REAL 300. Principles of Community Engagement. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Enrollment in some course sections is restricted to students in the VCU Transform or other living-learning programs. This course will introduce the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to be a successful community-engaged leader in an interconnected, global society. Students will use an interdisciplinary lens to understand and analyze principles and practices of community engagement in local, national and global contexts. Topics could include but are not limited to theories and models of civic action, citizenship, civil discourse, human rights, intercultural competence, and privilege and equity. Students may consult the Schedule of Classes for additional information and restrictions.
REAL 301. Principles of Leadership. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Enrollment in some sections is restricted to students in the VCU Transform and other living-learning programs. This seminar will provide an overview of the theories, models and perspectives of the field of leadership studies. Students will explore leadership in terms of the role of leaders, the role of followers and the context in which leadership occurs. With an emphasis on practical application of leadership, students will evaluate their own leadership experiences in terms of the course contents, while also exploring contemporary examples of leadership. Students may consult the Schedule of Classes for additional information and restrictions.
REAL 310. Pathways to Experiential Learning. 1 Hour.
Semester course; 0-1 field experience hour. 0-1 credits. Enrollment is restricted to students in the VCU Transform living-learning program. In this seminar students will verify and document their participation in experiential learning opportunities, including extended community service, undergraduate research projects, peer leadership and other noncredit experiences, in order to receive academic credit for them toward the LLP certificate of completion. Students will also reflect on their experiential learning and produce an artifact for the LLP e-portfolio.
REAL 399. REAL: ____. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 0-3 independent study hours. 0-3 credits (45 hours direct contact per credit minimum). May be repeated for a maximum of three credits. Enrollment is restricted to students with at least sophomore standing with approval of the REAL office. This course supports student completion of a self-directed experiential learning project in one of the five REAL learning domains: academic discipline, skills and knowledge; professional identity and career preparation; community or civic identity; diversity and inclusion; and global knowledge. The student’s satisfaction of the course requirements is determined by a VCU faculty/staff supervisor. In cases where the project engages an external partner (an employer or community organization, for example), an evaluation from that partner may also be administered to determine satisfaction of course requirements. Graded as pass/fail.
REAL 400. Principles of Problem-solving. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: REAL 300 and REAL 301. Enrollment is restricted to students in the VCU Transform living-learning program. This course is designed to help students in the Transform living-learning program evaluate and synthesize the theoretical, methodological and substantive issues discovered through their participation in the program and related to leadership, community engagement and cultural agility. Through a guided, comprehensive problem-based learning assignment, students will synthesize and apply their knowledge in innovative ways. In-class activities are designed to aid in the application of theory to address complex problems and to deepen the community among Transform students. The individual projects aim to clarify each student’s unique leadership potential and how they can become engaged as change-makers in their local communities and/or field of study.
REAL 401. Capstone Seminar. 1 Hour.
Semester course; 1 lecture hour. 1 credit. Prerequisite: REAL 300, REAL 301 and REAL 400. Enrollment is restricted to students in the VCU Transform living-learning program. In this seminar students will integrate their learning into a comprehensive e-portfolio to showcase their signature experiential learning and present it at a public symposium. Students will also reflect critically on their entire living-learning program experience and highlight key moments and learning as a result of their participation.
REAL 491. Special Topics in Leadership and Experiential Learning. 1-3 Hours.
Semester course; 1-3 lecture hours. 1-3 credits. May be repeated for credit. Enrollment is restricted to students in the VCU Transform living-learning program. Students will study and discuss advanced and contemporary material related to leadership practice and theory. Topics will vary by semester.
REAL 492. Independent Study in Leadership and Experiential Learning. 1-3 Hours.
Semester course; 1-3 independent study hours. 1-3 credits. May be repeated for credit. Enrollment is restricted to students in the VCU Transform living-learning program. The course provides an opportunity for living and learning program students to learn more about a specific topic of interest that is not included among existing VCU course offerings. Study is conducted under the guidance of a VCU faculty mentor who assists the student in planning and implementing the course of study. The independent study topic should be selected in consultation with the student’s academic adviser to ensure that the proposed course of study is relevant to the student’s educational goals and VCU Transform. The faculty mentor must agree to be available to the student throughout the duration of the course.