CASC-BA Distribution Requirements

The Community Action and Social Change (CASC) Bachelor of Arts prepares students to understand complex social issues, engage diverse perspectives, and apply interdisciplinary research, knowledge, and skills to advance meaningful change in communities and organizations. CASC-BA students are expected to develop strong leadership skills for community engagement, organizational leadership, and collaborative social change.

A broad academic foundation is essential to the CASC educational experience. Students will develop an understanding of the concepts, perspectives, and methods that shape different disciplines and learn to integrate these approaches when examining social problems and developing strategies for community action and social change.

Courses used to fulfill the CASC-BA Distribution Requirements are organized across six areas of learning, which include 18 distribution credits:

  • First Year Writing (3 credits)
  • Quantitative/Analytical Reasoning (3 credits)
  • Global Perspectives (3 credits)
  • Human Context in Environment (3 credits)
  • Grand Challenges in Society (3 credits)
  • Arts & Creativity (3 credits)

A foreign language is not required for this major.

CASC recognizes that many contemporary social issues cross disciplinary boundaries; therefore, interdisciplinary coursework may also contribute to the breadth of a student's education. Each area offers a distinct way of understanding individuals, communities, families, organizations, institutions, and global societies.

For students applying from the Ann Arbor Campus and who have already started their LSA distribution requirements, the CASC-BA requirements align well with courses available to first- and second-year students.

All candidates for the CASC Bachelor of Arts must complete all Distribution Requirements outside of the CASC major requirements. The purpose of this requirement is to ensure that CASC students develop a broad intellectual foundation that complements their focused study of community action and social change. Together, these requirements ensure that CASC students engage with multiple ways of knowing and develop the intellectual flexibility necessary to understand and respond to complex social challenges.

General Policies for the CASC BA Distribution Requirement

Requirements may include:

  1. Courses completed outside the School of Social Work that are not being used to fulfill CASC major requirements.
  2. Courses elected pass/fail, credit/no credit, or through another approved non-graded pattern.
  3. Eligible transfer credit from other schools and colleges of the University of Michigan or other accredited institutions, subject to applicable undergraduate transfer-credit policies.
  4. Courses used to satisfy other University or School requirements when those courses are outside the CASC major and are otherwise eligible for distribution credit.

Requirements may not include:

  1. Courses required for the CASC major.
  2. Courses being used to satisfy required CASC major electives or designated pathway requirements.
  3. Required cognates or other courses specifically identified as part of the CASC major curriculum.
  4. Advanced Placement credits.