Promoting Social Change through Service-Learning in the Curriculum

Service-learning is a high-impact pedagogical strategy embraced by higher education institutions. Direct service based on a charity paradigm tends to be the norm, while little attention is paid to social change-oriented service. This article offers suggestions for incorporating social justice education into courses designed to promote social change through service-learning. The article delineates the characteristics of social justice education, discusses ways to incorporate social justice and service-learning components into appropriate courses, and provides a blueprint for constructing the syllabus.