SOC 0325: Community-Engaged Research: From Theory to Action
How can academic research serve the public good? This intensive Winter Session course bridges the gap between scholarly inquiry and community impact, challenging the traditional boundaries between the classroom and the city. In a condensed “lab” environment, students move rapidly from studying the ethical foundations and disciplinary methodologies of collaborative work to executing real-world research projects. This immersive, high-stakes experience is designed for students who want to apply their analytical skills to urgent social problems in real time. By reframing the researcher as a collaborator rather than an observer, we transform the academic process into a vehicle for civic agency and institutional accountability. 

The course is divided into two distinct phases: 

• Weeks 1–2: The Foundation. We will interrogate the power dynamics, ethical complexities, and methodology of community-engaged research. Students will explore how to center community voices and move beyond extractive research models. 
• Weeks 3–4: The Practicum. Transitioning into “rapid-response” teams, students will be embedded with Swearer Center community partners to address urgent, real-time data or research needs. Students must be on campus for this portion of the session.
  
   Registration in C@B for Winter Session begins Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.