Become a More Engaged Citizen
Develop expertise in navigating the political world through academic and hands-on experiences with a minor in Political and Civic Engagement.
Through the St. Edward’s tradition of academic excellence, award-winning faculty, and rigorous curriculum, we ensure that graduates will have the skills to succeed in the 21st-century workplace. In keeping with the St. Edward’s mission, students in the Political and Civic Engagement minor will analyze problems and propose solutions to society’s most critical issues.
The Political and Civic Engagement minor enables students to apply their classroom knowledge to the community through applied courses, internships and a Civics Laboratory.
This distinctive program amplifies opportunities provided by Austin’s diverse community to bring the political world into the classroom. Austin is the best city in Texas to study politics through direct involvement, and this minor maximizes the university’s location and its resources as a destination university. Minoring in Political and Civic Engagement enhances the skills and credentials of students majoring in Communications, Environmental Science and Policy, and Business Administration, as well as students seeking skills-based coursework.
What can our graduates do?
By taking advantage of Austin’s experiential opportunities and coursework at St. Edward’s, this minor prepares students to work directly in politics or a related field. Here’s a sample of career paths:
- Lobbying and Advocacy
- Campaign Managers
- Nonprofit Management
- Public Policy
- Public Service
- Project Manager
- Elected Official
Who is an ideal candidate for this minor?
The Political and Civic Engagement minor takes your existing degree to the next level by developing the transferable skills that employers seek — in collaboration, creative problem-solving, decision-making, critical thinking, communication and leadership. The compact and exciting curriculum makes it attractive to students from any discipline who are interested in practical classes and pursuing a more just world.
Minor Requirements
The Political and Civic Engagement Minor provides a blend of required and elective courses that enable students to progress quickly through the curriculum. It has 18 required hours taken within the Political Science Major.
Required Courses:
- The Civics Lab
- State and Local Government
Choose elective courses to total 18 hours. These elective courses may include:
- Public Policy
- Nonprofit Advocacy
- The Legislative Process and Lobbying
- Austin Politics in Action
- A mentored internship course.
Our Faculty
Nicholas Long, PhD
Professor of Political Science
chadl@stedwards.edu
512-428-1086
David Thomason, PhD
Associate Professor of Political Science
thomason@stedwards.edu
512-448-8634