Community Development
- Course Number
- UCS1000H
course description
This graduate seminar is the core course of the University of Toronto’s Collaborative Specialization in Community Development. It aims to provide a critical understanding of theoretical and practical developments in the evolution and contested nature of community development in a comparative societal context. For purposes of this course, community development is understood as a dynamic process that has social, political, economic and ecological dimensions.
course objectives
The course seeks to help students:
- develop an appreciation of the main traditions, theoretical debates, experiences and research findings in community development both as a change process and as an interdisciplinary field;
- identify ideological assumptions underlying community development theories with attention to socio-economic and political influences affecting development;
- identify and articulate models of community development, social planning, advocacy,
community building, and social action, providing a broad understanding of the scope and range of activities in community development in Canada and internationally; - develop an understanding of the basic principles, strategies skills needed to work with diverse communities; and
- introduce students to some of the research, scholarship and practice on community
development undertaken in Toronto and elsewhere.
methods of assessment
Participation: 10%
Short papers (2): 40%
Research paper and class presentation: 50%