The Bachelor of Science degree in Community & Organizational Development prepares students to advance positive change through communities and organizations.
Students tackle community, organizational, and societal challenges in collaboration with their peers and real-world partners, clients, and communities. Through project-based learning, applied research, and internship experiences, students learn how to make a positive human-centered impact on communities and society in meaningful and lasting ways.
The Community & Organizational Development degree allows students to tailor their learning and career pathways. Students are prepared for a variety of careers spanning community and organizational development, nonprofit management, executive leadership, social justice activism, community organizing, social entrepreneurship, corporate social responsibility, higher education, government, philanthropy, social service agencies, and more. It also offers excellent preparation for graduate school in areas such as law, medical and public health advocacy, public policy, human ecology, and more.
In addition to the hundreds of community-based organizations in the city of Madison, the Center for Nonprofit Studies (CommNS), housed in the School of Human Ecology, provides students with a hub for community-engaged teaching, research, and outreach focused on advancing the work of the civic and nonprofit sector. Students can participate in innovative non-profit initiatives, network with community and organizational leaders, and attend annual conferences, workshops, and speaker series.
How to Get in
Current UW–Madison Students
Students within their first 60 GPA credits at UW-Madison
| Requirements | Details |
|---|---|
| How to get in | No application required. All students who meet the requirements listed below are able to declare. For information on how to declare, see: https://go.wisc.edu/sohe-declare. |
| Courses required to get in | None. |
| GPA requirements to get in |
|
| Credits required to get in | None. |
| Other | Must be in good academic standing with their current school or college. |
All other UW–Madison students (who do not meet the declaration criteria above)
| Requirements | Details |
|---|---|
| How to get in | Application required. Meeting the requirements listed below does not guarantee admission. (https://go.wisc.edu/sohe-apply) |
| Courses required to get in | None. |
| GPA requirements to get in | None. |
| Credits required to get in | None. |
| Other | Must be in good academic standing with their current school or college. |
| Semester | Deadline to apply | Decision notification timeline |
|---|---|---|
| To apply for a fall start | The fifth Friday of the term. | Students will be notified about decisions approximately one month after the application deadline. |
| To apply for a spring start | The fifth Friday of the term. | Students will be notified about decisions approximately one month after the application deadline. |
| To apply for a summer start | This program does not accept applications to start in the summer. |
Prospective UW-Madison Students
All prospective UW–Madison students must apply through the central Office of Admissions and Recruitment.
Students who indicate interest in the community and organizational development major on their UW–Madison application will be admitted to the major upon admittance to the university. In addition, students may indicate interest in community and organizational development when registering for Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR).
University General Education Requirements
All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Consult your advisor for assistance, as needed. For additional information, see the university Undergraduate General Education Requirements section of the Guide.
| General Education |
* The mortarboard symbol appears before the title of any course that fulfills one of the Communication Part A or Part B, Ethnic Studies, or Quantitative Reasoning Part A or Part B requirements. |
School of Human Ecology Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics | 3-4 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Introduction to Statistical Methods | ||
| Statistics for Sociologists I | ||
| Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences | ||
| Basic Statistics for Psychology | ||
| Statistics: Measurement in Economics | ||
GEOG 360 | ||
| Arts and Humanities | ||
| Literature | 3 | |
| Humanities | 6 | |
| Social Science | 9 | |
| Physical, Biological and Natural Science | 9 | |
| Human Ecology Breadth | 6 | |
Select six credits of Human Ecology courses from CNSR SCI, DS, HDFS, or INTER-HE. | ||
| Total Credits | 36-37 | |
Community and Organizational Development Requirements
