Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences › Students › Undergraduate Students › Experiential Learning › Community Engagement

Experiential Learning: Community Engagement

Community engagement opportunities allow you to make a meaningful contribution while enhancing your academic experience.

Dietrich College students are encouraged to get involved in the Pittsburgh community by connecting with nonprofit, civic and other agencies through courses, projects and activities that integrate academic learning while making a positive impact. This learning can occur both formally and informally, as long as the experience allows you to receive feedback and engage in critical reflection.

Co-Curricular Service

Co-curricular opportunities, like those offered through Student Leadership, Involvement, and Civic Engagement, also allow you to contribute to the community in meaningful ways. These experiences can help you gain skills and experiences that will be useful in the professional setting. They can also prepare you for future community engagement through structured service learning.

Community Engagement Fellowship Program

Connect your academic learning and goals to authentic engagement in the community for the purpose of social change. Fellows receive a one-time $3,000 community engaged learning grant.

CMU Prison Education Project (CMU PEP)

Travel by bus to and from a nearby prison once a week to learn alongside incarcerated students. Each course provides full credit and follows a regular CMU curriculum.

Service Learning

Engage in community service that directly connects with the academic content of a class. The Gelfand Center provides a list of service learning courses, as does the Department of Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics, including an Alternative Break Project.