Frequently Asked Questions
How do I add the PACE certificate?
How is a certificate different from a minor?
How much time will it take me to complete the PACE certificate?
How do I best plan for completing a PACE certificate?
Will the PACE courses teach me leadership skills?
What are the ‘core courses?’
Can I take classes that will count towards my major?
Why should I be interested in politics?
Can I get this certificate and major in business?
Can I get this certificate and major in journalism?
Can I fit in the certificate with a major in SPEA?
Will this certificate be good if I'm considering law school?
Will this certificate be good if I'm considering medical school?
Will I be able to fit in the PACE certificate if I am in the School of Social Work?
How is this certificate different from Political Science, SPEA, or other programs?
What happened to the LESA minor?
What leadership opportunities exist within the PACE program itself?
What’s the difference between ‘Political’ and ‘Civic’ engagement?
Should I pursue both the LAMP and the PACE certificates?
Should I combine the American Humanics through SPEA with the PACE certificate?
Can I do the PACE certificate and major in the School of Education?
Regarding the new Gen Ed requirements for students who begin their IUB studies in 2011 and later:
Which gen ed courses can count toward the PACE certificate?
Which courses from the degree requirements of the College of Arts & Sciences count toward PACE and how are they distributed?
How do I add the PACE certificate?
We hope you will find the process quick and easy!
Making an appointment to consult with the Associate Director is the best first step. Call 812-856-1747 to set up a time that fits your schedule.
To apply to add PACE officially:
--You would contact an instructor to ask whether they would be a reference for your application to the program.
--Then go to the “Apply Now” link at our website.
--Fill out the short online form, including the name of your reference and his or her email address. A brief essay is also required. You just hit ‘submit’ and it will be routed to me.
-We will then contact your reference with the link to the recommendation form, which is also a quick online submission.
How is a certificate different from a minor?
A minor is usually 15-18 credit hours in one subject, and it is included on your degree with your major/s. A certificate is a separate diploma awarded with your degree or afterward. At the same time, the courses will also count toward your degree and can double count in your major, minor, or general education requirements, or as general electives.
The PACE certificate is 25 credit hours of courses that includes electives from different departments or schools. The curriculum of the PACE certificate is interdisciplinary, unlike a major or minor, which is more focused on a specific discipline. An interdisciplinary approach means that you will learn from different disciplinary perspectives.
How much time will it take me to complete the PACE certificate?
You should not need extra time to do this certificate, but you should ‘layer’ it into your priorities as you plan your semesters. Your work on the PACE certificate can double count for your degree and major/minor requirements.
How do I best plan for completing a PACE certificate?
Think in terms of development throughout your curriculum and what your priorities are for that time. For the PACE certificate, fit in the two core courses as soon as possible -- definitely in your first two years -- plus add two of the PACE electives, considering how they will double count in your degree program. Consult the PACE advisor early in your studies to discuss your interests and planning your priorities and development as you choose courses.
Apply to the program when you have taken one core course and one other PACE course. Think about what kind of interests you want to develop through your internship and discuss it with the internship director and get it done by the end of your junior year or the summer after. Fit in the one credit Issue Forum retreat (one weekend day, then a short paper). Then in your senior year you will do the capstone seminar.
Will the PACE courses teach me leadership skills?
Yes, but the real question is: HOW will you develop your leadership strengths as you learn and practice the skills of political and civic engagement? The answer is: you will develop your strengths and abilities toward leading in many forms. You do this by being proactive in planning and seeking out opportunities that fit your interests in order to apply what you are learning. You want to be ready to say ‘yes’ when a good opportunity is presented. AND you will work on preparing yourself toward a goal, so that each step makes sense in that plan.
Whether you wish to take the lead in building a coalition to solve a public problem or to be effective in a position in government or non-governmental organizations, you can find the steps and opportunities through this program. In the core courses you will examine some strategies for effective democratic citizenship and for using your leadership skills in public life. You will practice your knowledge in the classes, in the issues forum, and during your internship. You will integrate your experiences inside and outside the classroom through the capstone seminar and further develop yourself professionally and personally as you put together a portfolio of your learning.
