Programs
Programs
A.I.M for Law seeks to inspire and motivate college students from under-represented or economically disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue a legal education through mentorship and exposure to the legal profession. Students learn how to apply for law school and develop the skills necessary to succeed once admitted.
The City Heights Safety Initiative is designed to empower residents of San Diego’s City Heights neighborhood to create their own sustainable block by block structure to reduce crime and promote safety.
The Community Development (CD) focus in the SDSU School of Social Work provides deeper educational experiences for MSW students more interested in macro (rather than individual/clinical) practice. In addition to their coursework, CD students complete internships in nontraditional organizations and agencies, such as at libraries, neighborhood associations, environmental agencies, and theatres. In the CD track, students are evaluated based on their abilities to develop community projects that benefit residents and further the missions of the organizations with whom they are interning.
The Costa Rican Organizing Project (SW 496) provides an overview of grass-roots community organizing methods and offers intense community organizing experience in a rural international setting. The course is designed to foster a deep connection between students and developing communities in Costa Rica and to inspire students to become active participants in public service initiatives. Students spend five weeks in Costa Rica volunteering with the nonprofit organization CEPIA and practicing Consensus Organizing in the rural town of Huacas, in the Guanacaste province.
Rise Up helps foster youth attain college degrees and prepare to become successful adults. Students enroll in Social Work 120: Introduction to Social Work at SDSU and upon completion receive three college and three high school credits. The curriculum material covers a range of social issues, including access to health care, public education, governmental aid programs, cycle of poverty, unemployment, and others. Students also participate in 40 hours of community service that incorporate the premise of community-based learning. Students are then assisted throughout their senior years in researching colleges, applying for scholarships and financial aid, and emancipating from the foster care system successfully.
Step Up seeks to engage, educate and empower underserved high school juniors to achieve a post-secondary education and develop the practical skills needed to solve social problems in their neighborhoods. Step-Up students enroll in Social Work 120: Introduction to Social Work at SDSU and complete 40 hours of community service in their neighborhoods. The community service is designed to allow students to put into practice the skills learned in the classroom and learn to see themselves as leaders of their communities.
Community Development
The Community Development (CD) focus in the SDSU School of Social Work provides deeper educational experiences for MSW students more interested in macro (rather than individual/clinical) practice. In addition to their coursework, CD students complete internships in nontraditional organizations and agencies, such as at libraries, neighborhood associations, environmental agencies, and theatres. In the CD track, students are evaluated based on their abilities to develop community projects that benefit residents and further the missions of the organizations with whom they are interning.