Tufts Civic Semester
Based in either Urubamba, Peru, or Thailand, this transformational first-semester program combines academic and experiential learning with a focus on community engagement and social and environmental justice.
Find Your Civic Pathway
At Tisch College, every Tufts student—whatever their field of study, school or degree program—has a pathway to civic engagement.
We are training students for a lifetime of civic leadership across interests and future careers. And we have built our programs, courses and supports with that in mind.
Our goal is to meet students where they are and engage them throughout their time at Tufts, and beyond, on all our campuses.
Getting Started at Tufts
FOCUS Pre-Orientation
FOCUS is a five-day Pre-Orientation for incoming first-years focused on critical service learning. During FOCUS, you’ll have the opportunity to get to know Tufts, the Greater Boston Area, and your fellow Jumbos all the while creating meaningful relationships with the communities around us.
Student Groups
Tisch College plays an important role promoting and facilitating community service, political participation, and other forms of civic engagement. Much of that work is carried out by students, both individually and, especially, through myriad student organizations on all Tufts campuses that advance Jumbos’ participation in civic life.
Make Civic Studies Your Focus
Tisch Scholars for Civic Life
Our unique three-year leadership development program combines academic coursework, fieldwork in local communities, skill-building, and critical reflection. Apply in your first or second year.
Major or Minor in Civic Studies
Tufts offers the first academic major in Civic Studies as well as two minors, in peace and justice studies and environmental entrepreneurship.
Make a Difference, Learn to Lead
Initiative for Global Leadership
Explore our global offerings of immersive field-based learning about civil society and the infrastructures of democracy.
Tisch Summer Fellows
Whether you're an undergraduate or a graduate or professional student, find a summer internship with a nonprofit organization, community-based advocacy organization, or governmental agency.
Speakers and Events
The Solomont Speaker Series brings leaders in civic life to share their perspective and expertise with the Tufts community. Civic Life Lunches are a chance for the Tufts community to come together to discuss pertinent civic issues with people actively working to solve them.