Along the way you will be encouraged to participate in various leadership positions through the PACE program as well as in other campus and community groups.
What are the ‘core courses?’
PACE-C 210, Public Leadership in America, and PACE-C 211, Public Decision Making in America, will be offered each fall and spring term. Plan on taking them as early as possible, as they are structured for beginning students. They are both interdisciplinary in approach and will combine academic and experiential learning. In the Public Leadership course, for instance, the approaches will vary among historical, sociological, and psychological, and you will bring in your own perspective and experiences to the ‘textbook’ knowledge in order to integrate your learning.
The goals of the core courses include
- Communicating in an effective and persuasive manner in a variety of public venues
- Analyzing experiential and academic learning through reflection
- Understanding different styles of leadership and the role of political and civic leader
- Understanding of political and civil society and its institutions and organization
- Understanding of the processes of policy making and implementation in governmental and non-governmental organizations
- Understanding the role of social movements and forms of protest in political and civic life
- Developing ways to negotiate and reach fair agreements
- Managing polarities among different perspectives in order to take action
- Developing ability to lead meetings, commissions, and other public organizations
- Building ability to take informed and principled stands on major public issues
- Developing the ability to critique established political and civic organizations and institutions and to challenge majoritarian assumptions about public life
- Highlighting individual learning goals within the above categories
- Understanding and using research on American political and civic life
Can I take classes that will count towards my major?
Up to two classes from one department or school, if they are listed as PACE electives, will double count for the certificate and for your major or minor. This may be efficient for students in, for instance, Communication and Culture, Political Science, Sociology, SPEA, and Social Work, as well as other programs… (see list of electives)
Why should I be interested in politics?
Engagement in political and civic life is part of our many public life roles, no matter what profession or vocation we choose. ‘Politics’ may mean navigating the structures of our society; it may mean playing a role in the government; or it can mean being effective as a citizen in your community. Politics is relevant to whatever your chosen field may be. It relates to having knowledge of governmental and civic structures and skills to enhance your ability to work with people of different perspectives while improving your self-efficacy (your perception of your effectiveness) in accomplishing your goals in public life.
Can I get this certificate and major in business?
Yes. To combine this certificate with your business major, you will want to choose electives that will count toward your general education requirements. The two PACE core courses, C210 and C211, satisfy an S&H distribution requirement. It is important that you complete the core courses and about three electives in your first two years. Then you will fit in the internship, 1-credit retreat, and capstone seminar (plus another elective or two if you need those) after you have completed ICORE. If you wish to choose a Field Specialization, possible fields compatible with multiple PACE electives would be Communication and Arts & Social Services. Remember that only two courses in one department may be chosen under the electives.
In order to count an internship both for your interests in business and for credit in PACE, you could choose working for a non-profit/non-governmental organization or a governmental office. It may even be a placement in a private firm that is characterized as social entrepreneurship. Be sure to consult with the internship director as you plan to fulfill that requirement.
Can I get this certificate and major in journalism?
Yes. The PACE certificate (25 hours) is a perfect fit for the outside concentration required for the Journalism degree. In addition, here is the list of the PACE electives that will count for the American Politics requirement in the Journalism curriculum. You would take one to double count for that Journalism requirement and could add up to one other in Political Science, if you wish, to fulfill the PACE elective requirement.
POLS-Y 103 |
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POLS-Y 301 |
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POLS-Y 307 |
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POLS-Y 308 |
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POLS-Y 313 |
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POLS-Y 318 |
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POLS-Y 319 |
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POLS-Y 320 |
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POLS-Y 326 |
Can I fit in the certificate with a major in SPEA?
Yes, here are some suggestions as you plan your curriculum to complete a SPEA major. Please come to see us at the PACE office early in your work so that we can help you map this out (812-856-1747). We also recommend that you consult with a SPEA advisor.
--Take the PACE core courses, PACE-C 210 Public Leadership in the fall and PACE-C 211 Making Public Decisions in the spring, as early as possible in your curriculum (freshman or sophomore year). They are small classes geared toward discussion and experiential learning. Also, for students beginning at IU from summer/fall 2011, C210 and C211 satisfy the S&H Breadth of Inquiry requirement.
