Jan and Bud Richter Center
Community Service Courses
The time you commit to community service could be one of the most rewarding experiences
you have during college.
Community Service Courses
The time you commit to community service could be one of the most rewarding experiences you have during college.
Fresno State students can enroll in two different courses that provide them with an in-depth community service-learning experience and provide academic credit in exchange for volunteer service. Students enrolled in these courses can select where they wish to complete their service from hundreds of community-based organizations and can tailor the experience to fit their schedule and interests. The two courses available to students are Community Service 1: Community Service-Learning and Community Service 101: Community Service Internships. These courses are open to all students regardless of major or year in school.
To help you decide which class is right for you, review the side-by-side course comparison below. Note that it does not matter which course you take first; choose the course that best fits your needs.
| Course Sections | Community Service 1 (COMS 1) | Community Service 101 (COMS 101) |
|---|---|---|
| Class Meetings: | One class meeting (75 minutes) per week. (Please note: due to low enrollment the COMS 1 class is not frequently offered.) | Attend a registration/orientation workshop during the first two weeks of the semester. |
| Required Service Hours: |
All students are required to attend weekly class in addition to completing service hours 15 service hours = 1 unit 30 service hours = 2 units 60 service hours = 3 units |
45 service hours = 1 unit 90 service hours = 2 units 135 service hours = 3 units
|
| Course Assignments: | In-class participation, various written assignments, group projects, and presentations. | Several short, online assignments and an end of the semster final reflection assignment. |
| Grading: | Credit/Non Credit only. | Credit/Non Credit only. |
| Ability to re-enroll or repeat the course: | None. | Can earn up to 6 units that will apply towards graduation requirements, but an unlimited number of Com S 101 units can appear on your transcripts. |
COMS 101 REGISTRATION AND WORKSHOPS : Spring 2025
Thank you for your interest in the Community Service 101 (COMS 101). The time you commit to community service could be one of the most rewarding experiences you have during college. Through this course you can improve your understanding of knowledge gained in other courses, gain career experience, develop leadership and other personal skills, and contribute to the community in which you live.
You may sign up for 1, 2, or 3 units of academic credit through COMS 101. For each unit of COMS101 credit you must perform 45 hours of service with a community benefit organization (nonprofit or government organization) during the academic semester. In addition to other course requirements, there is a mandatory one-hour Registration Workshop at the beginning of the semester where you will learn all of the important details about COMS 101 requirements and obtain forms you will need. These workshops will be held virtually via Zoom. The Zoom meeting link will be shared with registered students via email and Canvas.
You can sign-up for the COMS 101 course using your My Fresno State account. Units count toward elective requirements and the course is open to all undergraduate and graduate students. The registration numbers are listed below. You may only register for one section and a maximum of 3 units per semester.
- 1 Unit of Credit (45 hours of service): 37318
- 2 Units of Credit (90 hours of service): 37319
- 3 Units of Credit (135 hours of service): 37320
All students must attend one of the following workshops via Zoom:
-
- Thursday, January 16 from 12 pm – 1 pm
- Wednesday, January 22 from 5 pm – 6 pm
- Friday, January 24 from 11 am – 12 pm
- Tuesday, January 28 from 3 pm – 4 pm
- Thursday, January 30 from 1 pm – 2 pm
Remember, attendance at one of these workshops is mandatory. If you have any questions about the Community Service 101 course, or Fresno State’s community service program, you can call the Jan and Bud Richter Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning at 559.278.7079, visit us in the University Student Union, Room 310, or email the instructor, Chris Fiorentino, at chrisf@csufresno.edu