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

Dual Degree

This major requires students to get a dual degree by completing a second degree in the College of Arts and Sciences.

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
Core Requirements
EDUC 2050Step Up to Social Justice Teaching1
EDUC 2919Renewing Democracy in Communities and Schools3
or INVS 2989 Dialogue Across Difference
EDUC 3013School and Society3
LEAD 1002Becoming a Leader: Leadership & Community Engagement3
Theoretical Foundations
EDUC 2500Strategies for Social Change3
INVS 3100Social Justice, Leadership and Community Engagement Internships3
INVS/ETHN 3671People of Color and Social Movements3
or INVS 4402 Nonviolent Social Movements
Applied Research
SOCY 2061Introduction to Social Statistics3
or PSCI 2075 Quantitative Research Methods
or PSYC 2111 Psychological Science I: Statistics
EDUC 4150Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods3
EDUC 4500Community-Based Research for Social Change3
Learning in Community Settings
EDUC 2411Educational Psychology for Elementary Schools3-4
or EDUC 4112 Adolescent Development and Learning for Teachers
or EDUC 4110 Cultural Mentoring with Dual Language Learners
LEAD 4501Leadership Capstone 13
LEAD 4502Leadership Capstone 22
Total Credit Hours36-37

Multicultural Leadership Scholars Pathway

Required Courses and Credits
Core Requirements
EDUC 2919Renewing Democracy in Communities and Schools3
or INVS 2989 Dialogue Across Difference
EDUC 3013School and Society3
LEAD 1001Becoming a Leader: Multicultural Leadership Scholars3
Theoretical Foundations
LEAD 2410Dynamics of Power, Privilege, Oppression and Empowerment in Leadership3
INVS 3100Social Justice, Leadership and Community Engagement Internships3
INVS/ETHN 3671People of Color and Social Movements3
or INVS 4402 Nonviolent Social Movements
Applied Research
SOCY 2061Introduction to Social Statistics3
or PSCI 2075 Quantitative Research Methods
or PSYC 2111 Psychological Science I: Statistics
EDUC 4150Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods3
EDUC 4500Community-Based Research for Social Change3
Learning in Community Settings
EDUC 2411Educational Psychology for Elementary Schools3-4
or EDUC 4112 Adolescent Development and Learning for Teachers
or EDUC 4110 Cultural Mentoring with Dual Language Learners
LEAD 4501Leadership Capstone 13
LEAD 4502Leadership Capstone 22
Total Credit Hours35-36

INVST Community Studies Pathway

Required Courses and Credits
Core Requirements
EDUC 2919Renewing Democracy in Communities and Schools3
or INVS 2989 Dialogue Across Difference
EDUC 3013School and Society3
Theoretical Foundations
INVS 3100Social Justice, Leadership and Community Engagement Internships3
INVS/WGST 3302Facilitating Peaceful Community Change3
INVS/ETHN 3671People of Color and Social Movements3
Applied Research
SOCY 2061Introduction to Social Statistics3
or PSCI 2075 Quantitative Research Methods
or PSYC 2111 Psychological Science I: Statistics
EDUC 4150Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods3
EDUC 4500Community-Based Research for Social Change3
Learning in Community Settings
INVS 3931The Community Leadership Internship, Part 13
INVS 3932Community Leadership Internship, Part 23
INVS 4931Community Leadership in Action, Part 13
INVS 4932Community Leadership in Action, Part 23
Total Credit Hours36

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 
  • Earing 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

Leadership & Community Engagement students are required to obtain a dual degree in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), and thus must fulfill the A&S Gen Ed requirements in addition to the School of Education Gen Ed requirements.

For a complete explanation of the Gen Ed requirements, please see the College of Arts and Sciences' General Education requirements in the catalog.

Four-Year Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Fall SemesterCredit 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 Hours16
Spring Semester
EDUC 2050 Step Up to Social Justice Teaching 1
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 Hours16
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 Hours15-16
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 Hours15
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 Hours15
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 Hours18
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 Hours15
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 Hours14
 Total Credit Hours124-125

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.