- ELP 521 Adult Learning & Motivation;
- ELP 525 Introduction to Student Services;
- ELP 526 Facilitating Student Success;
- ELP 527 Legal Issues in Higher Education;
- ELP 529 Principles of Training & Development;
- ELP 541 The Community College;
- ELP 551 Social Foundations of Education; or
- ELP 568 Educational Organization & Administration.
- ELP 509 Practicum/Internship: Community Engagement (2 credits; any term)
Community Engagement Experiences: Students will identify (with assistance from the professor) a community engagement site and/or project in their own work, volunteer, or local community including fully on-line options. The goal is to learn and expand knowledge and skills for leading and leveraging equity-centered community change. Typically, the expectation is about 3 hours per week which includes integrated academic and reflective components from the courses.
Learning Community: Classmates are Oregon students and others from across North America. As an on-line program, you will have the opportunity to share and learn about best strategies for equity-centered service-learning and community engagement from dozens of locations, organizations, and communities.
Course descriptions
For course descriptions, please consult the Bulletin or Class Schedule.