The curriculum blends the crosscutting interdisciplinary concerns of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs—policy research, conflict management, community collaboration, civic leadership, and the administration and operation of civil society organizations and government agencies; theories and methodologies taught by Maxwell's discipline-based social science departments; and experience working with community-based partners.
Students pair this nationally unique curriculum with any Syracuse major of policy relevance, using the ‘companion major’ as another lens through which to view and contribute to the public good. CCE culminates with the creation of a senior capstone Action Plan project that includes rigorous research on, and analysis of, an issue of social concern, done in collaboration with a community partner in Central New York or elsewhere.
About Maxwell
The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs is Syracuse University’s home for innovative, interdisciplinary teaching and research in the social sciences, public policy, public administration and international relations. It includes America’s #1 ranked graduate program in public affairs, offering highly regarded professional degrees alongside advanced scholarly degrees in the social sciences, and it is home to undergraduate programs across the full spectrum of social sciences.
Courses
Core coursework encompasses the breadth of social sciences. Sample courses include:
- Critical Issues for the United States
- Global Community
- Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences
- Ethics, Justice, and Citizenship
- Research in Civic Engagement
- Action Plan Workshop
Practical Experience
This major provides many experiential learning opportunities, including the chance to:
- Plug into national networks of publicly engaged scholars and community engagement professionals
- Work inside a community-based organization or an elected official’s office
- Receive training and practice in conflict management and community collaboration
- Design a community-based project that addresses a social problem
- Communicate the findings of original research to community-based organizations and elected officials
Study Abroad
Ranked among the top 25 international education providers in the U.S., Syracuse Abroad is a significant part of the Syracuse experience. With more than 100 top-ranked programs in 60 countries, nearly half of all students go abroad during their four years.
Citizenship and civic engagement majors most often go abroad to Syracuse University centers in Florence, Madrid, and Santiago, and to World Partner programs AMIDEAST Area & Arabic Language Studies ( Amman, Jordan ), CET Brazil (Sao Paulo), SIT India: Sustainable Development and Social Change, and SIT South Africa: Multiculturalism and Human Rights.
Life After Syracuse University
As a graduate of the citizenship and civic engagement program you can pursue careers such as:
- Public policy analyst
- Community engagement professional
- Non-profit organization manager
- Public interest advocate
- Urban and regional planner
Or pursue graduate level education in the areas of public affairs, public administration, or any of the social sciences.