CARE:
COMMUNITY ACTION RESEARCH EXPERIENCES - Leadership
for Good
Overview | How
does CARE work | Apply | FAQ
FAQ
What is the 3-credit preparation course like?
FAS/SOC 497/498 – Directed Study - Leadership, Value Conflicts,
and Collaboration in Public Life (3 credits) is designed to challenge
students to develop conceptual, interactional, and critical reflection
skills necessary for effective action in contexts in which people
often hold different and conflicting value positions. The reading
and writing load is demanding (with a weekly graduate level reading
and writing assignments) so that students can develop an in-depth
understanding of the issues, of their own and others’ positions,
and of the accommodations that are a necessary part of collaboration
and leadership. Students receive feedback on their writing and
participation. The course includes training in key interpersonal
skills for collaborating with organizations and a 20-hour service
project with a local community organization. In addition, students
will be exposed to the principles and practices of community-based
participatory research and will formulate a proposal for a possible
summer research project.
What is expected in the summer?
Students whose research projects are approved will register for
FAS/SOC 484 – CARE Research Internship (3-6 credits). Each
action research collaboration between students and community agencies
will have unique features. Depending on their arrangement with
their community organization, students are typically expected to
dedicate 150-240 hours over a 12 week period that combines action
research activities (e.g., interviewing people, collecting and
analyzing data) and some direct service work. Community based research
projects are as varied as organizations needs and students’ interests.
What is the student’s responsibility in developing and
organizing the summer community action research project?
Leadership involves the exercise of initiative. The instructor
will help students identify a variety of community agency contacts
who are interested in collaborating on action research projects
with students. However, students must provide the initiative to
develop the action research project collaboratively with the agency
partner and their faculty mentor. The structure and content of
the preparation course (e.g., the 20 hours of community service;
instruction in research project design and proposal preparation)
provides students with guidance in this process. Students also
receive instructor supervision, faculty mentor input, and peer
feedback.
What is the 3-credit capstone course like?
FAS/SOC 497/498 – Dynamic Leadership in Complex Systems
(3 credits) is designed to challenge students to integrate their
summer research project experiences with previously presented and
additional leadership theory and to move from critical reflection
on the personal and interpersonal dimensions of leadership to critical
reflection on the public dimension of leadership. In order to do
this, students prepare a multi-component portfolio of written pieces
that focus on social problem definition, problem analysis, policy
formulation, and needed leadership directions to facilitate changes
in social and political systems. The reading and writing load is
substantial in order to permit adequate understanding of the material.
The class format includes student presentations and encourages
vigorous discussion. Students also receive regular feedback on
their writing and participation.
How does the CARE program integrate with SSFD and Barrett Honors
program?
It is possible for SSFD and Barrett Honors students to integrate
participation in the CARE preparation course and capstone course
with the Honors thesis requirements of FAS/SOC 492/493. Students
who want more information on this should contact the Coordinator,
Dr. Larry Dumka, at larry.dumka@asu.edu or (480) 965-5797.
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