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The language used throughout the course, in both instruction and assessments.
The language used throughout the course, in both instruction and assessments.
There are no special skills or experiences you need before learning about governance and society. It’s helpful to have an interest in how local and federal governments function and the role social justice plays in modern society. Intermediate and advanced governance and society topics go into detail on specific issues, like municipal waste, globalization, and climate change, so it’s important to have beginner-level knowledge of how government and society work hand in hand before studying these topics.‎
People with an interest in social justice plus economics on a micro and macro scale are best suited for roles in governance and society. Roles in government and society also require people who understand social norms and how they evolve over time. Additionally, it’s imperative that people with any role in governance and society understand the importance of voting rights and demographics. The people best suited for these roles need to be compassionate and care about the most vulnerable members of our population, including seniors, those with disabilities, and people who rely on social services.‎
Governance and society is largely about keeping people safe, and topics in terrorism and counterterrorism will give learners a broad view of how governments can keep us secure from a local, federal, and global standpoint. Governance and society is about more than just how policy is made and enacted. It’s about the intersection of equality, sustainability, and safety, and how societies can come together to create a workable government. For that reason, it’s important to study a wide field of topics related to governance and society. Topics that explore equality, including race, social justice, and feminism, can help learners consider issues outside of their scope. Global diplomacy and international relations may help you explore how societies around the world function. People interested in combating climate change may consider topics that examine sustainable cities.‎
Careers in government are widely available at the federal, state, and local levels as a public servant. These include careers in law enforcement, case working, public health, and city management. Many communities are also hiring people to work as contact tracers during the COVID-19 pandemic. For people interested in working in fields related to social justice, many public and private sectors hire community organizers to educate, inform, and organize groups of people and organizations. Private or public sector think tanks may hire people with a background in governance and society for community planning related to social advocacy and environmental issues.‎