Community Service Learning
Community service learning (CSL) and community-engaged learning (CEL) include a range of high-impact pedagogical practices that enhance students’ learning and foster civic understanding through active course-based learning that involves meaningful collaboration with community partners. The academic study may be in any discipline or combination of fields. Student learning outcomes benefit the common good, whether through direct service to communities in need, the organizations that serve them, or indirect service projects that contribute to community capacity building more broadly. CSL and CEL enhance academic learning by allowing students to make connections between their classroom education and its application to the field. These high-impact learning experiences help students to clarify their career goals and acquire work-related skills, develop a heightened sense of civic responsibility and awareness of moral and ethical issues, and provide them with a wide variety of work options to be value-added for the community they serve. Working from a common understanding will further the university’s identity as an “engaged institution,” contribute to quality transparent learning experiences for students, and offer opportunities for faculty dialogue and scholarship within and across disciplines.
We define courses as community-engaged or service-learning based on the student learning experience and community impact, not the course title. Our broad term for these courses is "community-engaged learning" which classifies the variety of curricular community-based learning experiences and activities that students engage in that contribute to the public good, commonly through arts, education, equity, health, sustainability, and economic development. A course is considered ‘community-engaged’ based on implementation, not a title or course label. Within CEL, practices vary widely in terms of depth, breadth, and scope of student activities and partnerships. CEL courses may use such terms as fieldwork, applied, practicum, internship, and service.
Community-engaged learning (CEL) refers to courses in any discipline that have some type of community-engaged assignment built around reciprocal partnerships to benefit the common good and enhance student learning. Collaborative project goals and priorities are driven by community partners and negotiated with faculty and students involved in the CEL opportunity. Collaborative projects may focus on improving community resources or capacities, participatory or action research projects, or implementing a range of other activities to advance community-identified goals and strategies.
Community Service-learning (CSL) is a specific type of Community-Engaged Learning in which substantive community engagement and the related community partnerships are a critical component of course learning, with equal focus on community impact and student learning related to social justice or responsibility. Service-learning courses may also be labeled with a variety of titles.
Opportunities to participate in CSL exist throughout the University curriculum. To assist students in identifying courses that may provide such unique experiences, certain courses in this Bulletin will be designated with “CSL may be available.” To determine if the community service learning experience is associated with the course in any given semester, interested students must contact the instructor or the Institute for Civic and Community Engagement (ICCE). Additionally, the Class Schedule for each semester will indicate, by footnote, which section includes the CSL component. ICCE coordinates campus service learning and civic engagement across campus. For more information, please visit us in HSS 206, at icce.sfsu.edu, or call (415) 338-6419.
The following courses may have CSL available:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| A U 500 | College Corps Fellowship Seminar | 2 |
| AA S 323 | Chinese American Identities (UD-D, AERM, GP, SJ) | 3 |
