Fall 2026 Engaged Learning Courses

Literature and Environmental Justice

ENGL 4365, 3 hours, Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays, 10:10 AM-11:00 AM

Instructor: Josh King

Critically examines how diverse authors pursue flourishing environments for all, and it involves students in addressing environmental challenges facing local communities.

Publishing the Literary Magazine

ENGL 4341, 3 hours, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:30-10:45 AM

Instructor: Lauren Biagi

Examines the entire process of creating and distributing a national literary magazine, including aspects like soliciting submissions, editorial decision-making, design layout, marketing strategies, and legal considerations, all while focusing on the specific nuances of publishing creative writing like poetry, short fiction, and essays. Engages with the larger creative writing and publishing community by soliciting work from writers across the nation and even the globe.

Intercultural Competence Abroad

GBL 1102

GBL 1102 is part of a three-course sequence designed to enhance international educational travel experiences. This course is required for all Baylor students studying abroad. It is designed to help you engage with your host culture and context while abroad and, at the same time, learn more about yourself and your cultural values.

Introduction to Model Organization of American States

HIS 2v89-01/LAS 2v89-01, Mondays and Wednesdays, 4:00-5:15 PM

Instructor: Dr. Mark McGraw

Course prepares students for first-time participation in a Model Organization of American States simulation. Stresses historical and contemporary hemispheric issues. May be repeated for a total of six credit hours under different topics.

Advanced Model Organization of American States

HIS 4v89-01/LAS 4v89-01/PSC 4v89-01, Mondays and Wednesdays, 4:00-5:15 PM

Instructor: Dr. Mark McGraw

Course prepares advanced students for leadership roles in a Model Organization of American States simulation. May be repeated for a total of six credit hours under different topics.

Honors Engaged Learning Seminar

HON 1398, W 2:00-4:45 PM

Instructor: Chad Thompson

An introductory course that helps students apply their skills and learning in meaningful ways through study and practical application. Course elements include research or service learning with community partners outside the traditional classroom.

Advanced Public Relations

JOU 4368, MWF 10:10-11:00 AM & 11:15-12:05 PM

Instructor: Kim Patterson

Researching, planning, implementation and evaluation of public relations campaigns and programs. Includes a public relations internship.

Supervised Clinical Medicine

MH 4351, 3 hours, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 2:00-3:15 PM

Instructor: Lauren Barron

Supervised weekly clinical service through various medical fields complemented by weekly seminar sessions. This course fulfills the College of Arts and Sciences Engaged Learning requirement.

Disrupting Disparities in Healthcare

MH 4391, 3 hours, Mondays & Wednesdays, 1:00 PM-2:15 PM

Instructor: Emilie Cunningham

Overview of health disparities in the United States from different disciplinary perspectives, to examine causes and consequences and to explore solutions and strategies that will make us all effective as advocates for justice and equity in healthcare.

Introduction to Outreach & Community Relations for Museums

MH 4302, 3 hours, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30-1:45 PM

Instructor: Eric Ames

Behavioral Medicine

NSC/PSY 4312, 3 hours, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 11:00 AM-12:15 PM

Instructor: Annie Ginty

Major issues in Behavioral Medicine from the contribution of psychological, behavioral, and physiological factors and processes, to health and illness, to the application of psychological theories and techniques, to the prevention and amelioration of illness and the promotion of health. Uses engaged learning methods.

Finding Success and Community Engagement in Physics

PHY 1125, 1 hour, Mondays, 2:30-3:30 PM

Instructor: Lorin Matthews

New Student Experience (NSE) course that introduces students in physics, astronomy or astrophysics to the benefits and challenges of studying these subjects. Includes an introduction to research areas and strategies for problem solving in physics. Students will bring some of what they learn into area classrooms of secondary schools for community engagement.

Hunger and Punishment: Food Security and the American Carceral System (EHUM)

PPS 1100-01, 1 hour, Wednesdays, 11:15 AM-12:05 PM

Instructor: Tasha Roberts, Baylor Collaborative for Hunger and Poverty

Hunger and Punishment: Food Security and the American Carceral System explores the intersection of hunger and the American carceral system, examining how those interacting with prisons and detention centers experience hunger and food access. Students will investigate the experiences of food insecurity among populations impacted by incarceration, the ethical implications of federal and state policy, and the broader impact of punitive policies on public health and social justice. Through a variety of speakers, readings, and case studies, the course will address key issues such as food access disparities, nutritional inequities, and the role of food security in rehabilitation and punishment. Students will critically evaluate the relationship between food justice and the carceral state, exploring how race, class, and social support structures shape the experiences of those returning from prisons and jails. By the end of the course, students will demonstrate a deeper understanding of how systemic inequities in food access contribute to broader patterns of inequality and incarceration in the United States.

