Community service has just moved from the list of extra-curricular activities to part of a college degree.

A new minor, created this year by Penn State's Public Scholarship Associates, is the first of its kind throughout higher education institutions worldwide.

The intercollege minor in civic and community engagement merges classroom instruction with community service, allowing students to apply what they learn in their major to real world situations.

"[The minor] is intended to help students understand that they're really learning some valuable skills as young scholars to contribute to community and democracy," said Jeremy Cohen, associate vice provost for undergraduate education and professor of communications.

"A scholar doesn't have to be an old fuddy-duddy on the top floor of Old Main," he said. "A scholar could be a young person who's bringing new ideas and a deep understanding of ways of knowing to bear on problems."

Cohen started the Public Scholarship Associates five years ago as a response to student requests. The group consists of Penn State students, faculty, staff and alumni seeking to integrate academic excellence and the public good.

"Certainly we do great volunteer work here, but we wanted to take it to the next step," Cohen said. "We want to be disciplined and active in thinking of ways of helping students and faculty apply their education to truly important issues in the community."

While the minor officially started in the fall, the gateway seminar, YFE 211 (Foundations: Civic and Community Engagement), is required for the first time this semester.

"[The class teaches] the kinds of skills you'd want citizens to be able to have," said Constance Flanagan, professor of agricultural and extension education. "Things like reflections on problem solving, how to analyze power and how you can take action."

Cohen said the gateway seminar is the only required class, and the rest of the minor is up to the students and their adviser to design.

"It's open to your imagination," Cohen said. "We want people to be creative in contributing that incredible gift they have -- an educated mind -- to the community."

Jeffrey Parker, associate professor of psychology, said the minor picks up where the student's chosen major leaves off.

"Students end up with a really solid foundation in their major, complimented with an understanding of how it can be applied to real world problems in the community," Parker said.

Nicole Webster, assistant professor in the department of agricultural and extension education, said that since the minor combines classroom lectures with fieldwork experience, it is perfect for students who want to be active in what they are learning.

"If a person is committed to changing the world around them through service citizenship, this would be the perfect minor for them," Webster said.

Sarah Brislin (senior-psychology), who recently finished her requirements for the minor, said the minor gave her guidance while working with local middle school students on social issues like bullying and building their self-esteem as part of Parker's class.

"Hands-on experience is very valuable ... but it needs to be supplemented by in-classroom discussion," Brislin said. "We'd develop lesson plans with activities and discussion for the students based on psychological theories."