Bachelor of Science in Community Development

Community development as a field embraces both citizen activists and professionals in planned efforts to identify, enhance, and create social and physical assets that increase the capacity of residents to improve their quality of life. Community development focuses on grass roots, community-based initiatives, complimenting the field of Community and Regional Planning, which is often more policy driven and government sponsored. Students will learn to understand and think critically about the social, political, economic, historic, and cultural dynamics shaping various types of communities. Courses provide important knowledge, values, and skills necessary for community development work. Students will learn how to engage stakeholders; assess a community’s assets, needs and opportunities; plan what the community wants to achieve: and develop strategies, programs, and policies to improve quality of life. Learning will extend beyond the classroom with hands-on experience through service learning, field research, informal gatherings, and workshops. Graduates of the Community Development program will be prepared to tackle the challenges of the community development worker in the 21st century, specifically how to empower culturally, economically, or geographically disadvantaged communities to address inequalities and improve their long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability. In addition to working directly with community stakeholders, graduates will be prepared to serve as the critical link between communities, local governments, and state and federal programs in various positions including community organizing, nonprofit organizations, private foundations, community development corporations, community investment specialists within banks and regional community development offices of the Federal Reserve Bank.