North Central College - Naperville, IL

Social Change and Public Advocacy

Why choose social change and public advocacy at North Central College?

If you want to make your city, your country or your world a better place through social activism and changing public policy, then this is the minor for you. You’ll learn to advocate effectively for local, national and global communities—and ultimately shape both policy and practice through your own leadership and activism. You can gain experience by participating in service trips through the Office of Ministry and Service and by volunteering with the Uncommon Life Movement. This minor is part of North Central’s unique Leadership, Ethics and Values (LEV) program, the only program of its kind in the United States.

You can also:

  • Complete a concentration in leadership or ethics if the requirements to minor in social change and public advocacy don't fit your schedule.
  • Gain valuable experience by interning in North Central’s Dispute Resolution Center, which provides mediation and consulting services to students and the community through its Peer Mediation Program.
  • Apply for membership in the national Blue Key Honor Society, which recognizes exemplary leadership in and out of the classroom.
  • Develop your personal and professional leadership skills through LEV’s iLead program.
  • Apply for a Richter Independent Study Fellowship grant to fund original research anywhere in the world, or a Mironda K. Heston Scholarship to fund human rights and service projects.
  • Present the findings of your research at the College's Rall Symposium for Undergraduate Research or national leadership conferences like the National Collegiate Leadership Conference.
  • Take advantage of numerous leadership opportunities through student government and other campus organizations, or as a student mentor with Leadership Jump Start.
  • After graduation, consider the College’s Master of Leadership Studies degree or pursue a five-year bachelor's/master's program in Leadership Studies.

News

Douglas Engelman
Douglas Engelman of Naperville was awarded the 2012 Outstanding Major in Sociology and Anthropology Award during Honors Day May 15.
Aaron Williams, director of the Peace Corps, will deliver the address June 9 at the 147th Commencement ceremony of North Central College.
Senior laboratory analyst for Clinton Health Access Initiative in Kenya to give talk on “Fighting HIV/AIDS by Bringing New Technologies Closer to Patients.”

News

Graduate Schools

Recent graduates of social change and public policy have been accepted at:

  • Brandeis University

Careers

Recent graduates of social change and public policy include:

  • Politics and public service
  • Peace Corps
  • Teach For America

Feature

Ivana Miljic

Social Change and Public Advocacy

For Ivana, the social change and public advocacy minor wasn’t just a program, but a passion. That passion inspired her to engage in service trips and to tutor immigrant families each week in learning the English language. “If I could redo my student years, I’d go on every service trip offered, and there are many to choose from."

“In my classes, I learned lessons that challenged my views and perspective on many things in my life and motivated me to take action and become involved in my community,” She says. “My professors spent countless hours discussing research projects, career and academic plans and life with me. They’re part of a nourishing North Central family community that’s fostered throughout the campus.”

Ivana envisions using the knowledge she gained from her studies and her passion for human rights to work with a nonprofit organization in raising awareness about prevalent issues in communities around the world.

Feature

Molly Link

Sociology major, social change and public advocacy minor

Molly found her calling by embarking on international ministry and service trips through North Central. Visiting Africa and Columbia helped her develop a passion for social work and for making a difference in the lives of young people. So she switched her major to sociology so she could pursue a career in school counseling or teaching in Teach For America.

To round out her interests in social justice causes, she decided to minor in social change and public advocacy. “This fits with what I want to do,” she says. Molly has also volunteered as an orientation leader, interned at a social service agency working with teens, and during her senior year will organize service trips for the Office of Ministry and Service. And she played on the women’s tennis team for three years. “At North Central, you can really do anything you want,” she says.