Program
A minor in community engaged learning combines practical experience with critical pedagogies.
See the Academic Calendar for specific course requirements or Connect for class times.
"Being part of the Community Engaged Learning program has been the highlight of my Mount Allison experience so far. CENL classes are unique because they allow students to take agency in their education through experiential learning opportunities. This CENL program has provided me with the opportunity to make meaningful connections with the Tantramar community. The program has allowed me the rare opportunity to see and feel the impact of my work. I will continue to use the skills that I have developed while planning and executing CENL projects for the rest of my life."
Leor Handelsman (Fourth year student)
Courses
Summer 2025
What does a compassionate community look like and could it become a model for addressing social injustices such as the poverty, housing insecurity, and loneliness in our midst? We’ll discuss how understanding compassion more fully and using it as a driver of social action we are able to transform our communities for the benefit of all members.
Spring/Summer 2025 Term
Contact: Dr. Leslie Shumka - lshumka@mta.ca
Start/End dates: May 5-August 31
Format: Unscheduled online, 3 credits
2025-26 CENL course offerings
Fall 2025
Note: All courses are worth 3 credits.
CENL/RELG 1001: Intro to Compassionate Communities
Dr. Leslie Shumka
What does a compassionate community look like and could it become a model for addressing social injustices such as the poverty, housing insecurity, and loneliness in our midst? We’ll discuss how understanding compassion more fully and using it as a driver of social action we are able to transform our communities for the benefit of all members.
CENL 1201: Community and Social Change
Instructor TBA
This course introduces the idea of social change from a variety of disciplinary areas including Religious Studies, Modern Languages, Geography, Environmental Studies, Sociology, Music, Fine Arts and Biology. The course is for students who are looking to contribute to their community by addressing social change but are not sure how to get involved in this type of work. With knowledge garnered from years of community activism and research, this team-taught course introduces students to the conceptual tools that are crucial for community organizing, development and volunteer work. (Format: Lecture 3 Hours) (Exclusion: CENL 1991: Community and Social Change)
CENL 2101: Introduction to Community Engaged Learning
Dr. Leslie Shumka
What does it mean to ‘blow out the walls of your classroom’? In this course, it means that you are introduced to the field of community engaged learning through an immersive experience in Sackville or a nearby community. This type of place-based learning involves project work, often in a community school, and helps you develop a skill-set with practical applications beyond community engagement.
CENL 2201: Learning to Desire
Prof. Sacha Dewolfe
This course reflects on what has shaped Indigenous identities. Damage narratives are perpetuated and maintained about Indigenous peoples in a variety of areas. This course will explore how damage has informed a frame of reference for Indigenous peoples and how it may affect the conceptual map of those it subjects. Moving from 'decolonial' strategies in academia to a new emergence, this course aims to utilize reframing as the foundation of community resilience. [Note 1: This course is cross-listed with INDG 2201 and may therefore count as three credits in either discipline.] (Format: Experiential) (Exclusion: INDG 2991 Learning to Desire)
CENL 3601: Social Aspects of Place
Prof. Sacha Dewolfe
This course explores Indigenous conceptions of place and environment through collaborative partnerships with First Nations people and communities. [Note 1: This course is cross-listed with INDG 3601 and may therefore count as three credits in either discipline.] (Format: Experiential/Lecture)
Winter 2026
Note: All courses are worth 3 credits.
CENL 1401: Education, Identity and Athletics
Dr. Leslie Shumka
This introduction to community engaged learning is well suited to individuals who already volunteer as coaches and mentors, or those who are considering careers in recreation administration and education. If you’d like to take your learning into a community school on a weekly basis then this might be the experience you are looking for.
CENL 2001: Community Narratives
Dr. Leslie Shumka
Story-telling has always served as a powerful medium for community groups and institutions as they construct a sense of identity, create awareness of social concerns relevant to them, and encourage members to help solve pressing social issues. We examine storytelling as it pertains to rural communities like Sackville, identify the most effective narratives for a digital age, and identify the tools used to create and tell these stories (e.g., university archives, natural and historical landmarks, our local heritage society, and more).
CENL 4001: Advanced Studies in CENL
Instructor TBA
This course provides students with a focused learning opportunity in community engagement research. Students will be connected with a focused, experiential learning opportunity. [Note1: This course is cross-listed with RELG 4001 and may therefore count as three credits in either discipline. ] Prereq: Permission of the Department