Nov 10, 2025

2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

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2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Civic Leadership and Policy Studies - Community and Nonprofit Leadership Concentration (BA)

Students will:

Civic Engagement: demonstrate the ability to engage effectively with diverse communities and stakeholders to promote civic participation and social change.
Policy Analysis: analyze and evaluate public policies using quantitative and qualitative methods, understanding their implications for various populations.
Leadership Skills: develop essential leadership skills, including team building, ethical decision-making, strategic planning, and conflict resolution, to lead initiatives in community and nonprofit organizations.
Communication Proficiency: effectively communicate ideas and proposals through written, verbal, and digital formats to diverse audiences.
Interdisciplinary Understanding: integrate knowledge from various disciplines to understand the role of effective leadership in addressing complex community and nonprofit issues.
Research Competence: conduct independent research on civic leadership and policy issues, employing appropriate methodologies and ethical standards.
Critical Thinking: demonstrate critical thinking skills by assessing how leadership and followership can prepare organizations to address challenges.
Cultural Competence: understand and analyze how different cultures practice effective leadership and followership.

University Requirements:

ENGL 110 - First-Year Writing (C- minimum)
First Year Seminar (FYS) (0-4 credits)
Discovery Learning Experience (DLE) (three credits)
Multicultural Requirement (three credits)
University Breadth Requirements (C- minimum):
- Creative Arts and Humanities (three credits)
- History and Cultural Change (three credits)
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (three credits)
- Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Technology (three credits)
Capstone Experience

Civic Leadership and Policy Studies BA Requirements (Shared Core)

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS:

Minimum grade of C- required in all major courses.

Cross-Cutting

LEAD 101 - Global Contexts for Leadership Credit(s): 3
UAPP 220 - Citizens, Civility, and Change Credit(s): 3
UAPP 330 - Public and Nonprofit Administration Credit(s): 3
LEAD 400 - Leadership for the Common Good Credit(s): 3

Leadership Foundations

LEAD 100 - Leadership, Integrity and Change Credit(s): 3
LEAD 300 - Leadership, Creativity, and Innovation Credit(s): 3

Policy Foundations

UAPP 110 - How to Change the World Credit(s): 3
UAPP 225 - Crafting Public Policy Credit(s): 3
Note: Students may receive credit for this course by passing a proficiency exam administered by the Biden School.
UAPP 325 - Public Policy Analysis Credit(s): 3

Experiential Learning

Complete 3 credits from the following:

UAPP 300 - Biden School Field Experience Credit(s): 1-9
Note: Students may request a waiver if they have more than 3 years of full-time professional work experience or have completed a relevant internship for another major.
UAPP 468 - Undergraduate Research Credit(s): 1-3
UNIV 468 - Undergraduate Research Credit(s): 0-6

Capstone Experience

Complete three credits of the following:

UAPP 440 - Biden School Capstone Credit(s): 3
UNIV 402 - Senior Thesis Credit(s): 2-4

Major Electives

Complete six credits of non-required Biden School courses (ENEP, LEAD, SPPA, UAPP) or from the Approved Outside Courses for Biden School Major/Minor Electives.

RELATED WORK:

Coursework may simultaneously satisfy other degree requirements. Minimum grade C- required, unless otherwise specified.

Math

The math requirement must be completed by the time a student has earned 60 credits. Students who transfer into the Biden School with 45 credits or more must complete this requirement within two semesters.

Complete one of the following four options (minimum grade D-):

Option One:
MATH 113 - Contemporary Mathematics Credit(s): 3
(designed for students who do not intend to continue to the study of mathematics)
Option Two: One of the following:
MATH 114 - College Mathematics and Statistics Credit(s): 3
(designed for students who do not intend to continue the study of mathematics)
MATH 115 - Pre-Calculus Credit(s): 3
(designed for students who intend to continue the study of mathematics)
MATH 117 - Pre-Calculus for Scientists and Engineers Credit(s): 4
(designed to prepare students for MATH 241)
Option Three: Successful completion of any 200-level or higher mathematics course except: MATH 201, MATH 202, MATH 205, MATH 251, MATH 252, MATH 253, and MATH 266.
Option Four: Successful performance on a proficiency test in mathematics administered by the Department of Mathematical Sciences (0 credits awarded).

Economics

Take one of the following:

APEC 150 - Economics of Agriculture and Natural Resources Credit(s): 3
ECON 100 - Economic Issues and Policies Credit(s): 3
(for students who do not plan to take additional economics courses)
ECON 101 - Introduction to Microeconomics Credit(s): 3
(for students who may take additional economics courses)

Statistics & Data Analysis

STAT 200 - Basic Statistical Practice Credit(s): 3
And
Take one of the following:
APEC 135 - Introduction to Data Analysis Credit(s): 3
APEC 480 - Geographic Information Systems in Natural Resource Management Credit(s): 4
ECON 306 - Data Analysis for Economics and Business Credit(s): 3
GEOG 271 - Introduction to Geographic Data Analysis Credit(s): 3
SOCI 301 - Research Methods and Statistics Credit(s): 4
STAT 408 - Statistical Research Methods Credit(s): 3
UAPP 333 - Research Methods for Policy Analysis Credit(s): 3

Professional Communication

Take one of the following:

COMM 212 - Public Speaking & Professional Presentation Credit(s): 3
ENGL 312 - Written Communications in Business Credit(s): 3
ENGL 314 - Grant Writing Credit(s): 3
ENGL 410 - Technical Writing Credit(s): 3
LEAD 209 - Presentation Strategies Credit(s): 3

