The Civic Explorers Living & Learning Community (LLC) aims to introduce students to careers that promote civic engagement and have them appreciate how their major, particularly Psychology and Political Science, can prepare them for civically engaged work.
This LLC will appeal to students interested in learning how they can leverage their undergraduate education to pursue careers that are civically engaged. Students may be from any major in the College of Arts and Sciences, but we expect this will largely appeal to students interested in pre-law, government, politics, the helping professions, and non-profit organizations.
Live
The Civic Explorers LLC is located in Robinson Hall for 2026-2027. All LLC locations are subject to change.
Learn
The mission and purpose of the Civic Explorers LLC will support central learning outcomes by providing the students with a framework for understanding and engaging the political and social world they live in. In particular, the LLC is geared toward helping students achieve academic success, connect with various faculty whose interests are consistent with their own, and connect with fellow students within their LLC.
The programming for the community will also help students appreciate the intersection between Psychology and Political Science and gain an awareness of how these majors can prepare students for careers that demand or emphasize civic engagement, including but not limited to law, public service, education, and civic advocacy.
Engage
LLC programming will expose students to a wide range of career options that capitalize on their course work in Political Science and Psychology and allow them to pursue civically engaged careers.
INPG (Interdisciplinary Programs) 100 will include field trips, guest speakers, and possibly one on one meetings with alumni for informational interviews and possible mentoring opportunities.
Serve
In addition to helping support and shape students’ career objectives, the LLC will be designed to foster connections within the East Tennessee community by providing students with opportunities to interact with a variety of civic and community institutions, such as government agencies, advocacy groups, and charitable organizations. These relationships with groups and institutions in the community will help students better understand the practical value of an education in the social sciences.
Required Fall Semester Classes Include:
- All LLC students will be enrolled in the same FY 101 section, as a way to increase group cohesion and INPG 100 Special Topics: Careers in Civic Engagement which will be where they learn about the many ways Political Science and Psychology majors can pursue careers that are civically engaged.
Apply
The Civic Explorers LLC is open to all first-year students that are majoring in and/or minoring in a College of Arts and Sciences program. A complete LLC application is required for all interested students.
Incoming first-year students interested in participating in Civic Explorers LLC should first complete their online housing application. Once complete, students can access the online Living and Learning Community application (available in early February). For more information, contact the Department of University Housing.
To learn more about the Civic Explorers LLC, contact either Dr. Elizabeth Cooper (Teacher Professor of Psychology) at [email protected] or Dr. Brandon Prins (Professor of Political Science) at [email protected].