The Bachelor of Arts in Leadership and Community Engagement (LDCE) prepares ethical, skilled leaders committed to addressing complex public challenges. The major integrates theory and practice. Students will learn about theories of leadership, applied research and learning in community settings. This knowledge is put into practice through structured experiences working with communities to diagnose social problems and design innovative solutions.
This major prepares students for careers in community or nonprofit organizations, higher education, international development, urban planning, social work and government, as well as for graduate study.
The coursework builds on the work of CU Engage: Center for Community-Based Learning and Research.
Requirements
Secondary Area of Study
The Leadership and Community Engagement major requires students to complete a secondary area of study outside of the major. The secondary area of study can be fulfilled by completing a second degree, a minor or a certificate. Leadership and Community Engagement majors may not complete a minor in leadership studies.
Pathways
There are three pathways in the Leadership and Community Engagement major. The first is the general pathway. There are additional pathways for students in the Multicultural Leadership Scholars program or the INVST Community Studies program. These programs are selective cohort-based programs. MLS applications are restricted to incoming first year students. INVST Community Studies Program applications are open to incoming first-year students, first-year students and second-year students.
General Pathway
Required Courses and Credits
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| EDUC 2919 | Renewing Democracy in Communities and Schools | 3 |
| or INVS 2989 | Dialogue Across Difference | |
| EDUC 3013 | School and Society | 3 |
| LEAD 1002 | Becoming a Leader: Leadership & Community Engagement | 3 |
| Theoretical Foundations | ||
| EDUC 2500 | Strategies for Social Change | 3 |
| INVS 3100 | Social Justice, Leadership and Community Engagement Internships | 3 |
| INVS/ETHN 3671 | People of Color and Social Movements | 3 |
| or INVS 4402 | Nonviolent Social Movements | |
| Applied Research | ||
| SOCY 2061 | Introduction to Social Statistics | 3 |
| or PSCI 2075 | Quantitative Research Methods | |
| or PSYC 2111 | Psychological Science I: Statistics | |
| EDUC 4150 | Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods | 3 |
| EDUC 4500 | Community-Based Research for Social Change | 3 |
| Learning in Community Settings | ||
| EDUC 2411 | Educational Psychology for Elementary Schools | 3-4 |
| or EDUC 4112 | Adolescent Development and Learning for Teachers | |
| or EDUC 4110 | Cultural Mentoring with Dual Language Learners | |
| LEAD 4501 | Leadership Capstone 1 | 3 |
| LEAD 4502 | Leadership Capstone 2 | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours | 35-36 | |
Multicultural Leadership Scholars Pathway
Required Courses and Credits
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| EDUC 2919 | Renewing Democracy in Communities and Schools | 3 |
| or INVS 2989 | Dialogue Across Difference | |
| EDUC 3013 | School and Society | 3 |
| LEAD 1001 | Becoming a Leader: Multicultural Leadership Scholars | 3 |
| Theoretical Foundations | ||
| LEAD 2410 | Dynamics of Power, Privilege, Oppression and Empowerment in Leadership | 3 |
| INVS 3100 | Social Justice, Leadership and Community Engagement Internships | 3 |
| INVS/ETHN 3671 | People of Color and Social Movements | 3 |
| or INVS 4402 | Nonviolent Social Movements | |
| Applied Research | ||
| SOCY 2061 | Introduction to Social Statistics | 3 |
| or PSCI 2075 | Quantitative Research Methods | |
| or PSYC 2111 | Psychological Science I: Statistics | |
| EDUC 4150 | Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods | 3 |
| EDUC 4500 | Community-Based Research for Social Change | 3 |
| Learning in Community Settings | ||
| EDUC 2411 | Educational Psychology for Elementary Schools | 3-4 |
| or EDUC 4112 | Adolescent Development and Learning for Teachers | |
| or EDUC 4110 | Cultural Mentoring with Dual Language Learners | |
| LEAD 4501 | Leadership Capstone 1 | 3 |
| LEAD 4502 | Leadership Capstone 2 | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours | 35-36 | |
INVST Community Studies Pathway
Required Courses and Credits
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| EDUC 2919 | Renewing Democracy in Communities and Schools | 3 |
| or INVS 2989 | Dialogue Across Difference | |
| EDUC 3013 | School and Society | 3 |
| Theoretical Foundations | ||
| INVS 3100 | Social Justice, Leadership and Community Engagement Internships | 3 |
| INVS/WGST 3302 | Facilitating Peaceful Community Change | 3 |
| INVS/ETHN 3671 | People of Color and Social Movements | 3 |
| Applied Research | ||
| SOCY 2061 | Introduction to Social Statistics | 3 |
| or PSCI 2075 | Quantitative Research Methods | |
| or PSYC 2111 | Psychological Science I: Statistics | |
| EDUC 4150 | Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods | 3 |
| EDUC 4500 | Community-Based Research for Social Change | 3 |
| Learning in Community Settings | ||
| INVS 3931 | The Community Leadership Internship, Part 1 | 3 |
| INVS 3932 | Community Leadership Internship, Part 2 | 3 |
| INVS 4931 | Community Leadership in Action, Part 1 | 3 |
| INVS 4932 | Community Leadership in Action, Part 2 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 36 | |
General Education Requirements
The School of Education General Education (Gen Ed) curriculum consists of 40 credits in three basic categories of requirements: Skills, Distribution and Diversity. Most of the Gen Ed requirements will be fulfilled by Elementary major or content area requirements, with the exception of the Global Perspective Diversity requirement. Courses taken to fulfill Literature & Arts or World History for the Elementary Content Area requirements may also fulfill the Global Perspective Diversity requirement. Courses taken to fulfill the Skills requirements may not also count towards the Distribution requirements. Please contact the School of Education for details.
