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3 - Community Development
Delivery Mode: Grouped-Study
Introduction | Course Author | Course Structure | Course Objectives
Evaluation | Course Materials
Community development is the process of supporting and building communities through purposive action. Its practitioners apply theories and concepts that are related to the structures and participants involved. Building on analytical materials and skills, this course examines the nature of community in its variety of forms; issues and conditions that have an impact on communities; forces at work within communities, as well as those operating from outside; variations in community practice (economic and social development, social planning) and geographical setting; and applications in professional and academic fields as varied as education, literacy, economic development, health, social, and human services. Perspectives on the community that arise from policy setting, cross cultural relations, personal and global involvements, and practice strategies will also be examined as will specific concerns of Indigenous communities.
In this course we explore prospects for a sophisticated understanding of community, and deft interventions in a context of swift, often chaotic realignments. The focus will be local community autonomy, self help, mutual aid, and democratic process. An overriding goal will be the integration of themes, ideas, and practices.
The course introduces concepts and definitions; the historical background and growth of the discipline; case examples that illustrate the use of community development in city neighbourhoods, in rural settings, and in international or global issues; and cases related to fields of work (education, health, human services, etc.) and categories of people (First Nations, women, the poor, the homeless, etc.). Throughout the course we will analyse and critique ideological foundations, theoretical bases in the social sciences, and practices.
Avenues will be open for concentration on uses in professional and adjacent disciplines and among volunteer and private groups.
Student produced material will be shared among course registrants, as appropriate and as agreed by those submitting the material, through the mail, electronic mail, or by fax.
Ken Collier is Professor of Community Studies and VPA Special Projects Coordinator at Athabasca University. He received his doctorate in economics and applied social studies from Wales Swansea. Ken's professional academic interests include international and rural social and economic development, social policy and political economy analysis. His publications include several Social Sciences and Humanities Congress papers (1982-1999); correspondent, Canadian Review of Social Policy (1992-1996); Social Work with Rural Peoples: Theory and Practice. 2d ed. (New Star, Vancouver, 1993); and After the Welfare State (New Star, Vancouver, 1997).
Master of Arts-Integrated Studies 603 consists of six parts.
The course objectives for Community Development are fivefold. The course provides students
Students should be prepared to devote the time necessary to complete the various activities in this course: reading actively and critically; writing succinct, critical commentaries and posing insightful questions; researching and writing academic papers that are both critical and integrative. To help students develop these skills, the course professor will provide feedback on each activity. Students are expected to demonstrate a willingness to work.
In this course, students must successfully complete the following activities and assignments:
Online Participation in Group Discussion
Students are expected to participate in online group discussion each week. Each Monday the course professor will post the week's discussion questions and instructions. Online participation consists of one or more postings: responses to discussion questions initiated by the course professor and responses to comments by other students. Student messages should demonstrate knowledge of the assigned readings. For Part 5 students will be expected to post a one-page outline of their major paper or project, and to comment on the outlines of other students.
To receive credit for this course, you must participate in the online discussions and complete the two written assignments. The following table summarzies the evaluation activities and the credit weight associated with each evaluation activity.
| Week Due | Assignment | Weighting | |
| Weekly | Online participation | ||
| Week 6 | Assignment 1: Short essay (2,500-3,000 words) | ||
| Week 9 outline due Week 12 essay due | Assignment 2: Major paper/project (4,000-5,000 words) | ||
| Total | 100% |
The course materials for Master of Arts Integrated Studies 603 include the items listed below. If you find that any items missing from your course materials package, please contact Course Materials Production division of Athabasca University at (780) 675 6366, or 1 800 788 9041, ext. 6366 (toll free from anywhere within Canada or the United States). You contact Course Materials Production by e mail (cmat@athabascau.ca) or by writing in care of Course Materials Production, Tim Byrne Centre, 4001 Hwy 2 South, Athabasca AB T9S 1A4.
Textbooks
The following textbooks and readers are used in this course. Please consult the Course Schedule in the Course Guide to learn at which points in the course the different readings are required.
Course Guide: The Course Guide contains commentary, learning objectives, reading assignments, a supplementary materials list, bibliography, assignment instructions, and other information that students will need to complete the course successfully. Students should take time now to review this document to become familiar with the design of the course.
Forms: The forms that students will need to submit assignments or to inform the University of a change in status as a student are included with the course materials.