Value of an Undergraduate Certificate
Are you interested in enhancing your studies with an undergraduate certificate? In addition to major areas of study, UTSA offers a variety of programs that provide valuable contributions to students' academic careers. While pursuing a certificate, students have the opportunity to explore personal interests and passions outside of their major program or complement their current major, helping them further stand out in the job market.
Why Pursue a Certificate in Community Engaged Leadership?
If you are passionate about making the word a better place, it starts in our communities. The certificate in Community Engaged Leadership introduces students to the opportunities and challenges facing our cities and communities and the leadership skills needed to make an impact. Service learning and engaged leadership give students hands-on experience working with community and the skills to reflect, analyze situations and determine how to make improvements while navigating city and community policies and respecting social and cultural norms.
Apply Degree Courses to Your Certificate
One of the added benefits of the Certificate in Community Engaged Leadership is the ability to apply courses from your undergraduate major to this program with the addition of a capstone course. Interested students should speak to their undergraduate advisor of record to discuss approval and program requirements.
Service-Learning Opportunities
Work-study eligible students who are interested in this certificate program should look into applying for the Rowdy Corps Community Scholars program managed by the Center for Civic and Community-Engaged Leadership . This program places work-study students at local nonprofits and public service agencies across the city in a variety of capacities, allowing students to be paid while gaining professional experience working alongside social sector professionals. Students can align the scope of work at their designated site with the coursework in their respective disciplines and, with professor approval, can fulfill a 3-hour service-learning credit that counts toward the Certificate in Community Engaged Leadership.
What you’ll study
Students must complete a total of 15 hours, which includes a 3-hour required course – (UTSA Advanced Engagement (UCS 4013) and 12 Service-Learning designated coursework hours in any discipline.
- 1 required course: UTSA Advanced Engagement (UCS 4013) provides students with experiential and meaningful community-based learning opportunities in a real-world context to enrich the learning experience, develop skills of civic engagement/social responsibility and work alongside community partners/leaders to address community-identified priorities. Students will learn theories and best practices from community-based initiatives across academic disciplines. Student will be required to work with a community partner to design, apply, reflect, evaluate and present the service-learning project. Capstone projects will be presented at either the Civic Engagement Summit, UTSA Undergraduate Research Showcase or other approved event.
- 12 credit hours of courses with a service-learning component. For example, classes with the “Service Learning Course” attribution in the class schedule count toward this certificate. Or any other courses, where your faculty member can verify the service/community-engaged learning criteria. Examples include:
- Academic Inquiry & Scholarship (AIS) courses required for first-year students
- First Year EPICS engineering course
- Honors Service course
- Independent research or study
Participating in the Rowdy Corps Community Scholars program, UTSA Citymester program and other opportunities offered through the Center for Civic and Community-Engaged Leadership, Honors College or a student’s major college may count towards this certificate.
Adding a Certificate
Add On to Your Major - recommended path
Currently enrolled in a bachelor's degree program and looking to enhance your degree with an undergraduate certificate? Contact the Director of Center for Civic and Community-Engaged Learning listed below, and request permission to enter into the program. Approval to enter into a certificate program must be granted by the Director of Center for Civic and Community-Engaged Learning and the Dean of University College.
Not currently pursuing an undergraduate degree at UTSA but interested in an undergraduate certificate program? You can apply as a non-degree seeking student. Prospective students must apply for admission to UTSA as non-degree seeking and indicate on their application their interest in an undergraduate certificate. Prospective students are required to meet UTSA's admission requirements for special students at the undergraduate level. Once admitted, students can contact the Director of Center for Civic and Community-Engaged Learning listed below, and request permission to enter into their desired program. Approval to enter into a certificate program must be granted by the Director of Center for Civic and Community-Engaged Learning and the Dean of University College.
Director of Center for Civic and Community-Engaged Learning
Maria Alejandro
210-458-2658
maria.alejandro@utsa.edu