| AA S 512 | Asian American Children's/Adolescent Literature (UD-C, AERM, SJ) | 3 |
| AA S 541 | South Asian Diaspora (UD-D, AERM, GP, SJ) | 3 |
| AA S 595 | Asian American Communities and Public Policy (UD-D, AERM, SJ) | 3 |
| AA S 681 | Asian American Community Changes and Development (AERM, SJ) | 3 |
| AA S 688 | Asian American Community Service Internship | 3 |
| AA S 697 | Proseminar in Asian American Studies | 3 |
| ADM 569 | Visual Merchandising and Promotion | 3 |
| AFRS 376 | Government, the Constitution, and Black Citizens (USG, CSLG, USH, AERM, SJ) | 3 |
| AFRS 694 | Community Service Learning | 1-3 |
| AIS 205 | American Indians and U.S. Laws (D3, AERM, SJ) | 3 |
| AIS 460 | Power and Politics in American Indian History (UD-D, USH, AERM, SJ) | 3 |
| AIS 694 | Community Service Learning | 1-3 |
| AMST 200 | Self, Place, and Knowing: Introduction to Interdisciplinary Inquiry | 3 |
| ANTH 595 | Anthropological Filmmaking I | 3 |
| ANTH 596 | Anthropological Filmmaking II | 4 |
| ANTH 699 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| BECA 360 | Virtual Reality: 360 Video Production | 3 |
| BECA 415 | Advanced Television Production Workshop | 3 |
| BECA 580 | Media in Community Service | 3 |
| BECA 647 | Advanced Video Production | 3 |
| BIOL 331 | Research with Communities | 3 |
| BIOL 644 | LEADerS Service Learning Course: Learners Engaged in Advocating for Diversity in Science | 4 |
| BIOL 654 | Peer Assistants for Learning Science (PALS) | 4 |
| BUS 460 | Microfinance: Financial Inclusion for the Poor | 3 |
| BUS 699 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| BUS 895 | Research Project in Business | 3 |
| BUS 899 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| C J 435 | Race, Crime, and Justice (UD-D, SJ) | 3 |
| C J 470 | Juvenile Justice | 4 |
| C J 485 | Latina/o Youth, Crime, and Justice (UD-D, SJ) | 3 |
| C J 501 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| C J 550 | School Violence and Discipline | 3 |
| C J 680 | Field Course in Criminal Justice | 4 |
| C J 699 | Independent Study | 1-4 |
| C W 675 | Community Projects in Literature | 3 |
| C W 875 | Community Projects in Literature | 3 |
| CAD 230 | Principles and Practices in Early Childhood Programs | 3 |
| CAD 330 | Curriculum and Development in Early Childhood | 3 |
| CAD 400 | Community Youth Development | 3 |
| CINE 635 | Anthropological Filmmaking I | 3 |
| CINE 636 | Anthropological Filmmaking II | 4 |
| COMM 557 | Performance and Pedagogy of the Oppressed for Educators (SJ) | 3 |
| COUN 325 | Selected Problems In Counseling | 3 |
| COUN 699 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| COUN 705 | Counseling Practicum | 3 |
| COUN 706 | Counseling Skills and Process | 3 |
| COUN 735 | Advanced Practicum and Internship | 1-3 |
| COUN 736 | Advanced Counseling Process | 3 |
| COUN 850 | Second Specialization Internship | 1-3 |
| COUN 891 | Case Studies and Internship Seminar | 3 |
| COUN 892 | Culminating Experience for Counselors | 3 |
| DANC 300GW | Dance Organizational Strategies and Field Topics - GWAR | 3 |
| DANC 340 | Dance Pedagogy | 3 |
| DANC 399 | University Dance Theatre | 2 |
| DANC 461 | Advanced Choreography and Production | 3 |
| DANC 699 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| DES 324GW | Research and Writing for Design - GWAR | 3 |
| DES 505 | Senior Design Project | 3 |
| DES 575 | Contemporary Design Workshop | 3 |
| DES 576 | Practical Experience: Internship | 3 |
| DES 625 | Graphic Design Practicum: Design Working Group | 3 |
| DES 627 | Advanced Projects in Visual Communication Design | 3 |
| DES 852 | Directed Experience in Design | 3 |
| DES 899 | Independent Study | 3 |
| E ED 645 | Directed Experiences with Children | 1-3 |
| E ED 701 | Social, Cultural, and Historical Foundations of Education | 3 |
| ECON 640 | Health Economics Analysis and Research (GP, SJ) | 3 |
| ECON 840 | Health Economics Analysis and Research | 3 |
| ENG 114 | Writing the First Year: Finding Your Voice (A2) | 3 |
| ENG 214 | Second Year Written Composition: English | 3 |
