These are frequently asked questions about the Certificate in Civic Engagement and Social Change. If you have additional questions, please contact the program coordinator.
- Who is eligible to apply?
- May I still take courses for the CCESC if I am not part of the program?
- What other resources or opportunities are open to me as part of the program?
- What if I don’t yet know what I want my area of focus to be?
- Do I need to know what my specific experiences will be when I apply?
- May I change my plan for my courses and experiences after I am accepted into the program?
- I have already taken one of the electives prior to applying. Will it count towards my certificate requirements?
- How do I know if a course will count toward the certificate?
- I have already completed a relevant experience prior to applying. Will it count towards my certificate requirements?
- Do I have to take the capstone during the spring semester of my senior year?
Who is eligible to apply?
The Certificate in Civic Engagement and Social Change is open to undergraduate students currently enrolled at Duke University and is earned upon graduation in conjunction with their major degree. The deadline to apply is the end of the drop/add period in the fall semester of a student’s junior year.
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May I still take courses for the CESC Certificate if I am not part of the program?
The capstone course is restricted to students in the CESC program, but the electives and gateway courses are open to all Duke undergraduates. Be sure to check the individual course listings to determine if any courses have specific restrictions or pre-requisites.
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What other resources or opportunities are open to me as part of the program?
As a member of the Certificate in Civic Engagement and Social Change program, you will become part of a community of Duke students dedicated to the concepts of civic engagement and social change. Certificate students will also have individual advising, as well as special access to workshops, speakers, mentorship and networking opportunities.
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What if I don’t yet know what I want my area of focus to be?
You should apply to the certificate with a clear idea of your goals for the program as well as a general interest area on which you want to focus (i.e. education, public health, environment/conservation, etc.) through your courses and experiences. However, we understand that your plan may evolve as you progress through your undergraduate career and accumulate more experience.
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Do I need to know what my specific experiences will be when I apply?
You do not need to know what your specific experiences will be at the time you apply to the CCESC. However, you should be able to broadly identify the type of experiences you want to undertake as part of the certificate program and justify why they are a good fit for your overall pathway through the program.
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May I change my plan for my courses and experiences after I am accepted into the program?
You may change the selection and timing of your courses and experiences after you are accepted into the program, but the basic sequence of Gateway > Electives > Capstone must be followed. We understand that your plan may evolve as you progress through your undergraduate career and accumulate more experience. Regardless, the courses and experiences you end up completing must together form a cohesive pathway and coherent story. All changes must be submitted and reviewed by the student’s three-person faculty advisory committee.
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I have already taken one of the electives prior to applying. Will it count towards my certificate requirements?
No. The gateway must be completed prior to or taken concurrently with the electives. Because the ePortfolio is intended to capture your courses and experiences in real time and be a vehicle for reflection as you progress through the certificate, your electives will be better maximized if you are part of the program when taking them.
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How do I know if a course will count toward the certificate?
We have a list of pre-approved elective courses, but you may also submit any course that you believe would align with your proposed pathway. You must include a rationale for why the elective aligns with your pathway, which will be reviewed by CESC faculty for approval. If there is a change in an elective course, you should revise your CESC application in Pebble Pad and include the new course information and updated rationale. You should then contact Leslie Parkins for the proposed change, which will be reviewed by CESC faculty for approval.
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I have already completed a relevant experience prior to applying. Will it count towards my certificate requirements?
Most likely, no. The experiences should occur within the context of the program and be aligned with your area of focus. Additionally, because the ePortfolio is intended to capture your experiences in real time and be a vehicle for reflection as you progress through the certificate, your experiences will be better maximized if you are part of the program when undertaking them.
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Do I have to take the capstone during the spring semester of my senior year?
You are not required to take the capstone course during the second semester of your senior year, although this is likely when most people will take it. You may take the capstone any semester after you have completed the gateway course, the electives and both the 150+ and 300+-hour experiences.