--Take the Issues Forum 1-credit class in the spring, PACE-C 400.
--For the PACE 4 electives required, you may include two SPEA courses. Keep in mind that two electives must be at the 300-400 level. Some that would count are V160, V161, V362 Nonprofit Mgmt & Leadership, V450 topics as approved, and others.
See http://pace.indiana.edu/program/requirements.shtml#electives
--For other courses to count toward the PACE electives and to overlap with SPEA, you can take POLS-Y 103 for the American Politics requirement in SPEA, and/or CMCL-C228 to satisfy SPEA’s Oral Communication requirement.
--You could also choose, for SPEA S&H, one of the CJUS, POLS, SOC, or TEL courses listed for PACE: See http://pace.indiana.edu/program/requirements.shtml#electives
--For the required internship for the PACE certificate, most experiences you would do for the SPEA internship requirement can also count for PACE. There would only be an additional requirement of a final PACE internship reflection paper and public report if you’d like to double count your internship.
Will this certificate be good if I'm considering law school?
Yes. Law school admissions staff considers your own development and how engaged you were in your curriculum and extra-curricular experiences, as well as the variety of experiences you have had. The PACE certificate can be structured to suit your interests—both in your choice of electives and in your internship placement.
Another advantage to adding the PACE certificate to your curriculum is the opportunity to explore various topics in different perspectives. The most compelling reason is how you can choose to develop yourself personally and professionally through your academic and experiential activities in the program. Learning to take principled stands, to advocate, and to work with people who have different viewpoints are some of the valuable experiences to be gained. In all of these ways, you can increase your self-efficacy toward achieving your goals.
Will this certificate be good if I'm considering medical school?
Students taking a rigorous curriculum in the sciences value and enjoy the perspectives gained from courses for the PACE certificate. It is often these students who are very interested in learning how to effectively engage in advocacy or to work with people who are different from themselves or even just how to be an effective community citizen. You can use the PACE core courses and electives to satisfy General Education distribution hours and as electives for your degree. Please take the PACE-C 210 and C211 core courses in your first or second year of study, as well as at least 2-3 of the electives. Then you will be ready to talk about choosing an internship around your junior year, perhaps in a medical organization, and do the capstone seminar in your senior year.
Will I be able to fit in the PACE certificate if I am in the School of Social Work?
Definitely—if you begin early enough in your undergraduate career. Please consult the PACE advisor (Associate Director) about how the Social Work curriculum meshes with the PACE certificate. We have students strongly interested in advocacy who find the benefits of both programs that suit their developmental goals.
How is this certificate different from Political Science, SPEA, or other programs?
There is a small amount of overlap between the PACE courses and the disciplines of Political Science, Sociology, Communication and Culture, SPEA and other departments and schools. The certificate is intentionally interdisciplinary (including approaches from multiple disciplinary perspectives) and uses academic and experiential learning – the ‘hands-on’ activities may be in the classroom or outside of class activities. Whereas many programs have internship credit as a possible option, PACE requires a mentored internship tailored to your interests. If your program DOES require an internship, speak to the PACE internship director to possibly combine those requirements. The capstone seminar will integrate your learning in all of the PACE activities and classes as you develop a portfolio, aiding you in professional and personal development.
Like no other department or program, PACE courses specifically address democratic citizenship in the U.S.: how to seek out various viewpoints, engage in dialogue, analyze the effectiveness of policies, take principled stands on vital public issues and advocate effectively, understand the relationship between theory and practice, develop informed critiques of political and civic institutions, practice collective decision-making, work with those who hold opposing views, and devise effective public action. The program takes the stance that working with people who are different than oneself is an integral part of public life and that citizens need to be effective in doing that to be active in political and civic life.
Please speak with advisors in any program in which you are interested to get the best guidance and resources to make your decision.
What happened to the LESA minor?
The minor in Leadership, Ethics, and Social Action (LESA) had enough common ground with this new certificate that it was decided to merge the LESA program with PACE. Some of the LESA faculty advisory board members are important contributors to the PACE advisory board. The last LESA capstone class is the 2010 cohort. Three students who completed the LESA capstone and the minor served on the PACE Student Advisory Board in its first year.
