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STUDENTS

Connect Learning with Community听

Community-engaged learning gives CSUDH students opportunities to connect what they learn in class with real-world experiences, community needs, research, service, and professional development.听

Through CETR, students can take community-engaged courses, work with community partners,听participate听in research, build professional and civic skills, and explore service opportunities such as College Corps.听

Find Community-Engaged Learning Opportunities听

Explore College Corps View Event & Opportunities

WHY听COMMUNITY-ENGAGED LEARNING?听

Learn by Doing听

Community-Engaged Learning (CEL) connects academic learning with meaningful experiences in the community.听

Depending on the course, students may work with community organizations,听participate听in service, conduct community-based research, contribute to projects, or engage with real-world issues connected to what they are studying.听

These experiences can help students:听

• Apply classroom learning in real-world settings.听

• Build confidence and听critical-thinking听skills.听

• Develop communication, teamwork, and professional skills.听

• Learn from community knowledge and experience.听

• Build relationships with community organizations and professionals.听

• Explore career and research interests.听
• Strengthen civic awareness and responsibility.听

A Student Perspective听听

CSUDH student Samantha Gutierrez describes community-engaged learning as an opportunity to connect knowledge from the classroom with hands-on work in surrounding communities.听

She highlights several important parts of the experience: civic engagement, ethical and collaborative relationships with community members,听new approaches听to research, and reflection on one's role within a community.听

In the words of student Samantha Gutierrez:

鈥淐ommunity engaged learning courses allow students to gain an understanding about community engaged research/ learning within a classroom while being able to incorporate that knowledge into hands on work with CSUDH鈥檚 surrounding community. Although courses may differ, every class has core values that are central to community engagement. Students will be gaining hands on experiences in civic engagement, building ethical and collaborative relationships with community members, challenged to do research in a non-normative academic way, and through reflections they will further understand their positionality within the community space.鈥�

From the Classroom to the Community听听

In a CSUDH Women's Studies course focused on gender justice organizing, students applied classroom learning through a partnership with the听颁辞尘辫迟辞苍听骋.滨搁尝厂听颁濒耻产.听

Students helped design and听facilitate听workshops for middle- and high-school students while connecting their community experience with course concepts and reflection.听

The experience also introduced students to a collaborative approach to research in which community members contribute knowledge and help shape the work.听

The existing student-page example describes WMS 395 as connecting gender and social-justice coursework with activism on campus and in the surrounding community.听

Explore Community Partnerships

What Does a Community-Engaged Course Look Like?听

Community-engaged courses connect academic learning with activities involving community organizations, issues, or research.听

Experiences vary by course. Students might:听

• Work alongside a nonprofit, school, public agency, business, or community organization.听

• Apply course concepts to a community project.听

• Participate in service connected to course learning.听

• Conduct research with or alongside community members.听

• Reflect on the relationship between course material and community experience.听

How do I find CEL Courses?

Beginning Fall 2026, Community-Engaged Learning courses are identified in the CSUDH academic course catalog to make them easier for students to find when selecting courses.听

Two Types of Community-Engaged Learning听

COLLEGE CORPS听听

Serve Today. Lead Tomorrow.听

College Corps gives students an opportunity to serve with community organizations while building leadership and professional skills and receiving financial support for their education.听

Fellows work with organizations addressing areas such as:听

• Early childhood education.听

• K鈥�12 education.听

• Food insecurity.听

• Climate action.听

College Corps also provides hands-on training, networking, career development, and faculty mentorship. The current CETR materials describe these opportunities alongside financial support and academic credit.听

Learn About College Corps

STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES听

Get Involved Beyond the Classroom

CETR opportunities for students may include community-engaged projects, research, events, service, fellowships, and other ways to connect with faculty and community partners.

GETTING TO YOUR COMMUNITY SITE听

Transportation Options听

Students participating in community-engaged courses or research may need to travel to off-campus community sites. Several transportation options may be available.听