Cultivating responsible citizenship in a non-traditional degree program through a service-inclusive pedagogy

Abstract

A responsible citizen is someone who understands their role in the community and attempts to make a positive impact. Service-learning is one way to encourage responsible citizenship by asking students to engage with and reflect on their communities. This study explores student perceptions toward civic engagement in an undergraduate course focused on the multidisciplinary examination of social issues, with some sections incorporating service-learning pedagogy. Using a validated measure, changes among students were documented in six topic areas: civic action, interpersonal and problem-solving skills, political awareness, leadership skills, social justice attitudes, and diversity attitudes. Results were compared across sections with different service-learning requirements and delivery formats. Additionally, results were compared across students from diverse backgrounds, including age and race.