The Academic Experience
The Honors Changemaker Scholars Program is a 25-credit program that helps students develop the knowledge, skills, networks, and mindsets that equip them to become engaged members of their communities and enact positive social changes in them. By combining a unique honors curriculum with co-curricular and experiential learning opportunities, the program encourages students to develop a deeper understanding of social problems and to work collaboratively with community partners to develop innovative approaches to problems in the Appalachian Highlands.
The Changemaker Scholars program curriculum includes courses in changemaking, service-learning, and grant writing, as well as a capstone project. Students in the program complete:
- The Range program, a 7-semester sequence of 1-credit seminars focused on Global Challenges and Purposeful Work.
- An 18 credit hour minor in Changemaking that includes the courses below:
- CHNG 1008 (3 credits): Johnson City: From Exploration to Impact
- This course provides students structured explorations of Johnson City through direct observations of select sites, mapping exercises, writing assignments, interviews, discussions, and readings. This serves as a foundation for students to understand better the places in which their changemaking efforts will be directed, to connect and network with local leaders and changemakers, and to identify the complex challenges facing Johnson City and the region.
- CHNG 1908 (3 credits): Introduction to Changemaking and Social Innovation
- This course will introduce students to the concept of changemaking, acquaint them with historical and contemporary changemakers, and begin to develop in them the mindset and skills to enact positive social change. The course will be a seminar for students in the program, with class discussions, lectures, and presentations; written assignments; and individual and group projects.
- SRVL 1020 (3 credits): Introduction to Service-Learning
- This course allows the student to study the role of the volunteer and to be involved in service and learning in area agencies in order to provide a bridge between the campus and community populations. Integral components of class time include critical thinking, reflective practices as related to service, and honing the caring capacity of the individual. Requires a 30-hour individual service placement and a group project.
- TECW 4200 (3 credits): Introdcution to Grant and Proposal Writing
- This course will provide students in the program with knowledge and skills that are essential to grant and proposal writing, integral skills to the field and applicable across industries and sectors.
- UHON 3908 (3 credits): Honors Internship or UHON 4908 (3 credits): Honors Study Abroad.
- CHNG 4908 (3 credits): Changemaker Scholars Captstone
- This course will allow students to put what they have learned about changemaking into practice through the development of an innovative, collaborative, action-oriented project.
- CHNG 1008 (3 credits): Johnson City: From Exploration to Impact