| ENG 216 | Cultivating Curiosity: Explore Your World, Your Identity, and Your Future (E) | 3 |
| ENG 417 | Academic Literacy and the Urban Adolescent (SJ) | 3 |
| ENG 419 | Advanced Composition for Teachers | 3 |
| ENG 425 | Language in Context | 3 |
| ENG 426 | Second Language Acquisition | 3 |
| ENG 490 | Grant Writing (SJ) | 3 |
| ENG 530 | Early Atlantic Migrants and Texts (AERM, SJ) | 3 |
| ENG 618 | Individual and Team Writing (SJ) | 3 |
| ENG 826 | Second Language Acquisition | 3 |
| ENVS 460 | Energy, Justice, and Sustainability | 3 |
| ENVS 640 | Recreational Use of National Parks and Protected Areas | 3 |
| ENVS 680 | Environmental Studies Internship | 1-3 |
| ERTH 642 | Watershed Assessment and Restoration | 4 |
| ETHS 100 | Introduction to Ethnic Studies (D1, AERM, GP, SJ) | 3 |
| ETHS 697 | Field Research or Internship in Ethnic Studies | 1-3 |
| FCS 769 | Visual Merchandising and Promotion | 3 |
| FIN 420 | Introduction to FinTech | 3 |
| FR 450 | Translating Themes: English/French (GP) | 3 |
| GEOG 642 | Watershed Assessment and Restoration | 4 |
| GEOG 688 | Geographic Internship | 2-6 |
| HIST 405 | Maritime History (UD-C, ES, GP, SJ) | 3 |
| HIST 420 | American Colonial History (USH) | 3 |
| HIST 680 | Archives or Historical Agency Internship | 1-5 |
| IBUS 699 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| IBUS 899 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| ISED 201 | Introduction to the University | 3 |
| ISED 699 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| ISED 739 | Education and Community Development: Equity and Diversity | 3 |
| ISYS 573 | New Advances in IT in Organizations | 3 |
| JOUR 536 | Latina/o Journalism | 3 |
| JS 350 | Jewish Social Responsibility (UD-C, SJ) | 3 |
| JS 600 | Internship | 3 |
| JS 800 | Internship | 3 |
| KIN 620 | Advanced Practicum in Kinesiology | 2 |
| KIN 696 | Kinesiology Community-Based Internship | 3 |
| KIN 699 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| LS 200 | Self, Place, and Knowing: Introduction to Interdisciplinary Inquiry (E) | 3 |
| LS 300GW | Perspectives on Liberal Studies - GWAR | 3 |
| LS 402 | Introduction to Human Rights Education for Teachers and Local Communities (UD-D, GP, SJ) | 3 |
| LS 403 | Performance and Pedagogy of the Oppressed for Educators (SJ) | 3 |
| LS 460 | Childhood, Nature, and Society | 3 |
| LTNS 210 | Latina/o/x Health Care Perspectives (B2, AERM, ES, GP, SJ) | 3 |
| LTNS 215 | Introduction to Latina/o/x Studies | 3 |
| LTNS 225 | Latina/o/x Visual Culture (C1, AERM, SJ) | 3 |
| LTNS 265 | Topics in Latina/o/x History (D1, AERM, SJ) | 3 |
| LTNS 276 | Latina/o, U.S. Government, and Constitutional Ideals (D3, AERM) | 3 |
| LTNS 315 | Latina/os in California (UD-C, AERM, SJ) | 3 |
| LTNS 350 | Gender and Latina/x Feminisms | 3 |
| LTNS 415 | Latina/o Economic Empowerment | 3 |
| LTNS 425 | Popular and Traditional Music of the Latinx U.S. (UD-C, AERM, GP) | 3 |
| LTNS 430 | Race, Crime, and Justice (UD-D, SJ) | 3 |
| LTNS 435 | Oral History, Community Memory, and Collective Stories | 3 |
| LTNS 470 | Latina/o Immigration to the U.S. (UD-D, AERM, GP, SJ) | 3 |
| LTNS 485 | Latina/o Youth, Crime, and Justice (UD-D, SJ) | 3 |
| LTNS 536 | Latina/o Journalism | 3 |
| LTNS 580 | Educational Equity (UD-D, AERM, SJ) | 3 |
| LTNS 660 | Latina/o Politics (UD-D, AERM, GP, SJ) | 3 |
| LTNS 670 | Mexican Politics and Society (UD-D, AERM, GP, SJ) | 3 |
| LTNS 680 | Latina/o/x Community Organizing and Career Futures | 3 |
| LTNS 690 | Community Fieldwork in Latina/o Studies | 3 |
| LTNS 692 | Cuba: Health, Education, and Culture | 3 |
| LTNS 694 | Community Service Learning | 3 |
| M S 710 | Museum Education and Public Outreach | 3 |
| M S 899 | Independent Study | 2-3 |
| MGMT 567 | Internship in Management | 3 |
| MGMT 699 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| MGMT 899 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| MKTG 699 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| MKTG 899 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| NURS 721 | Program Planning and Financial Management in Nursing Practice | 3 |
