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POL 311 Community Organizing and Social Action

This course examines the theories, current trends and practical dimensions of how people with common goals and grievances organize themselves to effect change. Topics include the nature of community organizing, organizing models from a variety of cultural and historic traditions, practical approaches to identifying issues, bringing constituencies together and nurturing grass roots leadership, and choosing and implementing effective strategies and tactics. Case studies include organizing projects in communities of race and ethnicity, social class and gender.

Prerequisites

Special information

Overlap: SOC 311 Community Organizing and Social Action.
4 Undergraduate credits

Effective May 10, 2004 to present

Meets graduation requirements for

Learning outcomes

General

  • Understand the basic concepts of community organizing as a tradition and contemporary practice.
  • Critically analyze the relationship between community organizing and other approaches to public participation at an upper division college level.
  • Evaluate both the practical and deeper value dimensions of various approaches to community organizing approaches at an upper division college level.
  • Write clearly, effectively and analytically at a level consistent with upper division college standards.

Minnesota Transfer Curriculum

Goal 5: History and the Social and Behavioral Sciences

  • Employ the methods and data that historians and social and behavioral scientists use to investigate the human condition.
  • Examine social institutions and processes across a range of historical periods and cultures.
  • Use and critique alternative explanatory systems or theories.
  • Develop and communicate alternative explanations or solutions for contemporary social issues.

Goal 9: Ethical and Civic Responsibility

  • Examine, articulate, and apply their own ethical views.
  • Understand and apply core concepts (e.g. politics, rights and obligations, justice, liberty) to specific issues.
  • Analyze and reflect on the ethical dimensions of legal, social, and scientific issues.
  • Recognize the diversity of political motivations and interests of others.
  • Identify ways to exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

Spring 2026

Section Title Instructor books eservices
01 Community Organizing and Social Action Snyder, David Reuben Books for POL-311-01 Spring 2026 Course details for POL-311-01 Spring 2026