A Community Engaged Scholarship Course is a collaboration between faculty and student scholars and community members in mutually beneficial partnerships to address issues of the common good. Community engagement makes student learning more relevant and challenges students to use their knowledge and skills to address real and complex community concerns. These courses facilitate learning of academic course objectives as well as invite reflection on students' sense of purpose and civic responsibility. Nashman Center courses help students to become active citizens of a diverse democracy who see themselves as creative contributing members of their communities.
Spring, 2024
Community Engaged Scholarship Courses at GW
Learn more about community engaged courses at GW by reviewing the courses below!
- HSSJ 2170: Professional Relationships & Human ServicesIn HSSJ 2170, Professor Linda-Jeanne Mack leads a dynamic Community Engaged course focused on cultivating professional communication skills within the human services field. Through this course, students gain practical experience in engaging professionally with individuals and groups, preparing them for impactful interactions within diverse human service settings. The primary goal of HSSJ 2170 is to ...continue reading "HSSJ 2170: Professional Relationships & Human Services"
- UW 1020: Writing for Social ChangeProfessor Ryder’s UW 1020 is a Community Engaged class centered around Writing for Social Change, where students collaborate with organizations in Washington DC. This course provides students with a practical context to explore the dynamics of language, writing, and communication that can spark inquiry and research. Throughout the semester, Professor Ryder facilitates discussions on the ...continue reading "UW 1020: Writing for Social Change"
- GTCH 3103: Project Based LearningProfessor SuJin Choi's GTCH 3103 is a Project Based Learning community engaged class where students craft mathematics and science lesson plans for implementation in Washington DC schools. These lesson plans and their creation are informed by the students’ observations and assistance in middle and high school classrooms, and what they have learned in the GW ...continue reading "GTCH 3103: Project Based Learning"
- GTCH 2003. Step 1 and 2 Hybrid: Inquiry Approaches to Teaching and Lesson DesignProfessor Kamellia Keo's GTCH 2003 is a combination of GTCH 1001’s Inquiry Approaches to Teaching and GTCH 1002’s Inquiry-based Lesson Design. In order to gain teaching experience, students in Professor Keo’s class first observe the workings of a middle school classroom, then take those observations and apply them to the creation of a lesson plan. ...continue reading "GTCH 2003. Step 1 and 2 Hybrid: Inquiry Approaches to Teaching and Lesson Design"
- UW 1020: Professional Communication in International NonprofitsUW1020: Professional Communication in International Social Enterprises: A Community Engaged Scholarship Course in Partnership with Clinic+O, taught by Dr. Jessica McCaughey. At its core, this course interrogates the question: How does writing allow mission-driven organizations to get work done? This first-year writing class is themed around the topic of international healthcare communication, particularly that of our ...continue reading "UW 1020: Professional Communication in International Nonprofits"
- SUST 3003: World on a PlateIn "World on a Plate" by Professor Tara Scully, students study food history and science, while examining food industry connections to social issues like immigration, labor standards, and public health. Students learn about local implications of food systems through service with food banks, food recovery programs, and farmer's markets. This course is taught by renowned ...continue reading "SUST 3003: World on a Plate"
- PUBH 6232 The Autism ExperienceIn Professor Sean Cleary's course, "The Autism Experience," students gain insights into autism from a public health perspective. Through service-learning and community participatory research methods, they engage with autistic young adults, their parents, researchers, clinicians, and service providers. The course explores the science, various viewpoints, and real-life experiences of autism, with a specific emphasis ...continue reading "PUBH 6232 The Autism Experience"
- NURS 4105 Disaster PreparednessIn Disaster Preparedness taught by Karen Dawn, students focus on learning nursing disaster competencies that guide nurses toward population well-being, including limiting injuries and maintaining community health. Students immerse themselves in disaster nurse roles, from rapid, effective response to care coordination to foster competencies in disaster coordination. Each student chooses an organization to work with ...continue reading "NURS 4105 Disaster Preparedness"
