Master of Arts in Community Organizing and Social Activism (COSA) Requirements

Faculty

• Zandy Gordon
• Thomas Morgan
• Arianne Newton
• Paul Newton

To meet today’s growing demand for diverse perspectives and leaders who can navigate complex partnerships, the Master of Arts in Community Organizing and Social Activism (COSA) graduate program is interdisciplinary and requires both significant hands-on service-learning and international study activities. Drawing from the fields of international development, nonprofit leadership, global health, international education, human rights/social justice, sustainability, and global studies, this degree educates leaders for professional careers in the governmental, non-profit and community organization sectors.

COSA is a 16-month graduate degree programs that directly engage students with partner institutes in countries across Europe, Africa, SE Asia and Latin America. Flexible, individualized programming allows students to design their own graduate degree experience. The program combines rigorous interdisciplinary graduate-level study with hands-on volunteer service. This theory-to-practice, experiential learning graduate program is designed to prepare leaders who serve others through careers with government and policy making organizations, global nonprofits, educational institutions, social enterprises, and community development organizations.

Through study and professional development as well as service-learning placements with community organizations around the world, IPSL graduate students build a global, professional network during their program, helping them to secure career-track positions within their field following graduation.

This practical, social justice focused degree program offers:

• Individual Attention: Program is oriented toward quality rather than quantity.
• Theory-to-Practice: Students apply their learning immediately and directly in the field internationally.
• Global Exposure: Multinational programs in Europe, SE Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
• Transferable Skills: Students build tangible and transferable skill sets that prepare them to master problems from theory to practice.
• International Networks: Students build a global professional network from their direct experience across different locations. A global network is invaluable for launching an international career.

Service-learning lies at the heart of IPSL degree programs where we practice a model of ethical, reciprocal service and community engagement in primarily resource-scare, grassroots organizations serving marginalized communities across the globe. Students engage in 10-15 hours per week of service in the field during terms abroad. IPSL students serve with a variety of organizations based on their specific interests and the needs of our community partners. Global Participatory Action Research (research in support of communities) is part of the culminating project work and is supported through IRB review, individual advising, and practical in-country support. Cultural and linguistic immersion opportunities place students inside communities to encourage cultural humility, ethical action, and personal growth.

Program Goals

The program is designed to help students develop these five main competencies:

1. A Global Perspective
2. Social Development
3. Nonprofit, NGO and Social Entrepreneurship Management
4. Service as a Professional Ethic
5. Distinction: Individual Expertise and Distinction in the Field

Program Design

The COSA program is approximately sixteen months long, consisting of four semester terms. The program is delivered in a hybrid online/onsite format that provides maximum flexibility. To increase access students can start the program in Spring semester (January), Summer semester (May), or Fall semester (August). Program content is organized into required classes, elective classes, and a Culminating Thesis or Culminating Applied Project. The Culminating Project experience integrates knowledge and skills students have learned throughout the program and enables students to apply that knowledge and skill in an individualized way to solve an identified challenge, improve an existing situation, create a novel and unique program solution and/or serve a community organization.

 Students must complete at least two of the four semesters abroad and are encouraged to maximize their in-country experiences with three semesters abroad. Students begin the program with a two-week online Residency with two required accelerated online seminar courses during their first semester, followed by hybrid online or travel/onsite format classes during the rest of the first semester and the second and third semesters. The fourth semester is a required online semester and provides the time and focus to finalize the Culminating Project. The fourth term is online (students can choose to be anywhere in the world) and is integrated into the program so students can complete their Culminating Project and present their defense to their Graduate Committee.

Program Requirements

 All undergraduate degree fields are welcome to apply, there are no course pre-requisites for admission, and the GRE is not required.

Students must complete a 33-36 semester credits for the Master of Arts degree and a total of 36 credits are included in the comprehensive degree cost. Courses include initial residency, Community Organizing and Social Activism, electives which can be chosen from both the in-country and online offerings, and culminating project thesis and re-entry seminars. A maximum of six credit hours of graduate-level credit may be accepted from another accredited college or university. The accepted coursework must fall within the guidelines of Westminster University’s graduate programs. Courses completed at other graduate institutions must carry a grade of B or better to be eligible for transfer credit.

Additionally, a maximum of three credit hours of elective credit may be awarded upon presentation of an official certificate of successful completion of an AmeriCorps or Peace Corps placement.

Students must complete two semesters of coursework abroad and are encouraged to complete three semesters abroad, with the fourth semester of the degree completed on-line. Costs for the program vary with the number of semesters abroad; program staff should be consulted as students plan their degree program.

Students engage in 10-15 hours per week of service in the field during terms abroad.

Although a minimum of 33 credit hours is required, students may complete additional hours to enhance their graduate degree. Planning of these unique graduate degree programs is the shared responsibility of students in collaboration with their advisors.