A complete list of requirements is below. Students should follow the curriculum requirements in place at the time they entered the major. This requirement list should be used in combination with a DARS report.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Community and Organizational Development Core Courses | ||
| CSCS 125 | Community and Social Change | 3 |
| CSCS 300 | Nonprofit Sector: Overview and Foundations | 3 |
| CSCS 345 | Evaluation and Planning for Community and Nonprofit Organizations | 3 |
| CSCS 510 | Design & Write Grant Proposals | 3 |
| CSCS 570 | Community Based Research and Evaluation | 3 |
| CSCS 600 | Community Leadership Portfolio Capstone | 3 |
| Community and Organizational Development Depth Courses | ||
| Complete 9 credits from any other Civil Society Community Studies courses | 9 | |
| Professional Development | ||
| CSCS 254 | Community & Nonprofit Leadership Symposium | 1 |
| INTER-HE 202 | SoHE Career & Leadership Development | 1 |
| CSCS 601 | Internship | 3 |
| Electives | ||
Select electives to fulfill degree requirement of 120 credits | ||
| Total Credits | 32 | |
University Degree Requirements
| Total Degree | To receive a bachelor's degree from UW–Madison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements. |
| Residency | Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UW–Madison. "In residence" means on the UW–Madison campus with an undergraduate degree classification. “In residence” credit also includes UW–Madison courses offered in distance or online formats and credits earned in UW–Madison Study Abroad/Study Away programs. |
| Quality of Work | Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing. Students whose academic performance drops below these minimum thresholds will be placed on academic probation. |
Learning Outcomes
- (Ecological perspectives on community and society) Articulate and apply an ecological perspective at discrete levels of analysis (individual, group, community, and society).
- (Civic literacy and the public sphere) Assess the major trends in civil society recognizing the influence and interconnectedness across the major sectors of society and exhibit strong capacity for sustained, high impact participation in civic life.
- (Identity, diversity, and social justice) Recognize well-being and social justice as relational and position, applying these principles in community organizing and empowerment.
- (Organizational management and professional development) Demonstrate entry-level knowledge and skills relevant to nonprofit and community organizations and exhibit the practices of a lifelong learner.
- (Research, analysis, and communication) Vet and/or generate high quality data, perform relevant analyses, and share results with target audiences using oral, written, and visual communication techniques.
- (Leadership, ethics, and well-being) Recognize the value of being a reflective, ethical leader who cultivates others’ strengths and leadership capabilities, while exhibiting self-care and care for others.
Four-Year Plan
This is a sample four-year plan for Community and Organizational Development. We encourage all students to consult with their academic advisor to develop an individualized plan that meets their specific needs.
| Freshman | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| Communications A | 3 | Communications B | 3-4 | ||
| Ethnic Studies | 3 | Social Science | 3 | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning A | 3 | Human Ecology Breadth | 3 | ||
| Science | 3 | Science | 3 | ||
| Humanities | 3 | CSCS 254 | 1 | ||
| 15 | 13-14 | ||||
| Sophomore | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| CSCS 125 | 3 | INTER-HE 202 | 1 | ||
| SoHE Breadth | 3 | CSCS 300 | 3 | ||
| Social Science | 3 | Literature | 3 | ||
| Humanities | 3 | Science | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | Social Science | 3 | ||
| Elective | 2 | ||||
| 15 | 15 | ||||
| Junior | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| CSCS 345 | 3 | Community and Organizational Development Depth | 3 | CSCS 601 | 3 |
| CSCS 510 | 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| Statistics (Quantitative Reasoning B) | 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3-4 | Elective | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | Elective | |||
| Elective | 3 | ||||
| 18-19 | 12 | 3 | |||
| Senior | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| CSCS 570 | 3 | CSCS 600 | 3 | ||
| Community and Organizational Development Depth | 3 | Community and Organizational Development Depth | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||||
| Total Credits 121-123 | |||||
Advising and Careers
Advising & Career Center
The Advising & Career Center (ACC) fosters undergraduate students' personal, academic, and professional development. Through advising, academic planning, and career education, we support students as they navigate the college experience—from exploring our majors as prospective students to becoming Human Ecology alumni.