- PUBH 2117: Service Learning in Public HealthService Learning in Public Health by Prof. Sara Wilensky is a course where students connect significant community service experience to course work on social systems, health outcomes, and vulnerable populations. Examples of service sites include the Latin American Youth Center, Mary's Center, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Horton’s Kids, and Charlie's Place. Professor: Sara Wilensky
- HSSJ 4195 Senior CapstoneHSSJ 4195 Senior Capstone by Prof. Michelle Kelso is the culminating experience for the Human Services and Social Justice Program. It ties together the knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitudes needed to address complex real-world issues in socially just ways. This course represents the integration and reflection on the key theories, research, practices, issues, and policies addressed ...continue reading "HSSJ 4195 Senior Capstone"
- HSSJ 2177: Social Justice and Public PolicyIn this course, taught by Dr Erica Walls, students analyze how nonprofits/groups organize in pursuit of social justice/impact/change, examine strategies and tactics of social movements, identify provisions and gaps in U.S. social policy, and more. Throughout the semester, the course covers relevant theory, history, and current events, and partnered with DC-area nonprofits to critically evaluate ...continue reading "HSSJ 2177: Social Justice and Public Policy"
- HSSJ 2172: Human Interactions Adult DevelopmentThis Human Interactions class by Professor Sangeeta Prasad observes human development from young adulthood to old age. Students study the dominant psychosocial, cognitive, and physical competencies; motivational changes; coping styles; and normative and non-normative behaviors of humans from young adulthood to old age. The course includes three hours per week of service learning in an ...continue reading "HSSJ 2172: Human Interactions Adult Development"
- UW 1020 University Writing: Writing Science and Health: Women’s Health as Point of InquiryAll entering first year and transfer undergraduate students are take UW 1020, which is a four-credit course. UW 1020 is designated as a pre-disciplinary course: the goal is to enable students to write effectively in various contexts, within the university and beyond. Dr. Barlow's course integrates the development of writing competencies in varying contexts with ...continue reading "UW 1020 University Writing: Writing Science and Health: Women’s Health as Point of Inquiry"
- EXNS 3120 Advanced Topics in EXNSIn this service-learning class by Prof. Karina Lora, students deliver nutrition education using prepared lesson plans based on USDA MyPlate messages, and healthy food tastings to preschool-aged children living in undeserved urban areas in Washington DC. Students will increase their cultural competence with the groups served, advocacy, education and service to the community, reflect on current events ...continue reading "EXNS 3120 Advanced Topics in EXNS"
- CIXD 3820: Engagement LabIn "Engagement Lab," by Professors Kevin Patton and Angela Stepancic students address a challenge posed by a community organization using interaction design. Focusing on social, environmental, and community impact, students collaborate with community stakeholders to create tools, and design new systems. Students have worked with a range of organizations, including Roosevelt STAY Academy and the ...continue reading "CIXD 3820: Engagement Lab"
- HSSJ 2200: Principles of Ethical Leadership"Principles of Ethical Leadership" by Prof. Wendy Wagner uses the “case-in-point” approach to leadership development. Rather than studying leadership through hypothetical case studies, a team-based community engagement project IS the case. Students examine their own group dynamics and their own roles as the project unfolds throughout the semester. Students build their own leadership skills by ...continue reading "HSSJ 2200: Principles of Ethical Leadership"
- CGD 2091 Design Studio IIIn Marc Choi's CGD 2091: Design Studio II course, students learn about brand identity systems and programs, and the iterative design processes used in developing a cohesive and comprehensive branding program (print, social media, and motion). Using a community-centered design approach, student teams partner with local community service organizations like the Rock Creek Conservancy and Free ...continue reading "CGD 2091 Design Studio II"