Community Data & Research

PPS 1100-02, 1 hour, Mondays, 5:30 PM-6:20 PM

Instructor: Jeremy Rhodes, Prosper Waco

Engaging and partnering with community members and entities in research, sometimes in the form of research practice partnership, can be a powerful mechanism for ensuring research and data is appropriately situated within the context and utilized for social change. Students will learn how to apply research methods and data analysis to local organizations focused on social impact. Partnering with Prosper Waco, students will implement a community-engaged research project.

Creative Economies in Waco

PPS 1100-03, 1 hour, Mondays, 2:30-3:20 PM

Instructor: Julie Cervantes, Creative Waco

In this hands-on seminar, students analyze how creative economies drive economic growth while fostering social cohesion and cultural identity. In partnership with Creative Waco, the course uses Día de los Muertos and Mexico’s cultural tourism models as a case study for arts-based community development. Open to all majors—business, marketing, education, arts, and beyond—volunteer hours may include assisting at the Levitt AMP music festival, Waco’s Day of the Dead Parade & Festival, community art workshops, civic dialogues, and City of Waco Council meetings. The course culminates in collaboratively creating a parade artwork inspired by this year's theme Talavera Poblana.

Habitat for Humanity & Affordable Housing

PPS 1100-04, 1 hour, Thursdays, 2:00-2:50 PM

Instructor: John Alexander, Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity & Affordable Housing is designed to introduce students to ideas and methods of community service in the specific area of residential housing/construction. Conceptual differences between public and private sector housing initiatives are discussed with emphasis on the historical development of Habitat for Humanity as an ecumenical Christian, non-governmental organization (NGO). The philosophy behind this organization and details of its history are discussed in depth. Students participate in Habitat projects and learn first-hand the importance of community service, contributing 20 total hours of work time during the semester.

Advocacy - Children & Families

PPS 1100-05, 1 hour, Fridays, 12:20-1:10 PM

Instructor: Kerry Burkley, Advocacy Center Waco

Students in this course discuss the specific impact of how trauma affects individuals and how a ministry of hope increases the likelihood of generating a “new normal” in which a family can survive and thrive.

Trauma Advocacy

PPS 1100-06, 1 hour, Fridays, 1:25-2:15 PM

Instructor: Kerry Burkley, Advocacy Center Waco

This course engages students in becoming informed leaders and community responders, and in becoming advocates for the protection of those affected by child abuse.

Poverty in Waco

PPS 1100-07, 1 hour, Wednesdays, 12:20-1:10 PM

Instructor: Josh Caballero, City of Waco

This course is designed to provide students with a basic understanding of the causes and consequences of poverty in Waco and determine ways students can become more civically engaged. Students will learn from a variety of experts and Waco specific studies about the impact of poverty and its intersection with the sectors of employment, education, health, and community development. Students will also get a firsthand glimpse into the challenges facing those experiencing poverty in Waco through 20 hours of volunteer service over the course of the semester.

Transforming Child Poverty: A Community Approach

PPS 1100-08, 1 hour, Mondays 9:05-9:55 AM

Instructor: Sarah Pedrotti, Communities in Schools

This course explores child poverty through a community-centered lens, examining how systems, policies, and local conditions shape outcomes for children and families. Students move beyond individual explanations of poverty to analyze structural inequities and collective responses. Using Waco and the Heart of Texas as a living classroom, students conduct a community Windshield Survey to observe neighborhood assets, barriers, and opportunities impacting child well-being. Through readings, discussion, data analysis, and reflective assignments, the course examines education, health, housing, workforce development, and access to basic needs. Emphasis is placed on asset-based frameworks, mutuality, and community-level strategies that promote equity and shared responsibility.

Law & Public Service

PPS 1100-09, 1 hour, Wednesdays, 2:30-3:20 PM

Instructor: Kent McKeever, Greater Waco Legal Services

In addition to one weekly classroom hour devoted to the public service aspect of the legal profession, students will engage the local legal community and various manifestations of law and public service outside the classroom. Whether students are considering a career in law or not, all those interested in how the legal profession partners with those working in other public service roles and intersects with other vital social systems and professional endeavors will find this course engaging, edifying, and equipping. Students will hone and develop thinking, collaboration, and advocacy skills through their work inside and outside the classroom.

