Spring 2021

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Cultivating Leadership Capacity and Promoting Educational Equity

Effective Change Agent

This course is for students interested in being effective change agents for the public good. Each student (individually or with others) will take the initiative before the Capstone begins to arrange a project with a community organization. This project may be an existing relationship or one sought for the purpose of this class.

 

 

Queer & Trans Youth

It is estimated that 1 in 10 individuals identify as a sexual minority. Often an already challenging stage in identity development, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender & questioning (LGBTQ) youth face a set of issues unique to their daily lives.

Mentoring & Empowerment at NAYA

This class is an opportunity to explore hands-on the complexity surrounding education, equity, and empowerment, with a specific focus on collaborative peer mentoring, which often includes academic tutoring. Our community partner is the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA). At NAYA, students will have the opportunity to interact with bright youth from diverse cultures and work with them on improving their academics and future prospects.

Multimedia Production Team

The Multimedia Production Online Capstone addresses community issues and needs by developing educational interactive online media. Continuously taught since 1999, the class has undergone adjustment to the changes in technology - from output on CD-ROMs and video, to web pages and blogs developed entirely by teams of students working completely online and working remotely, from around the world!

Grant Writing for Indigenous Sustainability   In the online Capstone course Indigenous Grant Writing, students work collaboratively in teams to research and write grants, and to understand the issues of Indigenous communities. Students gain an understanding of collaborative work and the importance of equal participation from every team member. Students examine the role of non-profit organizations in addressing social, ethical, and political issues.

 

Image of forest trail with man kneeling to look closely at moss along the trail. The image is overlayed with various icons created through the Virtual Field Environment (VFE) tour software.

Tutoring Adult ESL

Capstone students will work with adult English as Second Language learners for 2.5 to three hours a week at local community colleges (locations and times vary). Capstone students must be proficient speakers of English but are not required to be native English speakers.  In addition to tutoring times, all Capstone students will meet from 12:45 pm - 15:45pm every Wednesday on the PSU campus for coursework. Coursework involves strategies for tutoring ESL/ABE and issues pertaining to immigration.
Coursework involves strategies for tutoring ESL/ABE, intercultural communications, and issues pertaining to immigration.  

This course will present opportunities for students to:

  • Apply practical skills and strategies in tutoring English Language Learners
  • Expand their understanding and ability to participate in cross-cultural communication while interacting with limited-English speakers.
  • Understand the political, social, and economic implications of immigration in the United States.
  • Think critically about social responsibility as it pertains to living among people from various cultures.

Equal Access for Justice

A comprehensive and engaging examination of contemporary multicultural and cross-cultural imperatives, this capstone explores the barriers to justice for ethnic and racial minorities. Special attention will be given to the U.S. institutional structure and the justice system. Utilizing a progressive and proactive approach, students will acquire a deeper understanding, awareness and appreciation  of  the root causes of the existing disparities. Their learning outcome will be enhanced through design and formulation of proactive solutions to secure fairness, equity and justice for all.

Engaging Democracy

This Capstone takes place over the winter and spring term, and is only offered every other year, when the Oregon Legislature has a full session.  One of the most pressing problems in American politics today is that the public feels increasingly distant from elected leaders. To many reformers, the health of the nation’s democracy can only improve by getting more young people involved in politics. The Engaging Democracy capstone addresses this problem by having students assist Oregon legislators during the long legislative session in odd calendar years in Salem, where they will help handle the broad range of responsibilities placed on legislative staff. During classroom times, students will learn about the position of legislatures in American politics and the character of Oregon politics. As a final project, the students will work together on a web-based guide to the Legislative Assembly. The work in the capitol will be arranged around each individual student’s schedule. Carpooling should be available. It is likely we will have some funds to offset travel costs.

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