Media Environment

Take one of the following:

AFRA 223 - Sports, Media, and Culture Credit(s): 3
ANTH 201 - Visual Anthropology: Film, Media, and Culture Credit(s): 3
COMM 245 - Media Industries and Society Credit(s): 3
COMM 306 - Technology in Politics and Society Credit(s): 3
COMM 431 - Politics and Entertainment Credit(s): 3
POSC 340 - Politics and the Media Credit(s): 3
UAPP 415 - Media, Citizenship & Public Policy Credit(s): 3
WOMS 284 - Gender, Culture and Digital Media Credit(s): 3
WOMS 314 - Social Media: Feminist Activism Credit(s): 3

Cultural Impacts

Take one of the following:

AFRA 320 - History and Significance of Race in America Credit(s): 3
AFRA 350 - Race and Work in the United States Credit(s): 3
ANTH 101 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology Credit(s): 3
ANTH 355 - Culture, Law, and Human Rights Credit(s): 3
ANTH 375 - Peoples and Cultures of Contemporary Latin America Credit(s): 4
COMM 421 - Intercultural Communication Credit(s): 3
ENGL 278 - Studies in Diversity Credit(s): 3
GEOG 204 - Introduction to Peace and Justice: Theories and Practices Credit(s): 3
POSC 333 - Contemporary Political Ideologies Credit(s): 3
SOCI 201 - Introduction to Sociology Credit(s): 3

Social Justice

Take one of the following:

AFRA 381 - Understanding Black Men in the Streets and in Prison Credit(s): 3
AFRA 421 - Black Women in the Black Freedom Struggle Credit(s): 3
CRJU 350 - Gender and Criminal Justice Credit(s): 3
CRJU 355 - Inequality, Crime and Justice Credit(s): 3
GEOG 430 - Food Geographies & Food Justice Credit(s): 3
HIST 460 - Race and Inequality in Delaware Credit(s): 3
LEAD 280 - Environmental Justice in Action Credit(s): 3
POSC 230 - Introduction to Politics and Social Justice Credit(s): 3
POSC 437 - Politics, Policy and Racial Justice Credit(s): 3
POSC 456 - Social Movements in Fiction and Film Credit(s): 3
WOMS 341 - Gender, Race and Policing Credit(s): 3

Sustainability

Take one of the following:

ANTH 332 - Global Environmental Sustainability Credit(s): 3
APEC 100 - Sustainable Development Credit(s): 3
ENEP 250 - U.S. Environmental Policy Credit(s): 3
ENEP 410 - Global Trade and the Environment Credit(s): 3
ENEP 425 - Energy Policy and Administration Credit(s): 3
ENEP 426 - Climate Change Policy Credit(s): 3
ENSC 300 - Earth Systems: Science and Policy Credit(s): 3
GEOG 235 - Conservation of Natural Resources Credit(s): 3
GEOG 236 - Humans and Environmental Sustainability Credit(s): 3
GEOG 419 - Climate Change Adaptation Policy & Practice Credit(s): 3
GEOG 422 - Resources, Development and the Environment Credit(s): 3
MAST 462 - Climate Change: Policy, Equity and Mitigation Credit(s): 3
POSC 350 - Politics and the Environment Credit(s): 3
SPPA 410 - Science, Politics, and Policy Credit(s): 3
SPPA 415 - Moving the Needle on Local Climate Policy Credit(s): 3
UAPP 406 - Plan Sustainable Communities & Regions Credit(s): 3

CONCENTRATION: COMMUNITY AND NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP

Minimum grade of C- required in all courses.

Required:

Complete the following nine credits:

LEAD 200 - Leadership: Theory & Practice Credit(s): 3
LEAD 341 - Decision-Making and Leadership Credit(s): 3
LEAD 404 - Leadership in Organizations Credit(s): 3

Electives:

Complete six credits from the following, including at least 3 credits at or above the 300 level:

LEAD 230 - Philanthropy and Fundraising Credit(s): 3
LEAD 231 - Volunteerism and Volunteer Administration Credit(s): 3
LEAD 411 - Topics in Leadership Dynamics Credit(s): 1-6
UAPP 150 - Advocacy and Social Change Credit(s): 3
UAPP 330 - Public and Nonprofit Administration Credit(s): 3
UAPP 334 - Financial Management Public & Nonprofit Credit(s): 3
UAPP 441 - Topics in Nonprofit Management and Leadership Credit(s): 3
UAPP 361 - Conflict Resolution Collab Prob Solving Credit(s): 3
UAPP 472 - Nonprofit Organizations: Scope, Frameworks and Dynamics Credit(s): 3
UAPP 473 - Governing Nonprofit Organizations Credit(s): 3
UAPP 474 - Strategic Fundraising and Marketing for Nonprofits Credit(s): 3

ELECTIVES:

After the required courses are completed, sufficient elective credits must be taken to meet the minimum credit requirement for the degree. Students are encouraged to take additional electives offered at the Biden School (ENEP, LEAD, SPPA, UAPP) and from the Approved Outside Courses for Biden School Major/Minor Electives.

Credits to Total a Minimum of 120

Last revised for the 2025-2026 Academic Year

Four Year Plan

Please refer to the Four-Year Plan for departmental recommended path toward graduation.