Accompanying the Migrant in Waco

PPS 1100-11, 1 hour, Tuesdays 3:30-4:20 PM

Instructor: Eloisa Cruz Arrendondo, Inspiracion Waco

This course is designed to provide students with a basic understanding of the journey of a Spanish-speaking person in Waco to develop an awareness of the unique and rich community that the U.S. has. Students will explore the journey of a Spanish-speaking person through reading, journaling, volunteering with La Puerta, and class discussions.

Christian Social Ministries

PPS 1100-13, 1 hour, Thursdays, 8:00 AM - 8:50 AM

Instructor: Jimmy Dorrell, Mission Waco

Students in this class will be exposed to the rich opportunities to participate in Christian Social Ministries in the Waco area. In this course students will learn both appropriate ways to serve in meaningful ways and be afforded hands-on opportunities for engagement in the local Waco community. Students will be introduced to several local non-profits in Waco which serve the homeless, poor, marginalized, children, youth and adults where they may choose to serve for approximately 20 hours during the semester.

Food and Sustainability (EHUM)

PPS 1100-14, 1 hour, Mondays, 10:10-11:00 AM

Instructor: Sky Toney, Noble Research Institute

This course explores how the food we eat and the systems that produce it shape human health, environmental quality, and social justice. Drawing on the expertise of Noble Research Institute, the course analyzes how regenerative agriculture works with natural processes to restore soil and ecosystems while producing food that is both ethical and economically sustainable. Gain firsthand insight into agricultural systems and discover how everyday choices and academic pursuits can be leveraged to advance a food system that strengthens communities, supports economic vitality, enhances environmental health, and promotes the public good.

Wellness in Waco (EHUM)

PPS 1100-15, 1 hour, Mondays, 11:15 AM - 12:05 PM

Instructor: April Strickland

Through class discussions we will explore how collaboration with area nonprofits focused on food access, health, environmental sustainability and other wellness initiatives has planted seeds of hope. This section will explore how meaningful partnerships with local nonprofits can spark real, lasting change in our community. Students will gain firsthand insight into what community engagement looks like in action across non-profit sectors including schools, churches, grassroots organizations etc. This course equips students with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to lead ethically and effectively within their communities. Join us as we examine how small acts of service can grow into sustainable impact for the common good.

Non-Profit Sports Ministry

PPS 1100-16, 1 hour, Wednesdays, 8:00-8:50 AM

Instructor: Jennifer Martinsen, Molly Martinsen Foundation

This course will give you a first-hand look into the grass-roots efforts of building a sports ministry from the ground up. Learn from, develop, and help grow a non-profit sports ministry. Volley for Molly was founded in 2013 as a way to honor Molly’s life, her love of Jesus, and her passion for volleyball. Molly Grace Martinsen passed away from brain cancer in 2012, when she was only 11 years old. This annual tournament is the foundation’s only fundraiser, and all the money raised is donated to families, individuals, grief nonprofits, Christian ministries, and brain cancer research. The course will include guest speakers currently involved in sports ministry to enable students to receive a first-hand look into different sports ministries to see how each is uniquely structured yet with the same goal of spreading the Gospel.

Community Gardening (EHUM)

PPS 1100-18, Tuesdays, 8:00 AM - 8:50 AM

Instructor: Grant Hall, World Hunger Relief Farm

In this course students learn the value of community gardens in schools and urban areas. Through volunteerism, students will learn how community gardens provide fresh produce as well as neighborhood improvement, sense of community and connection to the environment.

Introduction to Community Dentistry

PPS 1100-20, Mondays, 9:05-9:55 AM

Instructor: Dr. Kelsey Thompson, Waco Family Medicine

This course provides hands-on experience in community dentistry for students interested in dental and other health professions. Students will engage in dental outreach through schools and community settings, as well as at Waco Family Medicine clinics, supporting preventive care and oral health education for underserved populations. The course introduces health equity, social determinants of health, and the role of dental professionals in improving community health.

Community Family Medicine

PPS 1100-21, Wednesdays, 9:05-9:55 AM

Instructor: Dr. Rachel Rube, Waco Family Medicine

Students in this course learn about primary care (family medicine) with interactive engagement in various settings across the Waco community. Students will have experiential time volunteering/shadowing regularly in local clinics and ancillary health facilities to learn more intimately the inner workings of the outpatient healthcare network.

