Program Overview

Beyond the Classroom (BTC) is a two-semester program designed to prepare students professionally for life beyond college. Participants enroll in a two-credit course, UNIV 325 first semester and hone skills necessary for an internship or service learning experience. A one-credit course, UNIV 326, accompanies the internship/service learning experience during the second semester.

Students may apply for the program the semester prior to participation. UNIV 325 is offered in fall and spring. The second course, UNIV 326, is offered in fall and spring semesters.

Requirements

First semester course: UNIV 325 Seminar I

Second semester/internship semester course: UNIV 326 Seminar II

Additional course electives:

UNIV 378 optional experiential learning credit for the internship semester

UNIV 389 Seminar III for an elective 3rd semester in the program

UNIV 399 Faculty & Film Series

Course Descriptions

Spring 2010

UNIV325 Beyond the Classroom Seminar I: Civic Engagement and Social Change in a Global Context; (2 credits) Grade Method: REG/P-F/AUD.

Exposes students to knowledge building, problem-solving and critical thinking about vital civic and policy issues from the local to the national and global levels. Develops and applies the concept of civic engagement and strategies for enhancing civic engagement and advancing social justice in different contexts (global to local; multi-cultural). Develop students' leadership capacities and skills for fostering civil discourse and effective professional practices in the nonprofit and civil society sector. Students identify the key civic values, attitudes and expectations that motivate them personally as well as others to engage in civic action and leadership. Students prepare professional portfolios in preparation of a semester-long internship.

UNIV326 Beyond the Classroom Seminar II: Internship and Experiential Learning; (1 credit) Grade Method: REG/P-F/AUD.

Prerequisite: UNIV 325; for students in the Beyond the Classroom Living and Learning Program. Must be taken concurrently with experiential learning practicum. Seminar for students in internships and service-learning experiences as context for applying communication skills and knowledge of civic engagement leadership skills first introduced in UNIV325.

UNIV378 Beyond the Classroom Experiential Learning (1-3 credits) Grade Method: S-F

Experiential credit for working in BTC-related internships with nonprofit, nongovernmental, and government organizations.

UNIV389G Beyond the Classroom Seminar III: Solving Converging Global Crises: The Role of the United Nations and Civil Society in Advancing Global Governance (3 Credits) Grade Method: REG/P-F/AUD.
How do we understand the cross-cutting factors that affect climate change, health epidemics, HIV/AIDS, environmental decline, poverty, unemployment, as well as energy, food and water shortages? In order to solve these inter-connected issues, key actors from international organizations, government and civil society need to work together to develop joint, integrated solutions to these global issues and emerging crises. The purpose of this multi-disciplinary research seminar is to enable students to explore how the United Nations and civil society organizations can work together to help inform and advance this critical research agenda and implement effective solutions to these converging global crises. Students will do collaborative research on the inter-connections among key global issues and prepare a joint report for presentation to a Global Civic Forum involving key leaders. Students’ research will be showcased in Beyond the Classroom’s Democratic Approaches to Global Governance (DAGG) newsletter.
Thurday, 3:30-6:15 pm (J. Riker)

UNIV399E Experiential Learning: People Power: Activism for Social Change (1 credit) Grade Method: REG/P-F/AUD.
What is “people power” and how can citizen activism advance positive social change on key civic issues? On what issues historically has “people power” made a significant impact? What are the lessons for contemporary civic activism today? This series will explore the factors that lead to successful “people power” movements and citizen initiatives for social change. The series will draw directly on the perspectives of leading nonprofit and civil society activists through documentary films and formal presentations of successful “people power” initiatives for social change at the local, national, and global levels.
Monday, 7:00-9:00 pm (J. Riker)

Winter Term Course, January 2010

UNIV389M: Special Topics in Undergraduate Studies: Solving Global Climate Change in the Chesapeake Bay Region (3 credits) Grade Method: REG/P-F/AUD.
Monday, January 11 to Saturday, January 23, 2010
How do we understand the potential impacts and options for addressing global climate change in the Chesapeake Bay Region? The State of Maryland has set ambitious goal of reducing global greenhouse emissions by 25 percent by 2020. This multi-disciplinary seminar will examine promising strategies and solutions to reduce and to mitigate the impact of global climate change in the Chesapeake Bay Region. The course will look at the energy options, economic costs, environmental impacts, and the social and political implications for developing appropriate and effective solutions for the Chesapeake Bay Region. Particular attention will focus on the diverse roles and capacities of the nonprofit sector to provide leadership to ensure that Maryland meets its goals for reducing emissions while protecting the environment and promoting a sustainable economic future.
Students will participate in field trips to Baltimore and Eastern Shore, MD to understand the potential threats that climate change pose to those coastal areas, as well as an overnight trip to West Virginia to see the impact of mountain top removal for coal extraction that provides electric power to the region. Students will see examples of renewable energy facilities and projects that use biomass, wind and solar energy. Students will also visit the General Assembly in Annapolis, MD and Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. to meet with government and non-profit leaders and to learn first-hand about the latest legislative initiatives to address these issues. Finally, students will participate in the Annual Polar Bear Plunge on Saturday, January 23 to raise public awareness about climate change in the Chesapeake Bay.
Drawing on both classroom-based instruction and civic learning experiences in the field, students will carry out collaborative research that addresses key aspects of climate change and advances relevant civic knowledge for solving this issue in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Students will write a research paper and contribute to a joint civic report (BTC monograph). The seminar will culminate with a civic forum where students will share their findings with the campus, relevant members of the nonprofit sector and the public.
TBA (J. Riker)