Civic Engagement
UMass Dartmouth students care. Last year, they performed more than 192,000 hours of community service.
Our students understand that they have already taken their place in society.
In exit essays written by graduating seniors, many students cited their involvement in career-related internships or their participation in student organizations as pivotal in learning 21st-century workplace skills and how to integrate themselves into society. They also derived satisfaction from moving beyond the classroom to focus on a community or career topic that interested them.
What is Civic Engagement?
Civic engagement means acknowledging that none of us lives in a personal vacuum and that our quality of life is directly affected by our own involvement in the community. Sometimes, we do this through our work; sometimes, we do this through minute gestures in our daily lives. Whatever the engagement, striving to improve our communities or workplace skills through college internships or independent or directed study can be an exciting way to include hands-on learning in the curriculum.
Formally, you may do primary or secondary research in the course of an independent study or work as an intern; or, informally, you may simply keep your eyes and ears open around campus and the local area, attending university and community events or you may volunteer to work a few hours a week for a local nonprofit organization.
Learn more at the Leduc Center for Civic Engagement
Get Involved
We urge you to get involved through one, or both, of your concentration areas. You will find that you learn course material better when you apply it to real situations; that you are more interested in your education; that you will meet fantastic, like-minded people, making friends; and that you’re likely to have fun. And who knows, you may discover a career route while you’re at it.
The following concentrations offer internship programs: Political Science, Sociology/Anthropology, Sustainability, and Women's & Gender Studies.
Talk to your advisor for ideas, or visit the Career Development Center.