CSL Honors Independent Study
Honors 196S, 296S, 396S, 496S
1-4 Credits

Course Description
The Community Service Learning Honors Independent Study (CSLHIS) offers students an opportunity to enrich their learning with community service work. This course is an independent arrangement between a student, a faculty sponsor and a supervisor from the community organization where the student volunteers. There are two ways in which students can arrange a CSLHIS:

Course-affiliated CSLHIS (1-2 credits)

The course-affiliated CSLHIS offers students an opportunity to enhance their current coursework by participating in service that is related to the content of a course.  Students work with a faculty member and a community organization to convert any 3 (or more)-credit university course to a service-learning course.  By establishing a service role with a community organization and setting learning objectives with a faculty member, students can add either one or two credits to a course in which they are currently enrolled (or took in the previous semester).  Students receive credit for the learning that comes from engaging in meaningful community service activities combined with reflection on that experience and academic exploration of the issues raised by that experience.

Stand-alone CSLHIS (3-4 credits)

The stand-alone CSLHIS offers students an opportunity to work with a faculty member and a community organization to craft an independent study that integrates intensive community service work with articulated learning objectives. Students receive credit for the learning that comes from engaging in meaningful community service activities combined with reflection on that experience and academic exploration of the issues raised by that experience.

How to Sign Up
You cannot register for CSLHIS using SPIRE. Signing up for the CSL Honors Independent Study is a three-step process which requires the completion and submission of a "CSLHIS Application" form:

1. To initiate the application process, you must review the CSLHIS application and make an appointment with the CSLHIS Coordinator.

2. Complete the application and submit it to the Community Engagement Program.

3. Applications will be reviewed and you will be notified of your status. If your application is accepted, the CSLHIS Coordinator will enroll you through SPIRE.

CSLHIS Application (PDF | 81kb)

 

Support
Staff members in the Community Engagement Program are available to help students with the CSLHIS application. Staff can also help students identify community organizations where they can serve. For assistance, visit CEP in 610 Goodell Building or contact CEP@honors.umass.edu.