Public Interest Technology Program

Do you consider yourself an influencer? An innovator? A digital artist? Or an activist? Are you interested in learning how to use technology to improve and celebrate your communities and to affect social change? Are you looking for an exciting career in tech? 

Established in 2019, by funding through New America - a national think and action tank, CSI St. George is pioneering the nascent field of Public Interest Technology (PIT),and generating a tech talent pipeline for students with a passion for technology and social justice within a supportive, small-scale learning community.

Eligibility Requirements:
  • Incoming First Year Students admitted to the College of Staten Island/CUNY;
  • Matriculated in a major in the Humanities and Social Sciences in either the Associate's (AA degree) or Bachelor's (BA, and select BS degrees) division;
  • No prior experience or interest in computer science necessary;
  • Classes will be held in person for Fall 2023 at CSI St. George (120 Stuyvesant Pl.);
  • As part of the 30,000 Degrees initiative, priority admission is given to students from historically underrepresented groups, and to students who have graduated from Curtis, McKee, New Dorp or Port Richmond High Schools; although ALL CSI STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY.
  • For Fall 2023, admission into this program will be on a rolling basis until all 24 seats are claimed, however, priority will be given to those applying by July 15, 2023 
     

CSI PIT PROGRAM APPLICATION

Contact Information

Crystal Deosaran

Student Services Specialist

CSI St. George
Email Crystal Deosaran

Students admitted to the PIT program will receive:

  • Exclusive real-world experience with tech partners, community activists & artists;
  • Paid or credit bearing civic engagement and/or internship experience and co-curricular workshops & events;
  • Marketable tech skills training in user experience (UX) & design; regardless of the tech skills you come in with;
  • Dedicated support for your class selection and navigating your first two years at CSI;
  • Smaller class sizes with other students who share your interests;
  • Access to laptops, skill development in VR/AR/XR, UX, digital content creation and digital marketing for good through the CUNY PIT Lab.
  • Participation in exciting events led by a national network of over 53 colleges and universities focused on building “civic -minded technologists and digitally-fluent policy leaders”.
  • Participation in the new CSI student club, CSI Tech4Change.