Community Engagement & Activism Programs

Community Engagement & Activism Information:

This multidisciplinary program allows students to improve their community.  With a focus on politics, social justice, leadership and activism, students gain knowledge and practical skills needed to mobilize for change. Students don't just learn about the issues facing our communities, they take action in Milwaukee.  Through service-learning projects, field work, internships and networking opportunities, students gain on-the-ground insights into the challenges and opportunities for social change at the community level.

Community Engagement & Activism has a major, minor and specialization. 

This major prepares students for more than just a meaningful career. Students are empowered to be a lifelong, engaged member of your community.

Learning Outcomes:

Community & Engagement Major: 

  1. Conduct research on a variety of political and community topics, while integrating relevant disciplinary frameworks to demonstrate a broad understanding of a range of topics within the social and political realm. 
  2. Articulate well-developed positions on political and community issues to connect historical knowledge and strategy while identifying solutions. 
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of diverse perspectives while identifying and articulating intersections between political and community issues and systems. 
  4. Develop strategies for effectively influencing political structures while coordinating resources to support community knowledge and engagement. 
  5. Demonstrates an understanding of how political structures and power distributions impact public policy while evaluating qualitative and quantitative data to support theories. 
  6. Produce a strong record of community engagement and activism demonstrating both knowledge and applied skills while working across various content areas. 

Community Engagement & Activism minor

  1. Conduct research on a variety of political and community topics, while integrating relevant disciplinary frameworks to demonstrate a broad understanding of a range of topics within the social and political realm. 
  2. Articulate well-developed positions on political and community issues to connect historical knowledge and strategy while identifying solutions. 
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of diverse perspectives while identifying and articulating intersections between political and community issues and systems. 
  4. Develop strategies for effectively influencing political structures while coordinating resources to support community knowledge and engagement.

Community Engagement & Activism Specialization 

  1. Conduct research on a variety of political and community topics, while integrating relevant disciplinary frameworks to demonstrate a broad understanding of a range of topics within the social and political realm. (
  2. Articulate well-developed positions on political and community issues to connect historical knowledge and strategy while identifying solutions. 
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of diverse perspectives while identifying and articulating intersections between political and community issues and systems. 

Brooker, David. Dr. Ph.D., Comparative Politics, International Politics, The United Nations, david.brooker@alverno.edu 

Brooker, Russell. Dr., Ph.D, American Politics, Political Theory, Social Movements, Civil Rights, Russell.Brooker1@alverno.edu

Skyberg, Andrea.  MFA, Art, Art Activism, Art Education, andrea.skyberg@alverno.edu

Community Engagement & Activism (CENA.D.BA) Requirements  25-26 Catalog

BSC-257Statistics for Health Professionals (General Education )4
or BSC-256 Probability & Statistics
POL-225American Politics (General Education )4
CENA-101Community Activism3
CENA-220Mobilizing for Justice4
CENA-414Engaging Milwaukee4
CENA-388Systems of Oppression3
CENA-437Fundraising & Grant Writing: Principles & Practice3
CENA-490Senior Seminar2
COMM-379Public Relations & Social Media3
COMM-360Logic & Argumentation3
or CENA-338 Program Evaluation
INTERN-383Internship Seminar2
Choose One Globally Effective Citizen (GEC) 300 level Course (General Educatiion)3
AHS-409, GEC-300, GEC-302, GEC-307, GEC-312, GEC-314, GEC-315, GEC-317, GEC-320, GEC-324, GEC-328, GEC-333, GEC-398
Total Credits38

Community Engagement & Activism (CENA.D.MIN.2022) Minor Requirements  25-26 Catalog

CENA-101Community Activism3
CENA-388Systems of Oppression3
CENA-414Engaging Milwaukee4
CENA-301The Search for Justice3-4
or COMM-379 Public Relations & Social Media
or CENA-437 Fundraising & Grant Writing: Principles & Practice
POL-225American Politics4
Total Credits17-18

Community Engagement & Activism (CENA.D.SPEC.2022) Specialization Requirements  25-26 Catalog

CENA-101Community Activism3
CENA-414Engaging Milwaukee3-4
or CENA-301 The Search for Justice
or CENA-388 Systems of Oppression
or CENA-437 Fundraising & Grant Writing: Principles & Practice
POL-225American Politics4
Total Credits10-11