CSCS

Civil Society and Community Studies

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The department at a glance

All recorded grades

average GPA

A / AB grades

letter grades

How grades break down

Grades over time

Red: department · Gray: UW–Madison

About these statistics

GPA and percentages are weighted by recorded letter grades. UW comparisons use the same terms. Cross-listed courses count once within this department and once across UW; department totals should not be added together. Grade counts are not unique students. Offering counts reflect captured records, not a complete historical schedule.

Fall 2026

Recorded this term

courses with offerings

instructors recorded

Grades have not been recorded for this term. Historical results remain in the overview above.

Find your next class

17 courses

Historical grades cover up to five years through the selected term. Grade sorting prioritizes courses with at least 100 letter grades.

AMERIND/CSCS 330

American Indian Communities: Sovereignty, Struggles, and Successes

3 credits

AMERIND/CSCS 330 explores contemporary Native communities and their historical trajectory from colonization to self-determination and tribal sovereignty.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Carolee Francis: Assignments are described as easy and manageable, involving group drawing, discussions, and papers.

Denise Wiyaka

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025

CSCS 125

Community and Social Change

3 credits

CSCS 125 examines contemporary issues and the role of individuals and communities in achieving positive social change.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Workload includes mandatory attendance, pre-class quizzes, papers, and a final group project. Some students find the class easy, while others note extensive pre-work and quizzes before every meeting.

Jennifer Gaddis Jingyi Ma

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

CSCS 254

Career Pathways in Community & Organizational Development

1 credits

CSCS 254 explores career pathways in community engagement, organizational development, and public service within Human Ecology professions.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Michael Maguire

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026

CSCS 255

Introduction to Social Innovation

3 credits

Introduction to Social Innovation teaches developing solutions to complex problems for systemic social change.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Haley Madden

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2025–Spring 2026 · limited sample

CSCS 300

Nonprofit Sector: Overview and Foundations

3 credits

CSCS 300 teaches concepts and tools to analyze the nonprofit environment and assess its impact at community and organizational levels.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Assignments are generally considered easy with favorable grading, though one review notes significant writing and looming deadlines in the asynchronous format.

Michael Maguire SeiJin Na

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

CSCS 335

Communicating with Key Audiences

3 credits

CSCS 335 teaches comprehensive communication strategies for individuals, families, and communities.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

The coursework is described as straightforward and not too difficult, with one review noting the class centers on a single group project that may feel like busywork. Students report that success requires simply showing up and doing the expected work.

Michael Maguire

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025

CSCS 400

Philanthropy and Civic Engagement

3 credits

CSCS 400 explores philanthropy and civic engagement, teaching students to create giving plans and evaluate charitable impact.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Cynthia Jasper

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026

CSCS 455

Entrepreneurialism and Society

3 credits

CSCS 455 explores entrepreneurialism across nonprofits, business, government, and arts contexts.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Cynthia Jasper Carla Rattunde+2 more

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Spring 2026

CSCS 500

Global Health and Communities: From Research to Praxis

3 credits

CSCS 500 explores global health through a community and human ecology lens, focusing on participatory research and evidence-based practice.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Lola Loustaunau Anna-Marie Opgenorth

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2024–Fall 2024 · limited sample

CSCS 510

Design & Write Grant Proposals

3 credits

CSCS 510 teaches the theoretical and practical design and writing of grant proposals, including budgeting and partnership building.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Zoua Vang

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2024–Fall 2025 · limited sample

CSCS 530

Purpose-driven Organizations

3 credits

CSCS 530 examines purpose-driven organizations such as nonprofits, social enterprises, and cooperatives through analysis of their roles, characteristics, and approaches.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Mary Beth Collins

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2024–Fall 2025 · limited sample

CSCS 570

Community Based Research and Evaluation

3 credits

CSCS 570 teaches the theoretical and analytical application of data and inquiry for community and nonprofit program diagnosis, intervention, and evaluation.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Emily Schkeryantz

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

CSCS 600

Community Leadership Portfolio Capstone

3 credits

A capstone course for demonstrating community and nonprofit leadership through reflection on social justice and human ecology.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Carolina Sarmiento: Reviewers rated the difficulty as low, though this reflects a lack of instruction rather than manageable workload.