Community Development

Course Descriptions

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Course Breakdown

URBAN STUDIES CORE (21 credits)

URBN 501 (3) Urban Issues in a Global Context
URBN 575 (3) Applied Research & Program Evaluation
URBN 580 (3) Urban Models for Social Transformation
URBN 510 (3) Christ and the City
URBN 520 (3) Leadership Development
URBN 540 (3) Race & Ethnic Relations
ARTS 540 (3) Community Cultural Contexts*
URBN 690 (3) Grad. Research Project/Thesis

PROFESSIONAL SEMINARS (3 one-credit courses)

URBN 535 (1) Community-based Programming for Youth Development
URBN 520 (1) Cross-Cultural Skills for Urban Srvc.
URBN 5xx (1) Resource Development
URBN 630 (1) Special Topics
URBN 510 (1) Personal Strategic Planning
URBN 515 (1) Faith and the Professions

*Travel course required for ARTS. Students in other concentrations may substitute this for URBN 540.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COURSEWORK

CDEV 525 (2) Foundations of Community Development
BUSA 517 (3) Nonprofit Financial Management and Control**
CDEV 670 (2) Community Revitalization Strategies
CDEV 500 (3) Community Organizing
CDEV 695 (2) Leadership Practicum

Electives: (Select 1)

CDEV 545 (3) Neighborhood Economic Development
CDEV 575 (3) Urban Planning and Policy Analysis
CDEV 655 (3) Disaster Response and Community Re-development

**BUSA 517 Pre-requisites: ACCT 223: Intro to Accounting for Graduate Students and FIN 223: Business Finance
 

Community Development Course Descriptions

CDEV 525
Foundations of Community Development (2 credits)

This course examines community development beginning with its historical roots. Policies that form the contemporary framework of the field will also be discussed, along with key theories such as social capital formation and asset development. Successful church-based and secular community development models will be identified. Student knowledge will be tested through administration of a mid-term exam, completion of a final project, and project presentation.

EDEV 500
Community Organizing

This course will develop a Christian framework for community organizing, as well as an understanding of the basic process and skills used in community organizing. The student will be introduced to the principles for entering and mobilizing an urban neighborhood or other community with the goal of self-determination and empowerment. These principles will be underscored through theological and biblical reflection on an incarnational model of community work. Skill development will occur in the student’s own context through assigned interviews, exercised and analysis.

BUSA 517
Nonprofit Financial Management and Control (3)

Designed to give the nonprofit manager/executive the skills and knowledge necessary to understand financial statements and information, to make financial decisions, to design and institute improvements in management control, to determine and work with ethical uncertainties, and to develop and manage the budgeting process. The course will primarily use the case-study method.

Pre-requisites: ACCT 223 (Introduction to Accounting for Graduate Students) and FIN 223 (Business Finance)

INST 670
Community Revitalization Strategies (2)

Examines contemporary problems, approaches and success stories associated with the economic rebuilding of American cities. Focuses on the separate perspectives of government, community groups, financial institutions and philanthropic organizations and on the opportunities for for cross-sector collaboration in meeting the challenges.

CDEV 695
Leadership Practicum (2 credits)

This course is a practicum emphasizing the implementation of the basic philosophy and methodology of community organizing and development. The development of necessary personal and community relationships is essential. Anyone graduating from this program must demonstrate a high level of ability in the formation of socially relevant programs. This practicum includes the implementation of leadership skills including: the principles and practices of needs assessment, planning, recruitment, training, and the ongoing empowerment of others. A combination of leadership experiences based on the student’s learning goals for function and written reflective evaluations of these experiences are required.

An integral part of this experience is the opportunity for students to: (1) observe community development carried out by a competent, experienced practitioner in the field, and (2) become experienced in program development under the care and counsel of a competent, experienced practitioner (mentor). Students will complete regularly scheduled supervisory dialogues with a mentor (from a church, para-church, community or governmental organization) over a period of one semester. Additionally, each student will be required to conduct weekly, supervised outreach or development activities. Placement: a minimum of 115 hours.

Prerequisite: Leadership Development, Foundations of Community Development

CONCENTRATION ELECTIVES (1 needed)

EDEV 545
Neighborhood Economic Development (3 credits)

This course will explore biblical basis, historical perspective, current trends and models of asst-based neighborhood economic development. It will focus on role of cities and city governments in faith-based and community-based economic development, need for neighborhood vision and community organization, how to initiate a program or project, and relation of such projects to welfare-to-work, daycare and other support activities. (Prerequisite: 15 completed credits)

URBN 6xx
Urban Planning and Policy Analysis (3 credits)

This course examines and the discipline of planning at three levels: urban, neighborhood and community with an emphasis upon the last. Types and critiques of planning theories will be provided. Methods for analyzing and resolving planning and policy issues at state and local levels will be learned. Case studies of particular cities and neighborhoods will be included. (Prerequisite: 15 completed credits)

CDEV 6xx
Disaster Response & Community Redevelopment (3 credits)

Responding to the destruction caused by disasters is both a traditional ministry of compassion by among people of faith and a significant opportunity for community re-development. This course will provide students with an overview of how government agencies, major non-governmental organizations and Christian relief and development agencies operate in emergency situations, as well as the opportunities for congregations, local ministries and community-based organizations. Students will gain an understanding of the principles of the incident command structure widely used by government authorities and non-governmental responders, the effects of various types of disasters and related emergencies, public health issues related to disasters, the secondary economic and family-life impacts on communities, the strategies used for recovery and the typical roles of various governmental and non-governmental actors, as well as alternative approaches that emphasize community-controlled re-development. Students will develop professional skills in damage assessment, mobilization of volunteer resources, coordination of in-kind donations and spontaneous funding offers, management of emergency shelter and food service, and organization of recovery coalitions and partnerships. Students will have opportunities for on-site field work in a disaster situation and complete writing projects that prepare them to be effective leaders in future disasters. (Prerequisite: 15 completed credits)

Contact Us

Urban Studies Department
Campolo College of Graduate and Professional Studies
Eastern University | Philadelphia
3300 Henry Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19129

P: 215-769-3121
F: 215-848-2651
E: urbanma@eastern.edu