September 4, 2003 | Read Time: 2 minutes
College students and activism have long gone hand-in-hand. Now a San Francisco college is taking this association a step further by offering students a chance to major in social change.
The 30-year-old New College of California this month is introducing humanities-degree programs — both a bachelor’s and a master’s — with a concentration in activism and social change. Michael J. McAvoy, academic vice president at New College, says the programs combine social-change history and theory, along with hands-on work at nonprofit organizations.
The programs are based on the curriculum at Highlander Research and Education Center, formerly the Highlander Folk School, in New Market, Tenn.
Highlander, founded in 1932 with a mission of providing education and support to those fighting injustice, has been at the forefront of many social-change movements in the 20th century, such as the Southern labor movements of the 1930s and the civil-rights movement of the 1960s, Mr. McAvoy says. New College’s programs seek to keep the ideals of Highlander, “but offer them in an accredited, academic setting,” says Mr. McAvoy.
The bachelor’s program is appropriate for aspiring activists, according to Mr. McAvoy, while the graduate program is designed for those already in social-change careers. Both programs allow students to focus on a specific area, such as the environment, housing issues, or labor.
The yearlong bachelor’s program — students meet one weekend a month — combines elective classes, seminars, and workshops taught by activists with an opportunity to serve as an intern for a social-change organization. Undergraduate students need to complete at least 45 credits before they are admitted to the program.
The master’s program should take about three semesters to complete, the college estimates, and requires that participants gain experience in the activism field, such as by working at a local nonprofit organization. New College is coordinating with San Francisco nonprofit groups like California Peace Action, Coalition on Homelessness, and Food First to provide students with internship opportunities.
For more information on the college’s activism and social-change programs, contact the New College of California, 777 Valencia Street, San Francisco, Calif. 94110; (888) 437-3460; http://newcollege.edu/activismchange/actsocma.html; e-mail activism@newcollege.edu.
