Community Action & Social Change Major

Incoming students gather outside the School of Social Work during Seed Week orientation.

The Bachelor of Arts in Community Action and Social Change (CASC) major is designed for students who want to understand how change happens and develop the knowledge and skills to help create it. Through coursework, hands-on learning, and engagement with communities, students will explore leadership, advocacy, research, policy, community action, and social change while learning from faculty at the nation’s leading School of Social Work.

  • 60 credits of upper-level course requirements; 2 years full-time (in-person)
    • 28 required core credits
    • 12 required CASC elective credits:
      • 3 credits in Diversity;
      • 3 credits in Context;
      • 3 credits in Action; and
      • 3 additional cluster credits
    • 20 general electives

CASC Elective Clusters

(12 credits, minimum of 3 credits in each cluster)

  • Context Cluster: These electives provide students with a range of context, theories, and multidisciplinary perspectives to support understanding of various community action and social change efforts
  • Diversity Learning Cluster: These electives provide students with skills and learning opportunities to facilitate diversity learning to support community action and social change efforts
  • Action Service Learning Cluster: These electives provide students with opportunities to engage in service learning opportunities to promote community action and social change initiatives
  • Additional 3 credits: An additional 3 credits chosen from any cluster is also required to complete the minor

Note: Class substitutions may be submitted through the CASC Class Substitution Form. A decision of approval will be made within 2 weeks of submission.

How to Apply

The knowledge and skills developed in the CASC-BA Major will assist students in becoming grounded in community action, social justice, and social change values, while advancing their ability to demonstrate leadership, advocacy, research, ethical decision-making, and community engagement strategies. The major is interdisciplinary, and courses are designed to connect diverse perspectives and disciplines to help you better understand communities, organizations, and the world around you. The program aims to prepare to create change in communities, organizations, and beyond.

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