- BADM 4001 Business Leader LaunchBADM 4001: Business Leader Launch is an experiential learning course by Prof. Wendy Wagner, completed by all business administration students. The Nashman Center hosts one section of this course, with opportunities for students to work with local nonprofit and public service organizations, leveraging their business skills to contribute to these organizations’ capacity to serve ...continue reading "BADM 4001 Business Leader Launch"
- BISC 1008 Understanding OrganismsTara Scully’s BISC 1008 course teaches students about the evolution of life on earth; the value of other organisms, their role in our world, and how humans can cause harm to this infrastructure. Serving in the local community in a variety of ways, students learn about D.C. and regional ecological issues, such as agricultural challenges ...continue reading "BISC 1008 Understanding Organisms"
- HSSJ 3100W Program Planning & EvaluationIn HSSJ 3100W: Program Planning and Evaluation, students partner with organizations like YWCA, Rock Creek Conservancy, and Horton's Kids to conduct real-world program evaluations. While providing data and analysis to help organizations improve programs, students gain practical skills in data collection (surveys, interviews, etc.), data analysis, meaning-making and reporting. Community-serving organizations who partner with this ...continue reading "HSSJ 3100W Program Planning & Evaluation"
- HSSJ 2171: Child & Adolescent DevelopmentThis course by Prof. Sangeeta Prasad pertains to theories of human development from infancy to young adulthood. Dominant psychosocial, cognitive, and physical competencies; motivational changes; coping styles; and normative and non-normative behaviors. In addition to lectures, students served at least three hours per week in an appropriate agency, but many did more. Prasad, a psychologist ...continue reading "HSSJ 2171: Child & Adolescent Development"
- BISC 1007: Food, Nutrition, and ServiceStudents in Dr. Scully’s Food, Nutrition, and Service class were able to learn about the study of biology and nutrition directly through hands-on service projects in their community. Through community-based lab activities and projects, students had the opportunity to receive an in-depth look at the concepts being taught in this service-learning course, reinforcing the importance ...continue reading "BISC 1007: Food, Nutrition, and Service"
- UW 1020: Writing Lives, Composing Consciousness and Service LearningAll entering students take UW 1020, a four-credit course to enable students to write effectively in various contexts, within the university and beyond. In Professor Pamela Presser's sections of this course, students seek to deepen their understanding of identity and composition of consciousness through service with organizations within the DC community. Students explore how service ...continue reading "UW 1020: Writing Lives, Composing Consciousness and Service Learning"
- CGD 2060 Typography II"I worked with the Free Minds Book Club to take poems created by incarcerated members of their club and design expressive typographic works." From Professor Aasawari Kulkarni: "Through the Free Minds Book Club collaboration, my students not only worked with real content, but also had the unique opportunity to interact with the authors of the content ...continue reading "CGD 2060 Typography II"
- GTCH 1002 Inquiry Based Lesson DesignThe GWTeach program by Prof. SuJin Choi prepares STEM majors for teaching licensure in Washington, DC. This course builds on the basics of teaching learned in GTCH 1001, with a focus on inquiry-based lesson design, teaching with technology, classroom management, and analyzing student performance data. Students partnered with teachers in local middle schools, designing and ...continue reading "GTCH 1002 Inquiry Based Lesson Design"
- PT 8481 Interprofessional Community PracticumIn Dr. Erin Wentzell's "Interprofessional Community Practicum," small teams of physical therapy doctoral students collaborate with senior wellness centers and adaptive sports programs to help create spaces for all community members to be active and healthy. Dr. Wentzell connects students to local organizations that address access to health in underserved communities, including senior wellness ...continue reading "PT 8481 Interprofessional Community Practicum"
- COMM 1041: Interpersonal CommunicationAbbie Weiner’s "Interpersonal Communication" class gives undergraduates in the Columbian School of Arts and Science an opportunity to get a taste of Community Engaged Scholarship through connecting the principles of interpersonal communication and service. At the beginning of the semester, the students were given an option of three different organizations: Free Minds, the YWCA, and ...continue reading "COMM 1041: Interpersonal Communication"
