The Civic and Community Leadership minor (CIVL) expands Ramapo College’s curricular tradition of cultivating student engagement in civic, local, state, and international communities. Harry C. Boyte’s work on civic engagement and higher education is foundational for reconceptualizing civic learning.  He writes:

We need to move beyond narrow views of citizenship as voting and voluntarism, and reinvent citizenship as public work, work that explicitly and intentionally prepares our students (and ourselves) to be builders of democracy, not simply helpers, voters, analysts, informers, or critics of democracy.*

The selection of courses in the CIVL minor ask students to examine their potential for leadership within a number of domains, including interpersonal styles of leadership, ethical traditions, domestic and international politics, and social justice. Additionally, students can situate this broad foundation within the field they wish to pursue via the elective course offerings.

Program Objective: Ramapo College of New Jersey students and graduates of the Civic and Community Leadership minor shall be engaged in the public work of building democracy.

*Democracy’s Education: Public Work, Citizenship, and the Future of Colleges and  Universities (2015)

Goal 1: To familiarize students with the foundations of civic knowledge.

Outcome 1: Students should be able to articulate arguments about ethics in civic life.

Outcome 2: Students should be able to articulate arguments about the American political system.

Goal 2:  To familiarize students with the practice of civic leadership.

Outcome 1:  Students should be able to articulate leadership styles and apply them to real world problems.

1. Students are required to take 5 courses (16 credits) to complete this minor.
2. At least 1/2 of the courses fulfilling a minor must be distinct from the student’s major. That is, three of the five courses required for a minor cannot be used towards fulfillment of major requirements. A school core does not need to be completed for a minor. Minors are open to students regardless of school affiliation.

CIVIC AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP MINOR

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