A Degree that Makes a Difference
The Master of Professional Studies in Civic Engagement (CivE) is a program designed for professionals who are seeking a broad set of leadership skills, as well as a deep expertise in a given area of community-focused practice. It is focused on empowering emerging leaders by helping them build the skills they need to make a difference.
But what is civic engagement?
According to Civic Responsibility and Higher Education, edited by Thomas Ehrlich:"Civic engagement means working to make a difference in the civic life of our communities and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make that difference."
So if you’re interested in improving the quality of life for individuals and communities, this degree can help you make a real impact.
Flexible and Customizable
The CivE degree blends a core of applied professional courses with elective courses designed around your professional and personal interests.
Many courses are delivered online, in-person classes are frequently offered in the evenings, and you can attend on a full or part-time basis.
Your elective credits can be centered around a track that meets your professional goals. Sample tracks include:
- Civic Life and Social Justice
- Perspectives in Global Citizenship
- Election Administration
You can also self-design a track, in consultation with your advisor.
Why Minnesota, Why Now?
Because Minnesota is one of the most generous and engaged states in the country. And we need leaders with advanced professional, communication, and data skills to better serve our communities.
- 1stIn voter turnout in 2016 and 2018 (MN Compass)
- 1stIn volunteerism among US metro areas (National and Community Service)
- 2nd In volunteerism across all states (National and Community Service)
Electives (12 credits)
Working with an advisor, you'll select courses from academic departments across the University of Minnesota related to your chosen track. Courses must be taken at the graduate level.
Civic Life and Social Justice Track
Course Title | Course Number | Credits |
---|---|---|
Can We Feed the World Without Destroying It? | GCC 5001 | 3 |
Life Course Inequality and Health | SOC 8551 | 3 |
Seminar: Race, Representation, and Resistance | GWSS 8260 | 3 |
Analysis of Discrimination | PA 8312 | 4 |
Seminar in American Minority Literature | ENGL 8300 | 3 |
Media Outlaws | COMM 5231 | 3 |
Trends and Impacts in Arts and Cultural Leadership and Management | ACL 5211 | 3 |
Policy in Sexual Health: Cutting Edge Analyses (offered online) | HSEX 6011 | 3 |
Ethical Dilemmas and Legal Issues for Cultural Leaders | ACL 5231 | 3 |
Culture, Place, and Community: Ways of Living Together in the 21st Century | ACL 5100 | 3 |
Perspectives in Global Citizenship Track
You may take up to 6 credits of GCC (Grand Challenge Courses).
Course Title | Course Number | Credits |
---|---|---|
Global Survey of Gender and Public Policy | PA 5601 | 3 |
Policy in Sexual Health: Cutting-Edge Analyses | HSEX 6011 | 3 |
Climate Change Policy | PA 5724 | 3 |
Diversity and Public Policy | PA 5422 | 3 |
Natural Resource and Environmental Policy | ESPM 5241 | 3 |
Human-Centered Service Redesign | PA 5161 | 3 |
Ethical Issues in Global Health | BTHX 5710 | 3 |
Intercultural Communication Processes | COMM 5451 | 3 |
Whole Person, Whole Community: The Reciprocity of Well-Being | CSPH 5118 | 3 |
Can We Feed the World Without Destroying It? | GCC 5001 | 3 |
Global Venture Design: What Impact Will You Make? | GCC 5005 | 3 |
Toward Conquest of Disease | GCC 5007 | 3 |
Policy and Science of Global Environmental Change | GCC 5008 | 3 |
Global Climate Challenge: Creating an Empowered Movement for Change | GCC 5031 | 3 |
Pathways to Renewable Energy | GCC 5011 | 3 |
Making Sense of Climate Change: Science, Art, and Agency | GCC 5013 | 3 |
The Future of Work and Life in the 21st Century | GCC 5014 | 3 |
Bioinspired Approaches to Sustainability: Greening Technologies and Lives | GCC 5015 | 3 |
World Food Problems: Agronomics, Economics, and Hunger | GCC 5017 | 3 |
Election Administration Track
Course Title | Course Number | Credits |
---|---|---|
Survey of Election Administration | PA 5971 | 3 |
Elections and the Law | PA 5972 | 2 |
Strategic Management of Election Administration | PA 5973 | 2 |
Electives (5 or more credits) | ||
Election Design | PA 5975 | 2 |
Voter Outreach and Participation | PA 5976 | 1 |
Data Analysis for Election Administration | PA 5982 | 2 |
Introduction to Election Security | PA 5983 | 1 |
Elections Security: How to Protect America's Elections | PA 5984 | 2 |
Tracks
Craft a Civic Engagement path that fits your professional goals.
Civic Life and Social Justice
Civic organizations need leaders well-versed in business and people-management skills in order to help their communities thrive. Your passion for improving the world around you, serving your community, and enacting social justice will be enhanced through this disciplinary focus. Engage in a multidisciplinary examination of contemporary civic and social issues.
Perspectives in Global Citizenship
The opportunities and tensions that arise from living in a global society require a broad knowledge of what it means to be a global citizen. This focus prepares you for work in health care and health disparity nonprofits and NGOs that concentrate on climate change, wealth inequalities, maternal and child health, or diversity and equity issues.
Election Administration
Our election systems face a pressing need for trained professionals who have the skills and knowledge to create meaningful change. This 12-credit online certificate, offered through the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, allows you to gain up-to-date expertise in election administration at the local, state, or national level. In this focus area, you will earn two academic credentials: the MPS in Civic Engagement and the Election Administration Certificate.
Self-Designed Track
If you are interested in a disciplinary area outside of the three described, work with your academic advisor and faculty to craft a personalized course of study that fits your professional goals.
