Field Studies in Civic Engagement: CFS 397-0: Chicago Field Studies

Field Studies in Civic Engagement: CFS 397-0

"I absolutely LOVE Liz's class. The class is relevant to Common Cause, and I'm learning a lot about the theoretical perspectives that accompany a career in politics. I've been looking for an academic lens civic engagement/urban issues for a while, and this class is successfully fulfilling this niche. Further, I love the diversity in my class. I am learning a lot from my peers' internships about what the workplace looks like in different industries." -Simran Chadha, Spring 2017, intern at Common Cause

Course Type: Variable Credit (1-4 units)

For Weinberg students who started at Northwestern before Summer 2023, this course will count one credit toward Weinberg Distribution Requirement for Area III: Social and Behavioral Sciences (unless taken as part of Engage Chicago.)

For Weinberg students who started at Northwestern in or after Summer 2023 (including transfer students), this course currently does not count toward any Foundational Disciplines or WCAS requirements. For students in other NU schools, please talk with your academic advisor to see if this or other CFS classes count towards any requirements for you.

Students can take 397-0 twice, once with CFS and once with Engage Chicago (summer program with CCE.)

Course Description

This course tends to attract students interested in public interest work of many stripes, such as government, politics, public policy, law, social service, education, community organizing, and the arts and humanities. But the course welcomes students with all types of internships and from all majors--and it benefits from a mix of perspectives. Course texts and topics cross fields and raise complex questions about political power, good governance, community, and more. You will be encouraged to reflect on your internships in multiple ways throughout and to consider how your internship and work experiences might entail issues of public interest and civic life. You will also learn a lot about Chicago along the way!

Learning Goals

By the end of this course, a student should be better able to:

Reflect on their internship experiences and professional and/or civic goals
Describe core forms and tensions of civic engagement that resonate with them & cite relevant examples in Chicago, Evanston, or a place or community that matters to them
Make reasoned, informed arguments about the need for attention to particular local civic issues and/or issues in their internship fields
Present information to an audience of their peers orally and in writing
Discuss complex issues thoughtfully and respectfully

Instructors: Liz McCabe; Sarah Silins

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CHICAGO FIELD STUDIES

Field Studies in Civic Engagement: CFS 397-0

Course Description

Types of Internships that relate to the Field Studies in Civic Engagement course: