Frequently Asked Questions
What is civic engagement?
Civic engagement is the act of working to improve our communities and developing the necessary skills to make a difference. It can take many different forms. On a basic level, it includes voting, donating to candidates or causes, or serving on local boards or commissions. Civic engagement also involves community service, environmental action, and other forms of volunteerism. Ultimately, civic engagement is about using one's voice and abilities to make a difference in the world.
Why is civic engagement important?
Civic engagement is important because it helps to build strong and thriving communities. When people get involved in their community, they feel like they are a part of something larger than themselves. They are more likely to take pride in their community and work to make it a better place. Civic engagement can create a sense of belonging, empowerment, and ownership. It can bring about changes that impact people's daily lives.
Civic engagement can have a larger impact, too. It can play a role in making institutions more transparent and accountable. It can build deeper and more trusting relationships between organizations and communities. Civic engagement can even shape laws, create policies, and influence funding.
What does a civic engagement professional do?
Leaders in civic engagement are more than just activists. They identify areas of public concern and address them using professional skills like data analysis, leadership, budgeting, and project management. They tackle issues that affect communities in areas like education, health care, the environment, housing, and racial justice. They create innovative solutions to complex social problems.
What can I do with a degree in civic engagement?
Every field and industry could use more socially conscious leadership. Civic engagement professionals are needed in government, educational institutions, organizations, and corporations. With a degree in civic engagement, you could pursue roles such as:
- 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
Letters of recommendation are now optional. Why would I want to use them?
Letters of recommendation are an additional way to share your story with the admission panel, but not submitting letters of recommendation will not decrease your chances of admission. If you’re concerned that some areas of your application are not particularly strong, you may want to include a letter of recommendation that supports that area of your application. For example, if you feel that your resume doesn’t show the extent of your professional experience, you might ask a supervisor of a recent volunteer position to write a letter of recommendation about the impact you’ve made in their organization.
Does the MPS in Civic Engagement program provide funding to students?
CCAPS Graduate Education programs do not provide living stipends, research assistantships, or teaching assistantships as might be expected in a typical PhD program.
- US based students: CCAPS offers modest financial need-based scholarships to eligible students, and a limited number of merit-based scholarships. However, in most cases students work while going to school in order to cover living expenses and pay tuition out of pocket, including health insurance.
- International students: Are not eligible for federal financial aid or CCAPS scholarships and must show financial evidence showing that they can cover tuition, living expenses, and the Student Health Benefit plan health insurance during their period of study. To learn more about planning for these expenses, visit Plan Your Expenses or make an appointment with International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS).
Do you offer health insurance for graduate students?
No. CCAPS graduate students do not pay the student services fee and are not eligible to purchase the University's Student Health Benefit Plan. CCAPS graduate students need to obtain health insurance outside the University.
This policy does not apply to international students. Contact ISSS for more information for international students.