| P A 727 | Program and Service Delivery | 3 |
| P A 745 | Perspectives on Nonprofit Management | 3 |
| P A 746 | Application of Organizational Learning in Nonprofits | 3 |
| P A 803 | Public Affairs Internship | 3 |
| PH 455 | Community Organizing and Community Building for Health (UD-C, AERM, ES, GP, SJ) | 3 |
| PH 671 | Practice of Peer Health Education | 3 |
| PH 821 | Public Health Profession Practice | 3 |
| PH 822 | Advanced Public Health Profession Practice | 3 |
| PHIL 383 | Ethics in Medicine (UD-C, SJ) | 3 |
| PLSI 408 | Mexican Politics and Society (UD-D, AERM, GP, SJ) | 3 |
| PLSI 462 | Applied Public Opinion Research | 4 |
| PLSI 463 | The Politics of Immigration in the United States (AERM, SJ) | 4 |
| PLSI 472 | Civic and Political Engagement | 4 |
| PLSI 473 | California Politics and Government (CSLG, SJ) | 4 |
| PLSI 475 | San Francisco Political Issues | 4 |
| PLSI 560 | Urban Poverty and Policy (UD-D, SJ) | 4 |
| PLSI 603 | Public Service Internships | 3 |
| PLSI 604 | Internship Seminar | 1 |
| PSY 200 | General Psychology (D1) | 3 |
| PSY 525 | Community Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 558 | Field Services Seminar | 2 |
| PSY 559 | Psychological Field Service | 1-3 |
| PSY 699 | Independent Study in Psychology | 1-4 |
| PT 899 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| RPT 165 | Nature Sampler Field Study and Service | 1 |
| RPT 350 | Facilitating Wellness Through Leisure | 3 |
| RPT 410 | Therapeutic and Inclusive Recreation (SJ) | 3 |
| RPT 470 | Travel with Purpose | 3 |
| RPT 640 | Recreational Use of National Parks and Protected Areas | 3 |
| RPT 690 | Internship in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism | 3-12 |
| RPT 699 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| RRS 100 | Introduction to Ethnic Studies (D1, AERM, GP, SJ) | 3 |
| RRS 240 | All Power to the People: Comparative Freedom Movements of the "Sixties" (D2, AERM, SJ, USH) | 3 |
| RRS 331 | Research with Communities | 3 |
| RRS 410 | Grassroots Organizing for Change in Communities of Color (UD-D, AERM, SJ) | 3 |
| RRS 420 | Arab American Identity: Memory and Resistance (UD-D, AERM, GP, SJ) | 3 |
| RRS 571 | Women, Race, and Class (UD-C, AERM, ES, GP, SJ) | 3 |
| RRS 580 | Educational Equity (UD-D, AERM, SJ) | 3 |
| RRS 630 | Palestine: Ethnic Studies Perspective (UD-D, AERM, GP, SJ) | 3 |
| RRS 657 | South Asian Diaspora (UD-D, AERM, GP, SJ) | 3 |
| RRS 694 | Community Engaged Learning: Praxis in Race and Resistance Studies | 3 |
| S ED 640 | Supervised Observation and Participation in Public Schools | 3 |
| S ED 751 | Classroom Environment and Management | 3 |
| S ED 790 | Teaching Multilingual Learners in Secondary Schools | 3 |
| S W 450 | Introduction to Research in Social Work | 3 |
| SLHS 663 | Introduction to Augmentative and Alternative Communication | 3 |
| SLHS 701 | Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Practices in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences | 3 |
| SOC 410 | Grassroots Organizing for Change in Communities of Color (UD-D, AERM, SJ) | 3 |
| SOC 452 | Juvenile Justice | 4 |
| SOC 501 | Internship: Applied Sociology | 2 |
| SOC 502 | Internship Seminar: Applied Sociology | 1 |
| SOC 580 | Educational Equity (UD-D, AERM, SJ) | 3 |
| SPAN 831 | Seminar in Literary Movements or Periods | 3 |
| SPED 330 | Introduction to Disability (UD-D, SJ) | 3 |
| SXS 794 | Community Service Learning in Sexuality Studies | 3 |
| USP 485 | San Francisco Political Issues | 4 |
| USP 560 | Urban Poverty and Policy (UD-D, SJ) | 4 |
| USP 603 | Public Service Internships | 3 |
| USP 604 | Internship Seminar | 1 |
| USP 680 | Senior Seminar | 4 |
| WGS 602 | Feminist Cultural Activism | 3 |
| WGS 698 | Feminist Praxis and the Non-Profit Industrial Complex | 3 |
| WGS 798 | Feminist Internship: Gender and the Nonprofit Industrial Complex | 1-4 |
| WGS 802 | Feminist Cultural Activism | 3 |