Now all students who were interested in LESA can be part of the PACE program. We have made some accommodations regarding exceptions for certain electives. The PACE certificate is more flexible than the former LESA minor because the LESA capstone sequence has become the internship requirement and an integrative capstone seminar in PACE, being offered enough so that students who want to go overseas or be part of the Washington Leadership Program can easily fit in those experiences. PACE also encompasses the interests of more students—both those who wish to concentrate on non-governmental organizations and those students who have aspirations to work in government or affiliated groups. Each student creates an individual path through the PACE requirements to meet his or her own interests and passion.
What leadership opportunities exist within the PACE program itself?
Interested students may wish to serve on the Student Advisory Board or as organizers of the yearly Issue Forum retreat. Contact the Associate Director for more information.
What’s the difference between ‘Political’ and ‘Civic’ engagement?
Though students may have different definitions of these terms, the PACE program encompasses democratic citizenship in many forms. The courses convey knowledge about governmental and nongovernmental organizations and community decision making and leadership. The outside-the-classroom events include people and perspectives from all levels of American public life: local, state, and national.
The advantages of combining political and civic engagement is that, although the concepts have distinct parameters, there is constant interplay between citizens, non-governmental organizations, private organizations, and government at various levels. Understanding the distinctions, while recognizing the overlapping and symbiotic relationships, leads to a more comprehensive view of the complex realities of political and civic engagement in American public life.
To be effective as an engaged citizen, it is beneficial, even necessary, to understand both perspectives and to practice the skills of navigating the waters of both realms. In many ways, they are both part of democratic citizenship. Students find themselves coming to new understanding of the meaning of both political and civic engagement through the courses and activities of the PACE program.
Should I pursue both the LAMP and the PACE certificates?
While some students will naturally be interested in both programs, it is important to decide the best ‘fit’ for you and to choose only one of these certificate programs. There may be some opportunities to collaborate with LAMP while involved in PACE activities, but in general, each of these programs requires enough time and dedication for students to complement their choice of major and/or minors that choosing both would be difficult. Doing both certificates would probably mean that a student could not give enough attention and energy to getting the most from the opportunities presented.
The LAMP curriculum looks at business problems from a liberal arts perspective. LAMP is only for students with majors in the College of Arts & Sciences whose GPAs are very high and who are interested in using applicable business skills to consider management in multiple arenas. If that is a higher priority, you could always take one or both of the PACE core courses in addition, as part of your general education curriculum.
Please speak with advisors in any program in which you are interested to get the best guidance and resources to make your decision.
Should I combine the American Humanics certificate through SPEA with the PACE certificate?
Again, it is worthwhile to find a good ‘fit’ for each student according to their passion, interests, and even personality. It is NOT better to choose to add MORE certificates, especially when it decreases your ability to go into depth to develop yourself with the opportunities in your major, minor/s, and extracurricular activities.
You can take some SPEA courses (up to two) to count as PACE electives, and that might be a way to explore whether you should obtain a SPEA minor in addition to the PACE certificate or pursue the American Humanics certificate instead of PACE.
Please speak with advisors in any program in which you are interested to get the best guidance and resources to make your decision.
Can I do the PACE certificate and major in the School of Education?
You will need to speak with an Education advisor to see what flexibility you have in adding minors and certificates, as these currently are not being posted to Education diplomas and to your teaching certification. You may be able to take the core PACE courses as part of your general education distribution requirements for some of the Education majors.
Which gen ed courses can count toward the PACE certificate?
Here is the list of courses that will count toward PACE and help you fulfill specific gen ed requirements. You may also find overlap in the courses you are taking for requirements for your major that will count toward PACE and for your major—the limit is TWO courses from one prefix [e.g. BUS, POLS, SPEA, etc.] See the complete list here
Which courses from the degree requirements of the College of Arts & Sciences count toward PACE and how are they distributed?
You may find that you can take courses that help you to explore a major or fulfill requirements for a major that will count as electives toward the PACE certificate. Click here to see the entire list of these courses. To fulfill specific requirements for the College of Arts & Sciences/CASE, see this list.
