• Examine the concepts of civic engagement, identity, political engagement, social engagement, democracy, government, social capital, federalism, voting processes, nonprofit organization, civil society, interest groups, mobilization, and lobbying.
• Explain why American democracy is unique and the contribution of social capital in American society.
• Examine cultural diversity in the US and contemporary concepts of multiculturalism, cultural relativism, and cultural subordination.
• Demonstrate an understanding of current and historical social and political movements based on culture, including race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual identity, and generational culture.
• Compare and contrast the types of political engagement and social engagement.
• Describe how the tensions in American society related to identity (i.e., gender, race, class, sexuality, religion, (dis)ability, employment type) have influenced political action.
• Explain the critical role that social service organizations play in American democracy.
• Analyze the role of culture and cultural elements in identity formation and associations with others of similar identity and the social contributions of these associations.
• Discuss how service work creates an identity and contributes to community building
• Evaluate your identity based on the categories discussed in this course and demonstrate how it influences your pathway to civic engagement.
• Create an action plan of community service based on your identity using at least one of the six public service pathways.
• Based on concepts such as identity, civic engagement, political engagement, social engagement, social capital, and mobilization, analyze a public service organization.

Video lectures, readings, discussions, live meetings with the instructor, quizzes. an ePortfolio, and a final paper.

This course appears on your transcript identically to how it appears on the transcript of an enrolled ASU student who has taken the course on one of ASU’s campuses.

This course satisfies 3 credit hours toward the Social-Behavioral (SB) and Cultural Diversity in the United States (C) General Studies requirement at Arizona State University. It is strongly encouraged that you consult with your institution of choice to determine how these credits will be applied to their degree requirements prior to transferring your credit.