Course Descriptions

In a highly interactive class environment, students will learn the history, principles and models of community development, with an emphasis on its role in empowering disenfranchised communities. Through in-depth class discussions, they will explore the relationship between community development theory and their own lived experience in community and with community organizations. Classes will be offered in community settings. Students with volunteer experience in community organizations who want to move into paid work are encouraged to apply.

This course will explore: defining leadership; transformational and collective leadership; leadership as art; and a leader’s role in supporting creativity and mentorship. Students will learn to understand and analyze leadership roles including their own; understand collective leadership; recognize and support leadership qualities in team members; identify current leadership challenges faced by community organizations and the skills required to navigate those situations; and apply creative leadership principles.

This course will examine the creation and maintenance of relationships in community development work. Students will both study and practice skills for working collectively through inclusive facilitation, nonviolent communication and dealing with conflict in community work. Discussion will focus on how culture, individual histories and power affect community dynamics and will cover tools for managing these critical issues in community development.

This course will be delivered over two terms and is both classroom-based and experiential. It will combine theory, support and a practicum. Students will learn about the work of non-profit organizations. They will explore roles and responsibilities of volunteers, work planning for voluntary roles, relationship building and communication for mentorship, and team building, and will learn current evaluation and presentation skills. Students will also gain experience in a specific area of focus such as literacy, health promotion, community economic development, and community arts.

This course provides an overview of the roles and responsibilities of community workers and skills in community organizing on selected social issues. Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to facilitate participatory community processes and consensus-building, then communicate decisions and program plans in written and oral reports. Classes will be offered in community settings. Students with volunteer experience in community organizations who want to move into paid work are encouraged to apply.

This course will focus on the use of social media and digital tools for social change at a community level. Students will be introduced to new media through a community development lens. They will explore the role of storytelling and social media in community work throughout history and currently; the basics of Internet use including safety, etiquette and writing for on-line uses; how local practitioners are using digital tools; and how to successfully use social media to create social change themselves.

This course will explore the values, goals and assumptions of community-based research and its methodologies. Students will learn about overall concepts of research; how community-based research relates to community issues and needs as well as ethical considerations; how to do basic data analysis and a range of research methodologies, including literature searches, surveys, interviews, community mapping, focus groups, arts-based research, and participatory action research. Students will also complete and present a small research project.

This course will provide an in-depth understanding of outcome-based planning and management in a local and global context. Students will be introduced to planning for social change and explore Outcome Measurement Framework (OMF) construction in an interactive and creative way. They will explore concrete tools for how to use an OMF as a management tool for planning, budgeting, communications, proposals and monitoring. Students will apply their learning by developing an OMF for their own organization.

This course will be delivered over two terms and is both classroom-based and experiential. It will combine theory, support and a practicum. Students will learn about the work of non-profit organizations, exploring non-profit governance; relationship building and communication for mentorship; team building; evaluation and assessment skills; and presentation skills. Students will also gain experience in a specific area of focus, such as literacy, health promotion, community economic development, and community arts.

This course will provide students with an opportunity to coalesce their learning about community leadership in social change and focus it on a theme and/or project of their choice. Themes could include but are not limited to food security, environmental sustainability, community healing, adult literacy, community facilitation, health promotion, etc. Students will work interdependently, supervised and supported by their instructor; and collaboratively with a community partner where appropriate. They will design, research, and develop a specific project of interest and participate in assessing and evaluating the project and their own performance.