Food, Hunger, and Poverty: A Thematic Approach to Integrating Service Learning

Service learning, the integration of community service and curricular content, is being embraced by sociologists in a variety of teaching settings. One of the primary challenges of service-learning pedagogy is incorporating the community-based experience into the curriculum. This article will center on my strategy for meeting this challenge. My Introduction to Sociology course employs a thematic approach in order to create a fully integrated experiential learning experience. I have used this highly adaptable approach successfully in two types of institutional settings. This article will describe the institutional contexts, course content and objectives, service-learning component, use of themes for integrating service and curriculum, and student outcomes. In addition, I will explore the potential pitfalls of this approach and suggest strategies for avoiding them.