Community Development Concepts and Practice

Catalog description

Community development is broadly recognized as a process by which places (cities, small towns, neighborhoods) and the people in them, improve their economic and/or social well-being. Health of the environment and sustainable use of natural resources ensure the long-term well-being of human populations and so are central to sustainable community development. The practice of community development requires the ability to identify and understand the interrelationships of economy, society and environment locally, nationally and globally. Community development hinges on the capacity of local communities and residents to influence and determine their own futures. Students will gain an introduction to the concepts and models of community development and will become familiar with the roles of community development practitioners in developed and developing country settings. They will be able to identify the consequences of development strategies for social, economic and environmental well-being, focusing on the interrelationships of these aspects of development. Students will be introduced to strategies to identify capacity and resources available in communities and those that need to be enhanced. Models of decision-making will be introduced and students will work in teams in class with a focus on successful team functioning, identifying commonalities and shared interests to foster decision-making, and being able to extend that experience to working with groups in a community. Students will gain knowledge and understanding of the relevant concepts, processes and practice through readings and in-class lecture and discussion. Case studies of specific community development issues will give students the opportunity to apply the concepts and skills they learn in class, and to work in teams where students take on perspectives of different stakeholders and attempt to reach a resolution. Examples will be used throughout the course to portray important concepts. This knowledge and associated skills can be used to form the basis for further training and a career in community development or to provide a basic understanding for those interested in volunteering in their own community.