Ball State's Center for Economic and Civic Learning (CECL) is excited to announce the launch of new thematic pathways within the Civic Studies Minor, giving students clear options to connect civic learning to their academic interests and career goals.
Open to all undergraduate students, the Civic Studies Minor offers a flexible, interdisciplinary approach to exploring democracy, leadership, ethics, and community engagement. The new pathway model helps students design a purposeful course plan while maintaining the freedom to tailor the minor around any major.
Students may use pathways as an advising guide, not a requirement. The pathways highlight curated course combinations across disciplines and professional interests.
All students begin with one core course --HONR 390:Citizenship, Community, and Leadership (open to all BSU students) or CVIC 200-- and then complete approved electives across colleges. The minor concludes with a capstone civic project or reflection that brings coursework and civic identity together through applied learning.
The Civic Studies Minor prepares students for careers in education, law, nonprofit leadership, journalism, advocacy, public service, and policy. Students gain practical experience, ethical reasoning skills, and a deeper understanding of what it means to participate meaningfully in democratic life.
There are no prerequisites, and students may begin the minor at any stage in their studies.
Students can explore program details on the Civic Studies Minor website, and submit an interest form to receive updates and advising guidance, and view the complete list of thematic pathways in the following PDF document.
Faculty whose courses reflect civic themes are encouraged to explore collaboration and cross-listing opportunities. The Civic Studies Minor is a university-wide effort rooted in interdisciplinary teaching and shared civic purpose.
For questions, contact Dr. David J. Roof, at djroof@bsu.edu.
Civic Leadership & Public Problem-Solving
Who this pathway serves: Political Science, Public Affairs, Business, Management, Organizational Communication, Social Work, Nonprofit/Philanthropy, and students preparing for leadership roles in organizations and communities.
Required core (3 credits), One of the following: HONR 390 or CVIC 200.
Recommended electives (select 15 credits from courses such as)
- EDHI 102 – Introduction to Students as Leaders
- COMM 310 – Communicating Democracy
- POLS 130 – American National Government
- POLS 337 – State and Local Politics
- PLAN 430 – Housing and Community Development
- EDST 100 – Introduction to Education Systems and Policy
- PHIL 202 – Ethics
Law, Justice & Public Safety
Who this pathway serves: Criminal Justice and Criminology, Pre-Law, Sociology, Psychology, Social Work, Philosophy, Political Science, and students interested in courts, policing, human rights, and public safety.
Required core (3 credits): One of the following: HONR 390 or CVIC 200.
Recommended electives (select 15 credits from courses such as)
- POLS 140 – Introduction to Law
- CJC 211 – Race, Gender, and Justice
- CJC 229 – Decision-Making and Ethics in Criminal Justice
- CJC 333 – Policing in a Free and Diverse Society
- POLS 491 – Political Violence and Human Rights
- PHIL 203 – Social Philosophy
- POLS 270 – Political Theory
Media, Communication & Democracy
Who this pathway serves: Journalism, Media and Telecommunications, Communication Studies, Public Relations, Marketing, English, Political Science, and students interested in public opinion and political communication.
Required core (3 credits): One of the following: HONR 390 or CVIC 200.
Recommended electives (select 15 credits from courses such as)
- JOUR 101 – Media and Society
- COMM 310 – Communicating Democracy
- COMM 322 – Communication and Popular Culture
- COMM 404 – Political Communication
- POLS 375 – Media and Politics
- GEOG 121 – Geography, Culture, and Diversity
- PHIL 240 – Society, Discipline, and Control
Note: Focuses on how communication shapes civic identities, participation, and democratic debate. Ideal for students who want to work at the intersection of media and public life.
Education, Equal Opportunity & Democracy
Who this pathway serves:: Elementary and Secondary Education, Social Studies Education, Special Education, Educational Studies, Sociology, History, and students interested in educational policy, curriculum, and youth development.
Required core (3 credits): One of the following: HONR 390 or CVIC 200.
(Students in this pathway are strongly encouraged to take EDEL 100 or EDST 100 as part of their plan, and, when appropriate, as an approved core substitute.)
Recommended electives (select 15 credits from courses such as)
- EDEL 100 – Education in a Democratic Society
- EDST 100 – Introduction to Education Systems and Policy
- EDFO 420 – Social, Historical, and Philosophical Foundations of Education
- EDTE 370 – Technology Policy and Ethics
- HIST 202 – United States History, 1877 to the Present
- HIST 215 – Women in American History
- SOC 235 – Sociology of Gender
- PHIL 215 – Philosophy of Race
Advising note: Highlights the role of schools and educators in sustaining democracy, advancing equity, and preparing young people for civic life. Valuable for future teachers and for students interested in education policy or community-based education work.
Environment, Place & Our Civic Future
Who this pathway serves: Natural Resources and Environmental Management, Geography, Urban Planning, Architecture/Planning, Sustainability, Economics, and students interested in place-making, environmental justice, and community development.
Required core (3 credits): One of the following: HONR 390 or CVIC 200.
Recommended electives (select 15 credits from courses such as)
- NREM 371 – Outdoor Recreation and Society
- NREM 390 – Honors Colloquium in Natural Resources
- GEOG 121 – Geography, Culture, and Diversity
- GEOG 434 – Maps, Environment, and Society
- PHIL 230 – Environmental Ethics
- PLAN 430 – Housing and Community Development
- ECON 310 – American Economic History and Development
Note: Connects environmental issues, land use, and spatial justice to questions of democracy, participation, and community resilience.
Pluralism, Religion & Civic Identity
Who this pathway serves: Religious Studies, Philosophy, Sociology, History, Women’s and Gender Studies, Political Science, and students interested in interfaith work, identity, diversity, and pluralism in democracy.
Required Core (3 credits), one of the following: HONR 390 or CVIC 200.
(Students in this pathway are strong candidates for the foundational-course exception using RELS 110 or EDST 100, with the required Civic Studies framing assignment.)
Recommended electives (select 15 credits from courses such as)
- RELS 110 – World Religions
- RELS 111 – Religion at Work
- RELS 285 – American Religious Diversity
- PHIL 215 – Philosophy of Race
- SOC 235 – Sociology of Gender
- POLS 474 – Women and Politics
- HIST 413 – Post–World War II America
- PHIL 202 – Ethics
Note: Explores how religious traditions, race, gender, and memory shape civic identities, conflict, cooperation, and the pursuit of justice in diverse democracies.