Civic education instruction teaches youth and adults how to interact in various aspects of social engagement. Interaction includes thought processes, verbal and body language reactions and attitudes toward people who possess different outlooks, beliefs and cultural behaviors. Civic engagement in college education is often a required type of course for students of all majors because civic skills are important in every career field. Civic education aims to widen a students' perspective and enhance their ability to engage in respectful and responsible manners.
Types of civic education vary between colleges. Colleges focus on various civic programs such as civic policy, law, civic responsibility, human rights, governance and leadership and community participation. Programs that emphasize civic education in human rights might offer classes about women's rights around the world while a program on community participation will require students to volunteer with local organizations to gain an understanding of social responsibility, enhance comprehension of empathy and gain a sense of accomplishment. Programs that require student participation are most successful for teaching essential civic engagement skills, according to research by the U.S. Office of Democracy and Governance.
Fellowships are excellent opportunities for college seniors to consider before taking a job or applying for graduate school. Civic education fellowships create opportunities for graduates to gain practical experience that fosters deeper understanding of their emphasis in civic education. The Fulbright Scholar Program is a prestigious fellowship offered to college graduates who demonstrate excellence in the classroom and desire the opportunity to travel abroad and learn about different cultures. The U.S. Department of Education offers fellowships to minority and low-income students to spend time in Washington D.C. and learn about the three branches of the federal government.
Because civic engagement is so important in today's political climate, many organizations offer grants to students and educational institutions that show a passion for empowering better civic leadership and governance. Grants can be used to fund school programs or to fund a student's research. College students can apply for grants through their university or through outside organizations. Students interested in Middle Eastern affairs might consider the U.S. State Department's Middle East Partnership Initiative Fellowship, for example. Colleges can apply to organizations like the Carnegie Corporation of New York for civic education program grants.