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Civic Learning Distinction

The University of Pittsburgh’s maturing commitment to strengthening communities through engaged scholarship is clear. Pitt now possesses a strong archipelago of administrative support, faculty expertise, and student interest in civic learning and community engagement. The Civic Learning Transcript Distinction provides students with a mechanism to gain recognition for the civic learning they conduct outside the classroom. Download the Civic Learning Transcript Distinction flyer.

Enroll now!

Students can declare their intention to pursue the Civic Learning Distinction at any point in their undergraduate career. Follow these steps to declare:

  1. Visit the Catalog of Opportunities website or access the OCC through myPitt.
  2. Log in to the Catalog using your University of Pittsburgh user name and password.
  3. Select Catalog of Opportunities dashboard on the top left corner.
  4. Search in the activities tab: Civic Learning Distinction Declaration.
  5. Complete the declaration form.  

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Courses 

Relevant courses will introduce students to the core principles of civic learning and engagement, and provide them with the skills needed for ethical, impactful, and engaged work. Students need to complete 3 courses for the distinction: 

  • Six (6) academic credits from Civic Learning courses: 1) Introduction to Urban Studies (URBNST 0010); 2) any other Civic Learning course
  • Three (3) academic credits from a Civic Learning + Engagement course

High Impact Activities (Minimum of 3 activities)

These activities should enrich the student’s academic pursuits and provide opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills to pressing civic challenges. Please confirm your High Impact Activities with the PittServes Civic and Community Advising Program Manager. Each of the three activities must come from a different category. Activity categories include: 

  • Completion of the OCC Civic and Social Engagement goal area
  • Leadership role in a student organization that reflects a civic learning outcome (other community groups will be considered with approval by the Manager of Advising)
  • A civic-learning related internship or fellowship
  • A civic-learning research project or other significant research experience (i.e., B.Phil)
  • A civic-learning related study abroad or alternative break experience
  • Participation in the Civic Learning-Living Community

Reflection Essay

Students should reflect on and share how the above courses and activities collectively contributed to their overall personal and professional development in a 1,500- to 2,000-word reflective essay. Students should provide examples of how these experiences enabled them to apply academic knowledge and skills to important issues that affect the civic life of a community

These activities should enrich the student’s academic pursuits and provide opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills to pressing civic challenges. Please confirm your High Impact Activities with the PittServes Civic and Community Advising Program Manager. Each of the three activities must come from a different category. Activity categories include:

  • Completion of the OCC Civic and Social Engagement goal area.
  • Leadership role in a student organization that reflects a civic learning outcome (other community groups will be considered with approval by the Manager of Advising).
  • A civic-learning related internship or fellowship.
  • A civic-learning research project or other significant research experience (i.e. B.Phil).
  • A civic-learning related study abroad or alternative break experience. f) Participation in the Civic Learning-Living Community.

Questions?