Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Community Development

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%