A striking feature of modern approaches to development in the United States and internationally is the increasing emphasis placed on the community as a focus for program planning and implementation. Both public and private sector organizations, including state and federal government, are turning to community-based approaches to identify and meet the needs of families and individuals. Communities are called upon to play key roles in solving problems and meeting needs at the local level. 

Community-based organizations and programs intervene in many areas, from natural resource management to health interventions and economic development. Communities often receive more resources than they have in the past as many nations turn from highly centralized to more dispersed approaches to government intervention in the lives of their citizens. At the same time, decreasing public fiscal resources often also force communities to rely more heavily on their own resources that they can mobilize internally to solve local problems and meet local goals. As a result, there is an increasing need for individuals who are trained in the processes of community development and organizing and community-based program planning and delivery. 

The Community Studies concentration will provide students with the specific knowledge and skills they need to provide professional guidance for community-based organizations in order to effectively mobilize the community, resolve intra-community conflicts, develop responsive organizations within the community, and identify, marshal and use the resources that are available to communities. The concentration’s appearance on the transcript will alert employers to the student’s expertise and skills and will help employers identify those graduates who are particularly well positioned to work in community-based organizations.

The Community Studies concentration will prepare students to occupy professional positions in both public and private sector organizations involved in the delivery of community-based programs. The concentration combines the study of the fundamental theories of community and community development with courses that provide the specific skills needed to provide professional leadership and guidance to community-based organizations. The foundation courses give students an in-depth understanding of the nature of communities, including the problems associated with community identity and divisions within the community. Students develop the skills needed to play key roles in community organizing and development and in program planning and evaluation.

Goals and Objectives

Goal: The overall goal of the Community Studies concentration in the Department of Family, Youth & Community Sciences is to prepare students to serve as leaders and managers for community-based organizations and programs.

Objectives: Upon completing this concentration, students will be able to:

 1.         Understand and analyze how the community functions as a basic unit of social organization;

 2.         Identify and analyze sources of identity, unity and conflict within the community;

 3.         Create positive organizational environments for promoting development and dealing with change in the community;

 4.         Identify needs and mobilize assets within and outside of the community to address those needs; and

 5.         Develop strategies and programmatic interventions to improve the delivery of services to address the needs of communities.

Courses

The Concentration in Community Studies requires 15 hours of course work.

 Required:

FYC 6330        Theories of Community

FYC 6302        Sustainable Community Development

FYC 6620        Program Planning & Evaluation for Human Services Delivery

 Select One:

 FYC 6421        Non-Profit Organizations

FYC 6660        Public Policy for Family, Youth & Communities

FYC 6320        Community Development

 Select One:

FYC 6331        Involving Youth in Community Issues

FYC 6221        Proposal Development for Community-Based Organizations