Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

May be applied toward Associate Degrees here. Credits from this course will generally transfer to other institutions as electives only. Students should consult with a PCC academic advisor and/or other institutions regarding transfer and application of credit to other institutions.

• To become an active participant in civic activities, while developing critical thinking skills with regards to controversial issues that include making personal value judgments, while demonstrating empathy for other people and differing points of view.
• To achieve Outcome "Objectives" via "Activities" mutually agreed upon by the student, "Instructor Specialist", "Cooperative Education Specialist", and "Employer" or Field Supervisor.
• To engage in lifelong learning that includes effective listening, observation, and reading thereby encouraging stimulating conversations in future settings -- like with a stranger at a bus stop.

At the beginning of the course, the instructor will come to an agreement with the individual student regarding criteria for assigning grades. Credits will normally be evaluated on a "Pass/No Pass" basis with decisive weight given to the "Employer" or Field Supervisor's evaluation of the student's performance.  If the student desires an "A-F" grade, the criteria for this must be agreed upon by both instructor and student. The SAC assumes that instructors may assess student learning by using some combination of formative assessment tools which may integrate the following types of tasks to assess a student's achievement of outcomes in a fair, comprehensive, and holistic manner:
 

• Short analytical or application papers on specific concepts, issues, or themes.
• Term or research papers, using a variety of research strategies.
• Oral presentations resulting from research, analysis, and critical evaluation.
• Response papers or journals reflecting on the student's experiences relating to their placement.

After completing this course, the student should have a basic understanding of:

• the political issue(s) associated with their field placement and how interpersonal relationships and organizational structures may affect the successful achievement of policy outcomes.
• how one's own values and actions impact what is seen as right and wrong, good and bad, and the prospects for a future to unfold that is more to one's liking.

Competencies and Skills:
 

• Develop and practice active citizenship skills in a manner consistent with the competencies ("Objectives") mutually agreed upon by the student, "Instructor Specialist", "Cooperative Education Specialist", and "Employer" or Field Supervisor.