Course Description
[This course qualifies for the Graduate Portfolio Program in Nonprofit Studies]
Social movements are critical to achieving and sustaining policy change. They raise public awareness and frame debates about public affairs issues. They also move hearts and minds in ways that mobilize large numbers of people to get involved in many forms of democratic action by building and amplifying political pressure that is often needed for policy change.
Unfamiliar to many, however, is how ‘funders’ are often a hidden part of social movement work.
This course introduces students to the roles that various types of funders (governmental, corporate, and/or philanthropic) play in public affairs that relate specifically to theories and practices of social movement-oriented activities in the U.S. Some attention will be paid to social movements outside the U.S., depending on student interest.
The teaching philosophy and instructional method for this course is active/student-centered and inquiry-based learning. In this teaching and learning approach, sometimes referred to as a flipped classroom, the instructor plays a facilitative role in supporting critical thinking, inquiry-based, participatory, and collaborate/peer learning. The seminar format incorporates a variety of learning activities that may include mini lectures, regular reading/writing assignments, guest speakers, short investigative assignments, films, academic and non-academic readings, and most notably, active class discussions.