Rutgers Citizenship and Activism Course

Only experience can teach you Citizenship and Activism!

Professor Michael Shafer

PoliSci 790:253:01 Frelinghuysen A-1

M/W 5 th Period (2:50 – 4:10)

Office Hours: M/W 4:15 – 5:30 Tel: (732) 932-9358

Email: mshafer@rci.rutgers.edu

This is a 1.5 credit mini-course.

Just seven weeks! Jan 21 to March 5

Enroll now via the Rutgers Web Registration Engine

Class Description

Citizenship and Activism focuses on how citizens mobilize and act for social change. Readings for the class will provide a historical, philosophical, and theoretical context to help you understand the evolution of the organizing tradition and how it has played a role in social change. Beyond the theoretical underpinnings of citizen advocacy, you will learn about organizing from a practical angle. We will read case studies that examine citizen campaigns (from those led by Cesar Chavez to those led by New Jerseyans to save the Great Swamp) and hear guest lectures from organizers about their own advocacy experiences. You will also use the Global PACT activism training program to develop your own social change project.

Format

This course is a class and workshop, and therefore class discussions and group activities, not lectures, will dominate our course meetings. The syllabus lists the readings for each class and poses several questions that should help you prepare for the activities and discussions. It is important that all of the reading for each class be done before you arrive!