Learning for the World

PPS 1101-01, PPS 1101-02, and PPS 1101-03 1 hour, Tuesdays, 3:30-4:20 PM

Instructors: Jennifer Good, Baylor Office of Engaged Learning, Guilherme Almedia de Feitosa, Baylor Theatre, and Tammy Adair, Baylor Office of Engaged Learning

Focuses on pathways to excellence in scholarship and citizenship for students, enabling them to connect their transformational work in the classroom to opportunities for immersion, application, and engagement. Students will work with local nonprofits to learn how to address persistent community needs and challenges. Instructor permission required. Must apply to and be accepted as a Baylor Engage Fellow to enroll.

Leadership and Social Change

PPS 2301, 3 hours, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:30-10:45 AM

Instructor: Leia Duncan, Baylor & Beyond

This course illuminates the theory and practice of leading groups toward positive social change locally and globally, emphasizing issues such as poverty, public education, and systemic inequality. All students will learn from community engagement projects and activities on best practices for leading change. The primary goal for this course is for each student to think about their role as a contributing global citizen.

Model United Nations

PSC 3375, 3 hours, Mondays, 5:45 PM-8:30 PM

Instructor: Rebecca Flavin, Political Science & Baylor Office of Engaged Learning

This course provides an overview of the principal organs, related organizations, and specialized agencies of the United Nations system, including research into the work of specific committees that Baylor’s Model UN team will simulate at national and local conferences. The course includes an engaged learning component such as a community Model UN for local schools or applied research for a UN agency or NGO. The course may be taken twice. Contact Dr. Rebecca Flavin for more information (rebecca_flavin@baylor.edu).

Public Service Internship

PSC 3382, 3 hours, Mondays and Wednesdays, 4:00-5:15 PM

Instructor: Christopher Galeczka, Baylor Library

Research and seminars supplemented by fieldwork in a regional federal agency, in a state or local governmental agency, or in a not-for-profit agency.

Baylor in Washington Semester Internship

PSC 3992, 3 hours

Instructor: Hannah Wardell Metcalf & Rebecca Flavin

Baylor in Washington students will participate in a full-time internship in Washington, D.C. in a field of their choice. Examples of internships include: U.S. State Department, Capitol Hill, The Supreme Court, think tanks, advocacy organizations, Smithsonian Museums, consulting firms, and nonprofits. Through the Washington Semester Internship Course, students will earn 9 credit hours for completing their internship and participating in professional development activities every Friday throughout the semester. These professional development opportunities include workshops on writing, communication, and networking along with career panels and behind-the-scenes briefings featuring experts around D.C. Students will also complete several assignments designed to help them learn more about their professional and intellectual strengths and interests and expand their knowledge about career paths in D.C. *Interested students must be accepted to the Baylor in Washington program through a competitive application process to enroll in this course.

Environmental Sociology

SOC 3325, 3 hours, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 2:00-3:15 PM

Instructor: Jodien Johnson

Sociological perspective to understanding the connection between society and the environment. This course includes engaged learning with the community.

Applied Sociology

SOC 4303, 3 hours, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:00-9:15 AM

Instructor: Jodien Johnson

This course is designed to provide students an in-depth understanding of applied sociology through practical application of sociological methods in the community outside our classroom doors. We will be working on projects at the Center for Community Research and Development (CCRD) where students will have the opportunity to work alongside Baylor Sociology graduate students on client-driven research projects. We will work on projects that help you develop critical thinking, presentation, writing, communication, and collaborative skills.

Spanish for Christian Ministry

SPA 3301, 3 hours, Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays, 11:15 AM-12:05 PM

Instructor: Joan Barrett

Development of vocabulary, grammar, composition, and conversation skills in Spanish for students interested in Christian ministry, using the Bible and readings of a spiritual nature. This course includes an Engaged Learning Component.

Advanced Spanish for Heritage Speakers

SPA 3301, 3 hours, Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays, 10:10-11:00 AM OR 12:20-1:10 PM

Instructors: Patricia Escamilla or Isabella Calafate

Designed for students who have prior exposure to Spanish but may not have studied it formally. Readings and discussion about Spanish-speaking communities worldwide and practice at advanced-level proficiency to develop speaking and writing skills for professional contexts.