Admission
Fall Application Deadline: April 1
Spring Application Deadline: November 1
Admission to the Civic Engagement program is competitive, and all applications are reviewed to ensure a good fit for academic success. Notification of admission decisions is made within four to six weeks after the application deadline.
We strive to be equitable in the admissions process. Our program thrives with the inclusion of students from different backgrounds and cultural experiences. Our admissions committee reviews applications holistically including all components of the application, and does not require standardized test scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). If you have questions about the admission requirements or would like advice on how to put together application materials, please contact us.
The following items are required for admission:
- bachelor's degree from an accredited post-secondary US institution or its foreign equivalent
- an undergraduate GPA of 3.0*
The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is not required.
* In exceptional circumstances, promising applicants with lower GPA may be considered for the program. Explanation for GPA, and evidence that academic success at the graduate level is achievable, must be addressed in the application (extenuating circumstances).
- First, access the online application.
- Attach all required application materials electronically to your application.
Applicant Statements
- Professional statement: One to two pages, double-spaced, should describe your personal and/or professional goals, why you think the Civic Engagement program will help you achieve them, and how you plan to focus your program.
- Diversity statement: Optional.
- Extenuating Circumstances statement: If your undergraduate GPA is below 3.0, please provide an explanation.
Letters of Recommendation
Two letters of recommendation should be solicited from individuals who can provide a candid assessment of your abilities (including strengths and weaknesses), personality, character, and potential for graduate-level academic success and professional achievement.
Writing Sample
Include a writing sample (five to ten pages) on any topic that demonstrates critical thinking and analysis. If possible, include one sample of academic writing and one sample of written work from relevant work or volunteer experience.
Transcripts
Unofficial transcripts or academic records for each institution (even if you didn’t receive a degree) should be uploaded directly to the online application. International students should also upload an English translation if the transcript is not in English. If possible, make sure the institution has put your name on the transcript/record.
Resume or CV
Submit a current resume or CV.
GRE Scores
The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is not required.
Application Fee
A nonrefundable application fee is due on submission.
You may be able to transfer up to 10 credits of graduate-level coursework completed prior to admission, with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies.
Transfer coursework requirements:
- Taken at the University of Minnesota or another accredited institution
- Completed at the graduate level and listed on a graduate transcript
- Earned a grade of B or better
- Completed no more than five years prior to admission to the program
Transfer Coursework Taken as an Undergraduate
You may be able to transfer up to 6 of the 10 transfer coursework credits taken as an undergraduate, with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies and the Associate Director for Graduate Programs.
Prebaccalaureate transfer coursework requirements:
- Completed as a prebaccalaureate student pursing an undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota and listed on your undergraduate transcript
- Taken at the graduate level
- Earned a grade of B or higher
- Completed no more than five years prior to admission to the program
- Not counted toward completion of a bachelor’s degree
In order to transfer your graduate-level credits completed as a prebaccalaureate student, submit:
- A petition form, signed by an undergraduate program advisor confirming credits were not used toward undergraduate degree
- Syllabi from course(s), preferred
- Full APAS report
The DGS and the Associate Director for Graduate Programs will review the information and jointly decide on the use of the credits in your graduate program.
If your native language is not English, please submit scores from the TOEFL, MELAB, or IELTS English proficiency examination. Read more about required scores.
- Required TOEFL scores are 84 or above, with section scores of at least 21 on writing and at least 19 on reading.
- Required IELTS score is 6.5, with section scores of at least 6.5 for both writing and reading.
- Required MELAB score is 84.
For information on visa status, contact the International Student and Scholar Services office.
Credit courses taken before admission may be applied toward this degree. You can take a graduate-level course before being admitted if:
- the course is graduate-level (4xxx-level or above), and
- you register for credit as a nondegree graduate student and pay graduate-level tuition.
Follow these steps to register:
- Download and submit a Registration Request for Graduate Credit for Nondegree Students Form. Registration for nondegree students is not available online.
- Send the form to the department offering the courses for authorization. Use this form each term until you are admitted to a program.
- Upon authorization, the department offering the graduate course will forward the form to the registrar or provide you with further instructions.
- You will receive confirmation and payment instructions by email.
More information can be found on the One Stop page for nondegree students.
For more detailed course information, visit the U of M Schedule Builder.
Careers in Civic Engagement
Civic engagement professionals can work for organizations, corporations, government agencies, educational institutions, and much more. Socially conscious leaders are needed at every level of employment, no matter the field.
Here are just a few potential job titles you could have:
- Director of Equity and Community Engagement
- Director of Immigration and Civic Engagement
- Race Equity and Public Policy Strategist
- Civic Engagement Strategist
- Corporate Social Responsibility Officer
- Civic Engagement Manager
- Policy Communications Manager
- Communication and Engagement Manager
- Data Coordinator for Civic Engagement
- Program Manager of Engagement Services
Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid
- Nonresident and resident graduate tuition is $900.00 per credit for 2021−22.
- You may also be charged additional fees.
We want to ensure you have access to the education you want. Find out more about financial aid or talk to our scholarship advisor.
If you would like to be considered for any available scholarship funding for newly admitted graduate students, you must complete the annual FAFSA for the upcoming academic year. Choose the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities as your school within FAFSA.
Let's Connect
You can learn more about the Civic Engagement program in a way that works for you. Enrollment Advisor Steve Wicks is here to help.
Or you can give Steve a call at 612-301-6127.
Do you have a more detailed question or want to tell us a little bit about yourself before the meeting? Fill out this brief questionnaire.
Meet Steve
Steve works with prospective students who are interested in one of our graduate programs or certificates. He is happy to answer your questions about our degrees, admission requirements, and the application procedure. In his free time, he can usually be found in the woods or on the water, or cheering on all the Wisconsin sports teams.