Course Title: Community Development Strategies (Social Work Theory and Practice IV)
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Community Development Strategies (Social Work Theory and Practice IV)
Credit Points: 12.00
Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
HUSO2068 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
330H Social Science & Planning |
Distance / Correspondence or Face-to-Face |
Sem 2 2006 |
HUSO2068 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Distance / Correspondence or Face-to-Face |
Sem 2 2007 |
HUSO2068 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 2 2011, Sem 2 2012, Sem 2 2013, Sem 2 2015 |
HUSO2068 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
365H Global, Urban and Social Studies |
Face-to-Face or Internet |
Sem 2 2014 |
Course Coordinator: Chris Maylea
Course Coordinator Phone: +(61 3) 9925 3951
Course Coordinator Email: chris.maylea@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: Building 8, Level 10
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
None
Course Description
This course is designed to provide you with a critical understanding of theoretical and practical developments in the evolution (and contested nature) of ‘community development’ in a comparative societal context. Key concepts to be explored are the important definitions of communities, differences in the types and styles of participation, the role of voluntary associations, minority groups and leadership. Such conceptual understanding will be grounded in a broader consideration of comparative political or government structures, including how they differ across societal forms (e.g. ‘traditional’, ‘modern’ and ‘postmodern’). As well as dealing with theoretical and conceptual components, the course will explore basic skills for working with communities and community-based organisations. To do this, it will use comparative case-study material which links the practices of community development and policy-making.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
On completion of this course you should have developed: an understanding of the background and context of contemporary community development in Australia; a critical awareness of some of the major perspectives and theories informing community-based practices; knowledge of some of the contexts for community work practice, including contexts at the local, regional, urban and international levels, and an understanding of some of the major debates, concepts and issues in community work/development. These will include: the contested functions of ‘community’ and community work/development/organising; the implications of the changing role of the state; the potential of information and communications technologies in community development; an understanding of a number of key community development skills, and a capacity to assess and critically evaluate community work interventions.
Overview of Learning Activities
You will be required to engage in a variety of lectures and smaller classes.
Overview of Learning Resources
You will be able to use a prescribed text.
Overview of Assessment
You will be able to prepare assessment tasks with a total word length or equivalent of 5,000 words.