« Back to Other Service Opportunities
Community Service Opportunities For Majors In: Communications
“Through experiences in and out of the classroom students develop the habit of intellectual inquiry, prepare for challenging
professions, strengthen relationships with their communities and contribute productively to society.”
-CSUF Mission Statement
There is no question that our faculty, staff, and students are actively involved in the Orange County community. The Volunteer and Service Center (VSC) also recognizes the wealth of volunteerism and service in the community. In order to enhance the wealth of the students, the VSC promotes additional community partnerships to build your leadership skills.
It is our civic duty to shift the focus and internal concerns from ourselves and apply our unique individual skills by exploring creatively with others. Community-based learning is a commitment on behalf of the students, faculty, academic programs and institutions to put our knowledge, skills and values to work to identify and address problems that are important to society. Research shows that there are positive outcomes by participating in activities such as volunteerism and community service. It shows significant positive effects on academic performance (GPA, writing skills, critical thinking), values (commitment to activism and promoting multicultural understanding), self-efficacy, leadership (leadership activities, interpersonal skills), awareness of the world, career goals, and decisions to integrate service into life after college.
An excellent way to complement the academic learning process is through hands-on experience. An ideal way to get this experience is through community service and volunteerism. This involves applying your energy, skills, enthusiasm, and desire to make a difference in your world! The following are just a few examples of how you can get involved in a service project related to your major or career interests:
- Speech Communication
Present workshops in shelters and schools about public speaking and assertiveness training; help international students who are taking speech courses prepare and practice; teach children how to communicate across cultures; volunteer your services to a local political candidate. - Hearing & Speech Sciences
Volunteer as an interpreter for people who are deaf in theaters, museums, historic tours, and schools; lobby with organizations concerned with the rights of people who are hearing and speech impaired; teach sign language at schools, shelters, nursing homes, or community agencies; volunteer in speech clinics. - Public Relations
Help a non-profit organization with a publicity campaign; volunteer with a volunteer clearing house to help recruit volunteers; write press releases for non-profit organization; work with a media watch organization; lobby for free speech protection; help a non-profit or community agency design a public awareness campaign; write press releases for non-profit organizations and community agencies; help a non-profit organization create a publication.
There are many ways for you to become involved in community service and gain hands-on experience associated with your major. The following are just a few examples of agencies with service opportunities related to the majors in your college.
- Read/Orange County Orange County Public Library
- Santa Ana (714) 566-3070
- The mission of Read/Orange County is to create a more literate community by providing diversified services of the highest quality.
- Senior Outreach Center
- Huntington Beach (714) 960-2478
- Promotes independence, self-sufficiency and safety for seniors in Huntington Beach through community services.
- OC Department of Education, Title I Tutoring Program
- Costa Mesa (714) 836-1602
- Provide students attending county-operated schools with an education that emphasizes fundamental skills in a safe and orderly learning environment. Respond to district and community service requests for administrative, business, educational, and support services.
- YMCA/New Horizons
- Tustin (714) 838-6452
- The mission of New Horizons is to add meaningful dimension to the lives of the participants and their families by providing opportunities for socialization and recreation experiences with non-disabled peers that increase self-esteem and encourage development of autonomous behavior and self- expression.
- Orange County Child Abuse Prevention Center
- Santa Ana (714) 543-4333
- Become a volunteer. Help reconstruct broken up families by teaching parenting, discipline techniques, and budgeting.
- Volunteer Center/Greater Orange County
- Santa Ana (714) 953-5757 ext. 106
- Services include the referral of all ages of volunteer, seminars, workshops and college certificate courses in nonprofit management.
- Make a Wish Foundation
- Tustin (949) 573-9474
- Volunteer organization dedicated to granting the wishes of children between the ages of 2.5-18 years with life threatening or terminal illnesses.
- Orange County Health Care Agency
- CYS Project Together
- Santa Ana (714) 796-0100
- Provides comprehensive public health, mental health and substance abuse services in various locations throughout Orange County. Internships are based on student interests and skill levels.
- Placentia Library Literacy Services
- Placentia Library District
- Placentia (714) 524-8408
- Provides free and confidential basic literacy instruction to adults using volunteer tutors.
- Orange County Volunteer Opportunities
- Santa Ana (714) 834-7440
- Opportunities to fulfill internship requirements in public administration, political science, law, business, social work, human services, communication, etc. Volunteer to be a mentor, assist in library and literacy programs, etc.
