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Community Development

The Community Development specialization seeks to prepare students for work principally in the nonprofit sector, but also in institutions and firms dedicated to the well-being of communities. The specialization introduces students to rationales informing community action, to the strategies community development applies to its work, and to in-depth issues challenging urban communities. Emphasis is placed on social change, fairness, and equal opportunity especially for the most challenged and disadvantaged groups in US society.

Goals for the Community Development Specialization Heading link

  • To provide participants with the theoretical and practical knowledge that is necessary to understand, contextualize and act on the challenges communities face.
  • To develop analytical and critical skills and criteria to examine specific community circumstances and environments and to access the data and resources necessary for strategizing and action.
  • To familiarize participants with the organizations, actors and major issues communities confront in their daily life and the ways in which they work.

Requirements for the Community Development Concentration Heading link

  • UPP 540 Community Development I: Theory
  • UPP 541 Community Development II: Practice
  • UPP 54_ Community Development elective or other approved course