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of Victoria
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Faculty of Graduate Studies

Reanna Elizabeth Sexton

  • BA (University of Victoria, 2020)

Notice of the Final Oral Examination for the Degree of Master of Arts

Topic

On the Ground, Rather than in the Tower: Exploring the Legacy of Community-Engaged Learning (CEL) Course Experiences

Department of Sociology

Date & location

  • Tuesday, March 12, 2024

  • 3:00 P.M.

  • Cornett Building

  • Room A317

Reviewers

Supervisory Committee

  • Dr. Bruce Ravelli, Department of Sociology, University of Victoria (Supervisor)

  • Dr. Anelyse Weiler, Department of Sociology, UVic (Unit Member) 

External Examiner

  • Dr. Sarah Wiebe, School of Public Administration, University of Victoria 

Chair of Oral Examination

  • Dr. Colette Salemi, Department of Economics, UVic

     

Abstract

This exploratory study investigates the legacy of taking a singular community-engaged learning (CEL) course on alumni at the University of Victoria (UVic). Thirteen interviews with CEL alumni capture a five-year range of experiences from 2018 to 2023. This research reveals the long-term impacts of CEL post-course by exploring alumni’s reflections ranging from one month to five years since course completion. Informed by previous research into community-based and experiential learning, my overall goal is to answer the research questions: How do sociology students describe the impact of CEL on their lives after course completion; what impacts, if any, does a CEL-applied sociology seminar course have on students; to what degree do CEL experiences change over time; and, according to alumni, how effectively does CEL teach applied sociology? The following research reveals that as a method for teaching applied sociology, CEL impacts how alumni practice sociology post-course and how they use their sociology to navigate their social realities. This research explores how CEL alumni continue to make meaning out of their experiences after course completion, highlighting several impacts that ‘stick’ with CEL alumni post-course. Alumni described how CEL helped them enhance their reflexivity skills, relational perspectives, and feelings of self-efficacy. Ultimately the research reveals that alumni feel more competent in their understanding of sociology and their ability to apply sociology post CEL due to courses’ engaged scholarship and experiential learning pedagogy.

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