Service-Learning Courses at CCNY
Following are courses offered at CCNY that have included a service-learning component. All courses listed are taught by Service-Learning Faculty Fellows
Architecture
Architecture (ARCH 51315): Community Development & Design
Explores issues and policies pertaining to “community development” and its implications for architects and urban designers under the rubric “community design.” During the semester, students work and/or conduct participant observation on-site with community development organizations in East and West Harlem.
Division of Arts and Humanities
Art (ART 15500): Art in Elementary Education:
The course provides an introduction to building arts based curriculum for the elementary classroom. For their service-learning assignment, students design and implement weekly arts based workshops for youth at the Children’s Art Carnival in Central Harlem
History (HIST B2430): Case Studies in U.S. Labor History
Provides an in-depth examination of how race, gender, ethnicity, immigration, geographical mobility and regional differences have shaped U.S. labor history. To gain a contemporary, real-world perspective on these issues, students engage in fieldwork experiences with local labor union organizations.
Jewish Studies (JWST 1000): Intro to Jewish Life and Religion
Explores Jewish literature and customs of the life cycle in Jewish culture. Selected topics include Jewish law and ethics; The Yiddish World: Jews of Europe before WW2; The American Jewish Community since 1925; and Jews of Morocco and Eastern Europe. Students have hands-on experience in the Jewish community through involvement with a variety of social-service organizations throughout New York City.
Media Arts and Communications/Advertising & Public Relations: (MCA 31126) Market Research
This course partners with the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention in East Harlem. Approaching the Center as a “client,” students create and disseminate questionnaire surveys and conduct focus groups with a cross section of the Center’s target audience. Research results are intended to delineate the cues that prevent African American and Latino men from undergoing screenings for early detection and prevention of colon and prostate cancers.
Media Arts and Communications/Advertising & Public Relations: (MCA 362) Public Relations Writing
The course works with the Children Arts Carnival as a "mini-client". Students complete press kits that include press releases, fact sheets, a media advisory and pitch letters to attract publicity for the organization as it celebrates its 40th Anniversary.
Music (MUS 152): Music in Elementary Schools
Students help meet a critical need for music education programming at PS 123 in Harlem by designing and delivering weekly music lessons to K-6th grade students.
Division of Social Sciences
Economics (Eco 35800): Governmental Regulation and Executive Decision Making
This course surveys the social, legal, political, and ethical responsibilities of a business to both external and internal stakeholders, and examines the different positions regarding the notion of corporate responsibility. Students administer surveys in Harlem to measure resident opinions regarding the local Community Board and its relationship with private housing developers as well as attitudes about the affordable housing crisis in NYC. Community Partners for the projects include Community Board 9 (Harlem) and Neighborhood Housing Services of New York.
Political Science (PSC 355): Environmental Politics and Policy: Comparative and Global Perspectives
Provides students with community and classroom-based opportunities to examine environmental politics and policy making from a local, national and global perspective. Students complete a minimum of 20 hours of community service/field work with a local non-profit organization engaged in environmental policy and/or advocacy work.
Political Science (PSC 254): International Organizations
Examines the major institutions, organizations and processes that facilitate cooperation, peace, stability and order in the international environment. We will begin by exploring the role of intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international law in promoting these values. Students have the option of completing a minimum of 20 hours of service with the International Rescue Committee, one of the largest refugee resettlement organizations in the world with headquarters in NYC and local offices around the world.
Psychology (PSY B9749): Health Psychology
Examines current research in areas such as stress, coping, social support, prevention of illness, and health promotion. Students explore models, theories, and methods employed in health psychology and apply these concepts through service projects overseen by Episcopal Social Services. Projects target adults with disabilities, formerly incarcerated adults, juvenile offenders and children transitioning out of foster care.
Psychology (B9758): The Psychology of Prevention Science and Reducing Risks for Mental Disorders:
The course examines the societal tensions societal tensions between mental health promotion and mental illness treatment. Through service-learning projects at Episcopal Social Services, students learn about and apply community-based intervention strategies for promoting mental health and reducing risks for mental illness among at-risk youth.
Pyschology (311.08/B9781): Pyschosocial Issues in Cancer.
This course reviews the core behavioral and psychosocial issues associated with a diagnosis of cancer, from prevention to early detection to end-of-life and survival. To connect theory to practice, students design and administer patient satisfication surveys, help organize cancer awareness events for the Breast Center of Harlem;conduct outreach to leaders of faith based institutions for the American Cancer Society of Upper Manhattan and design informational materials for clients served by the Family Center.
School of Education
Childhood Education (EDU 29007) Curriculum Development I
Students engage in individual, child studies through interviews with East Harlem Tutorial Program youth, staff and parents. Studies are intended to highlight how educational settings (home vs. school); level of parental involvement and socio-economic background may impact learning styles among primary school children. Students use results of their research to recommend and implement innovative teaching strategies during tutorial sessions with EHTP youth.
Educational Leadership/Special Education(EDLS 25011) Research & Assessment Seminar: Service-Learning and the Development of Instructional Leadership Skills:
Students tutor youth at the East Harlem Tutorial Program (EHTP) while also researching best practices in community-based educational programming. Research results are shared with EHTP staff and are also posted on a class designed website as a resource for principals, community leaders and others in educational leadership roles.
Educational Leadership/Special Education (EDUC 0100) Urban Schools in a Diverse Society:
The course examines educational issues within the context of larger US social, cultural, political and economic structures. Students tutor East Harlem Tutorial Program youth and also observe and report on ways in which multiculturalism is integrated into the organization’s programs.
Education (EDCE 20000, EDCE 20001) Inquiry in Education/Fieldwork Inquiry:
Students provide tutoring to youth at the East Harlem Tutorial Program while carrying out their own investigations and relating inquiry to elementary curriculum and children's learning
Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education
Department of Community Health and Social Medicine (MED 401/408) Patient/Doctor I & II:
The course, designed for undergraduate students in the Sophie Davis School of Biomedicine, provides students with a broad understanding of the principles, practices and disciplines of Primary Care Medicine. Through a new service-learning component, students work at several community health clinics to research, implement and evaluate interventions to increase patients’ adherence to a wide variety of preventive health measures.
