Preparatory Coursework in CBR
The Haas Center provides opportunities for undergraduate students at Stanford who are interested in pursuing community-engaged research, along with a broad continuum of support.
URBANST 123A (CSRE 146A). Designing Research for Social Justice: Creating a Community Engaged Research Project. Offered in the winter quarter, this course supports students in designing or refining a proposal for a community-engaged research project. Students are guided through key phases of the research process—including building effective community partnerships, developing meaningful research questions, and selecting appropriate methods for data collection and analysis that serve both scholarly and community goals. The course also provides a foundation in the theory and practice of community-based research, with attention to the ethical considerations and challenges that arise in collaborative research settings. Students are encouraged to use the course to develop a strong proposal for summer funding opportunities such as the Haas Center CBR Fellowships, Cardinal Quarter Fellowships, the Chappell Lougee Scholarship, and Major Grants.
Urban Studies 123B (CSRE 146B): Community Engaged Research - Principles, Ethics, and Design. Offered in the spring quarter, his course is designed for students preparing to engage in community-based research, offering a deep exploration of its principles, practices, and ethics. It presents community-engaged research as a distinctive approach to scholarly inquiry and social action—one that centers the interests, assets, and leadership of community partners. Practically, the course supports students in developing or refining a collaborative research design and in building the professional and project-specific skills needed for effective partnership work. Students work in consultation with mentors and community collaborators to align their research goals with community priorities. This course is required for students in the Haas Center's Community-Based Research Fellows Program, but enrollment is open to all Stanford students. We especially encourage students planning to undertake partnership-based research during the summer to enroll.
To learn more about these academic offerings, please reach out to Clayton Hurd, Director of Community-Engaged Research at the Haas Center.