Program Benefits
CODES is an alternative general education curriculum that works with all majors and programs at SIUE. Students will take their education beyond the walls of the classroom and into the St. Louis region.
- Collaborative research experiences that reflect innovative working environments
- Small class sizes and a tight-knit learning community
- Consistent mentorship from faculty and community members
- Curriculum and faculty that represent the diverse backgrounds of students in the program
- Community partnerships that involve hands-on learning and critical thinking in an applied setting
Community Partners
Student research teams will work with organizations in each year’s partner community, including Alton, St. Louis, East St. Louis and Granite City.
Alton (2022-2023 cohort)
The first cohort will work in Alton, Ill., with the theme “Resiliency and Spatial Justice in the Face of Climate Change.” As a Mississippi River town, Alton has a storied past. After the Missouri Compromise, Alton was a key stop for the Underground Railroad and a hub of activity for abolitionists and those escaping from slavery. The city was also the site of racial segregation throughout the twentieth century. Redlining meant that black communities were relegated to parts of the city at the mercy of the river’s frequent flooding. Extreme flooding again hit Alton in spring 2019 leading to concerns about racial justice in the context of climate change. The theme will allow students to consider water quality, flood management, housing practices and segregation in the context of history, literature, geography and environmental science. Research teams are partnered with the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center, the YWCA of Southwestern Illinois, and the National Council of Negro Women-Alton Section.