- Skills requirement: 9 credits (6 Written Communication, 3 Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematical Skills, plus a third-level proficiency in a World/Foreign Language) Skills)
- Distribution requirement: 31 credits (12 Arts & Humanities, 12 Social Sciences, 7 Natural Sciences and Natural Sciences lab)
- Diversity requirement: 0–3 credits
The world language graduation requirement for the School of Education’s undergraduate BA programs is third-level proficiency in a single modern or classical language (other than English). Students may fulfill this requirement by:
- Successfully completing three years of high school in a single language, or
- Earning AP or IB credit for an appropriate third-semester college-level course that is part of a three-course sequence, or
- Passing, with a C- or better, an appropriate third-semester college-level course that is part of a three-course sequence, or
- Passing a CU Boulder approved language proficiency examination at third-level proficiency.
The World/Foreign Language area of the Skills requirement aligns with the School of Education's commitment to prepare graduates who are well equipped to serve the needs of all students and advocate for educational equity and justice in our increasingly diverse communities and schools. Diversity requirement: 0–3 credits
Four-Year Plan of Study
With a second degree in the College of Arts & Sciences fulfilling the Secondary Area of Study
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credit Hours | |
| LEAD 1002 | Becoming a Leader: Leadership & Community Engagement | 3 |
| Gen Ed (Natural Science with a lab is recommended) | 4 | |
| Arts and Science Degree Major Course | 3 | |
| Arts and Science Degree Major Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| EDUC 2500 | Strategies for Social Change | 3 |
| EDUC 3013 | School and Society | 3 |
| Arts and Science Degree Major Course | 3 | |
| Gen Ed (Natural Science is recommended) | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| INVS 2989 | Dialogue Across Difference | 3 |
| INVS 3100 | Social Justice, Leadership and Community Engagement Internships | 3-4 |
| Arts and Science Degree Major Course | 3 | |
| Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15-16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SOCY 2061 | Introduction to Social Statistics | 3 |
| Arts and Science Degree Major Course | 3 | |
| Arts and Science Degree Major Course | 3 | |
| Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| EDUC 4112 | Adolescent Development and Learning for Teachers | 3 |
| Arts and Science Degree Major Course | 3 | |
| Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| EDUC 4150 | Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods | 3 |
| INVS 4402 | Nonviolent Social Movements | 3 |
| Arts and Science Degree Major Course | 3 | |
| Arts and Science Degree Major Course | 3 | |
| Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 18 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| LEAD 4501 | Leadership Capstone 1 | 3 |
| EDUC 4500 | Community-Based Research for Social Change | 3 |
| Arts and Science Degree Major Course | 3 | |
| Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| LEAD 4502 | Leadership Capstone 2 | 2 |
| Arts and Science Degree Major Course | 3 | |
| Arts and Science Degree Major Course | 3 | |
| Gen Ed | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 123-124 | |
Learning Outcomes
Learning goals can be understood in terms of five strands of expertise. Upon successfully completing the degree program, students will be able to:
- Understand the theoretical foundations of leadership and community engagement.
- Developed expertise in applied research and evaluation.
- Developed understanding of learning and identity formation in community settings.
- Developed their identity as a community leader through academic study, action and reflection.
- Developed disciplinary expertise through a second major. Apply knowledge, skills and dispositions into capstone projects.