Academic Advising
Each Human Ecology student is assigned to an academic advisor in the Advising & Career Center. Human Ecology academic advisors support academic and personal success by partnering with current and prospective Human Ecology students as they identify and clarify their educational goals, develop meaningful academic plans, and pursue their own Wisconsin Experience.
To explore academic advising resources or schedule an appointment with an academic advisor, visit Advising in Human Ecology.
Career Development
Each Human Ecology student is assigned to a career advisor in the Advising & Career Center. Active engagement in the career development process is a vital component of a student’s personal growth in college and future success as a lifelong learner, professional, and global citizen. Human Ecology career advisors help prepare students for life post-graduation through individual and group advising and integration of career readiness throughout our curriculum.
To explore career development resources or schedule an appointment with a Human Ecology career advisor, visit Career Development.
Wisconsin Experience
Internships
Internships are a vital part of student career development and a highly valued component of the undergraduate curriculum in the School of Human Ecology. High-quality internships foster student development by bringing theories and classroom-based learning to life in real-world settings. In addition, internships give students the opportunity to explore careers related to their major, gain relevant experience in their field(s) of interest, and develop a better understanding of what is expected in a workplace by performing the tasks of a professional in that field.
For Human Ecology majors, internships are a requirement of our undergraduate curriculum. Students must have at least a junior standing (54+ credits) in order to pursue a 3-credit internship and must complete a minimum of 150 hours at the internship site. To be eligible, an internship must be educational in nature, directly relate to a student’s major and career goals, and be approved by the Advising & Career Center.
For some Human Ecology majors, additional course prerequisites may be required. For more information, visit Human Ecology Internships.
Student Organizations
School of Human Ecology student organizations include:
- Apparel and Textile Association (ATA)
- Community & Nonprofit Leaders (CNPL) of UW–Madison
- Financial Occupations Club for University Students (FOCUS)
- Interior Design Organization (IDO)
- Phi Upsilon Omicron (National Honor Society in Family and Consumer Sciences)
- Re-Wear It
- School of Human Ecology Makerspace Organization (SoHE Makerspace)
- Student Retail Association (SRA)
For more information about joining a Human Ecology student organization, please visit Human Ecology Student Organizations.
Learn more about UW–Madison registered student organizations through the Wisconsin Involvement Network.
Resources and Scholarships
Advising & Career Center
The Advising & Career Center (ACC) fosters undergraduate students' personal, academic, and professional development. Through advising, academic planning, and career education, we support students as they navigate the college experience—from exploring our majors as prospective students to becoming Human Ecology alumni.
Academic Advising
Each Human Ecology student is assigned to an academic advisor in the Advising & Career Center. Human Ecology academic advisors support academic and personal success by partnering with current and prospective Human Ecology students as they identify and clarify their educational goals, develop meaningful academic plans, and pursue their own Wisconsin Experience.
To explore academic advising resources or schedule an appointment with an academic advisor, visit Advising in Human Ecology.
Career Development
Each Human Ecology student is assigned to a career advisor in the Advising & Career Center. Active engagement in the career development process is a vital component of a student’s personal growth in college and future success as a lifelong learner, professional, and global citizen. Human Ecology career advisors help prepare students for life post-graduation through advising and integration of career readiness throughout our curriculum.
To explore career development resources or schedule an appointment with a Human Ecology career advisor, visit Career Development.
Scholarships and Other Financial Resources
The School of Human Ecology awards many merit and need-based scholarships each year. Students can learn more about these opportunities on the Human Ecology scholarships webpage. To be eligible for these awards, scholarship recipients must be registered as full-time Human Ecology students. For further questions on the scholarship application, please contact the School of Human Ecology Scholarship Coordinator at scholarships@sohe.wisc.edu.
Students who experience personal challenges or emergency financial situations may inquire about the availability of short-term loans with the Human Ecology Academic Deans (deansservices@sohe.wisc.edu). In addition, university scholarships, loans, and employment are available through the Office of Student Financial Aid (333 East Campus Mall #9701; 608-262-3060).