Course Description
This course explores the politics, policies, and practice of community development in the United States. The course tracks the political debates that accompany the historical evolution of community development, examines the primary elements of the community development process, and identifies core programs that improve quality of life for disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Syllabus
Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:
Students successfully completing this course will be able to:
- Understand the historical and political context for community development practice in the United States.
- Understand community development strategies and the stakeholders involved.
- Research, write, and revise texts for professional audiences and purposes.
- Demonstrate awareness of different writing styles, how they inform one’s own writing, and how they are used to communicate with a variety of audiences.
- Analyze written texts and documentary videos and explain in writing how they reflect the experience of professional and community-based audiences.
- Analyze the ‘real world’ challenges and opportunities for community development practice.
Course Grading Information:
| Activity/Performance Measure | Percentage/Points |
|---|---|
| Blog Posts | 30 points |
| CommunityLab Project | 25 points |
| Theme Tests | 45 points |
Grading Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 94-100 | A |
| 90-93 | A- |
| 87-89 | B+ |
| 83-86 | B |
| 80-82 | B- |
| 77-79 | C+ |
| 73-76 | C |
| 70-72 | C- |
| 67-69 | D+ |
| 63-66 | D |
| 60-62 | D- |
| Less than 60 | F |
Attendance/Participation:
Attendance/participation is not a graded component included in the student's final grade for this course.
Course Materials Purchased by the Students:
No course materials are required.
Scholarly Perspectives
This course engages diverse scholarly perspectives to develop critical thinking, analysis, and debate and inclusion of a reading does not imply endorsement.