Ball State’s Civic Studies Minor continues to grow.
The Center for Economic and Civic Learning (CECL) is pleased to announce the addition of new approved courses to the Civic Studies Minor, further strengthening its interdisciplinary reach and expanding opportunities for students across majors.
Open to all undergraduates, the Civic Studies Minor offers students the opportunity to examine democracy, leadership, ethics, justice, community engagement, and public life through coursework drawn from multiple colleges. With the addition of new courses in criminal justice, media studies, education, environmental studies, philosophy, political science, and religious studies, students now have even greater flexibility in shaping a minor that aligns with their interests and career goals.
All students begin with one foundational course - HONR 390: Citizenship, Community, and Leadership (open to all Ball State students) or CVIC 200 — before selecting approved electives across disciplines. The minor concludes with a capstone civic project or reflective experience that integrates coursework with applied civic learning. These additions reflect CECL’s commitment to building a university-wide civic curriculum that prepares students not only for careers, but for meaningful participation in democratic life.
Students pursuing the minor gain:
- Ethical reasoning and critical thinking skills
- Experience analyzing real-world public problems
- Exposure to diverse perspectives and civic debates
- Applied learning opportunities that connect classroom knowledge to community engagement
The Civic Studies Minor complements majors in education, business, law, public service, journalism, nonprofit leadership, environmental studies, and many other fields. There are no prerequisites, and students may declare the minor at any stage of their undergraduate career.
Faculty interested in affiliating courses with the minor or exploring cross-college collaboration are encouraged to connect with CECL.
For advising information, contact:
Dr. David J. Roof
Director, Center for Economic and Civic Learning
djroof@bsu.edu