Public, Non-Profit and Community Undergraduate Leadership Certificate

Outcomes Assessment Plan

Certificate’s Educational Goals: This credit-bearing undergraduate certificate engages students in a focused curriculum in the community organizing and development field, including field placements in internships with local community partners.  The program curriculum is anchored around the study and practice of local civic engagement, especially in traditionally marginalized communities.  We provide critical education and effective skills-based training for students seeking careers in community organizing and development, as well as for students seeking more active citizenship and civic engagement. This program contributes to a workforce and community of change agents—activists, organizers, social workers, leaders, researchers, and program directors—to work for change in low-income and otherwise marginalized communities.

Certificate Learning Outcomes:  Graduates of the Public, Non-Profit and Community Leadership Certificate program will:

1. Analyze structural roots of community problems and sources of community strength
2. Critique public, non-profit and community organizing and/or leadership strategies, depending on issue or community context
3. Apply critical thinking skills to solve collective problems in a manner that improves the public good
4. Deepen involvement with diverse communities and real-world challenges (including internships and other experiential learning opportunities), allowing students to reflect on the relationship between theory, political practice and potential career paths.

Curriculum and Assessment Map: The Public, Non-Profit and Community Leadership certificate requires students to complete five undergraduate courses.  Two courses are required:  PSCI 4914 (Community Organizing and Development) and an experiential learning course (from among three course options).  three courses are electives, and must be drawn from the following list of 12 courses.

• PSCI 3064         Power and Empowerment in America 
• PSCI 4025         Local Governance and Globalization
• PSCI 4074         Urban Politics
• PSCI 4124         Denver Politics
• PSCI 4206         Social Movements
• PSCI 4207         Theories of Social and Political Change
• PSCI 4248         Gender, Globalization and Development
• PSCI 4265         Social Justice and Globalization
• PSCI 4274         Conflict Resolution and Public Consent Building
• PSCI 4324         Politics, Public Policy, and Leadership
• PSCI 4414         Non-Profits and Social Change
• PSCI 4535         Labor and Working Class Politics
• PSCI 4555         International Women’s Resistance
• PSCI 4002         Topics Courses—When Relevant and Approved by Program Advisor
• PSCI 4840         Independent Study—When Relevant and Approved by Program Advisor

Assessment of learning objectives is done upon completion of required courses that all certificate students must complete. The table below maps the learning objectives to required courses, and provides examples of typical assessments for each course with respect to each learning objective.

Assessment Data Collection and Analysis:  Assessment for each learning objective will be undertaken at the time of conclusion for any of the required courses, using the rubrics below. Assessments will be conducted by reviewing relevant course records, and in consultation with relevant instructors.  Assessment of achievement of learning outcomes for all students in the course will be conducted, providing evidence of the extent to which the opportunity to master learning objectives was provided to certificate student who might have been in the courses.

Learning Outcome 1:  Analyze structural roots of community problems and sources of community strength

Learning Outcome 2. Critique public, non-profit and community organizing and/or leadership strategies, depending on issue or community context.

Learning Outcome 3: Apply Critical Thinking Skills to Improve Public Good

Learning Outcome 4:  Deepen involvement with diverse communities and real-world challenges (including internships and other experiential learning opportunities), allowing students to reflect on the relationship between theory, political practice and potential career paths.

Schedule for Learning Outcomes Assessment           

Achievement of learning outcomes for each student will be assessed at the time of each course’s conclusion.   Data will be reported upon the completion of the certificate by five or more students. Managing the assessment process will be the responsibility of the department certificate coordinator and/or Department Chair.