USP 428: Concepts of Community Development
Winter 2011
Tues-Thurs 2:00-3:50
URBN 250
CRN 43999
Dr. Barry Messer
Office: Urban Center 370H
Office hours: Tues: 11-12:30
503.725.5179 messerb@pdx.edu
COURSE SYLLABUS
Revised 1/20/2011
Course Overview:
DeFillippis and Saegert in the introduction to the Community Development Reader raise two important questions (1)
why communities matter – e.g. the role communities play both in the larger political economy and in the daily lives of
people; and (2) how communities develop – e.g. the ways development can improve and reinforce communities to be
places of support and opportunity (especially for communities that lack power and resources). In this course we will
explore these questions and issues to broaden and deepen our understanding of the field. In addition, we will explore
the important issues which fuel debate and controversy within the field of community development: (1) the debate as
to the viability of community action in counteracting powerful forces that work against the well-being of inner city
residents; in other words, to what extent can the improvement of communities through local initiative be meaningful
and lasting? and, (2) the debate on whether to focus the work of community development on improving impoverished
neighborhoods or turn its attention on helping people leave those neighborhoods; in other words should the work of
community development be ‘people based’ or ‘place based’? We will critically examine the issues and practices of
community development through reading, class discussions/ presentations, guest speakers and field research.
Course Purpose:
This course is intended primarily for students who have declared a major in Community Development. The course is
designed to be an integrative component to the required core classes in the Community Development major and minor.
As such, the focus and content of the course is built on the foundations of community development theory and practice
established in USP 301 (CD majors/minors) and subsequent USP 302 and USP 303 courses (CD majors). Though
completion of these classes before enrolling in this course is not required it is highly desirable.
Course goals:
1. To develop a critical understanding of the ways in which community development work occurs.
2. To acquire knowledge about, and gain proficiency with the skills of community organizing and building.
3. To develop a confident approach to both discovering and communicating essential knowledge which informs
the practice of community development.
Required Reading: DeFillipis & Saeger, Community Development Reader (PSU Bookstore)
Course assignments and graded components:
1. Class attendance/participation (20 points).
2. Informational Interview (20 points)
3. Reading response, synopsis and reflection papers (3) (30 points total)
4. Final Reflection Paper (30 points)
Basic course requirements and expectations:
Completion: Students are expected to complete all course assignments
Timeliness: Late assignments are subject to grade deduction.
Respect and civility: Students are expected to practice respect and civility within the class. The guidelines for such
practice include effective skills including effective listening skills.
Attendance and participation: Students are expected to attend all classes and be active participants in the learning
process. Our own perspectives, experiences, histories and values will be an important dimension of this course. The
broadest expectation is that each of us act as a responsible member of a community of learners: developing new
knowledge and analytical skills, exploring the personal and social relevance of the issues dealt with in the course, and
supporting each other in doing this work.
Summary of Assignments
A. Class Attendance and Participation/ (20 points)
Class attendance and participation is an important element of student responsibility for this class. Students
will be expected to participate in several in-class exercises including:
o
o
o
o
Personal assessments of learning goals
Reflections on class discussions and exercises
Course assessments;
Guest speaker responses
B. Informational interview (20 points)
Students will select a practitioner* of community development, conduct an informational interview and
post results of the interview on Blackboard. The purpose of the interview is to garner information from
the experiences of those practicing community development as to the following: (1) essential purpose of
CD work, (2) the tools and practices engaged in this work, and (3) the requirements and access points to
be involved in this work. The specific interview process and guide will be developed in class.
Practitioners can be anyone who is actively engaged in the work of community development in either in
a formal capacity (i.e. professional); or an informal capacity (i.e. activist)
Interview Option: Guest speaker invitation and scheduling
Students electing this option to the informational interview must submit and present a proposal for a guest
speaker by 1/18 with summary of why guest would be of interest to the class and the dates they are
available. Also, if selected, the student will introduce the speaker to the class, provide a biographical
sketch of the speaker on BB and write a letter of appreciation on behalf of the class.
C. Reading responses and critical reflection exercise (30 points)
Students are to write a two-part response to each of the 3 assigned reading sections from the course text,
Community Development Reader. The elements of the assignment are as follows:
1. Part 1: Reading response synopsis
o Write a short synopsis (1 paragraph each) of important points and ‘take-aways’ for the key
assigned Chapter and up to 3 additional chapters from each section of the Reader.
o Participate in an in-class small group discussion to share reading responses.
o Each group reports out to class key points shared by the students in the group.
2. Part 2: Reflections on readings and class discussions.
o A short reflection (approx 1- typewritten page) on how the readings have help shape your
perspectives and your arguments for “Making the Case for Community Development.”
o Participate in small group discussion in class to share reflections and perspectives in shaping
final essay
Both the reading synopsis and the reflections write-ups along with comments from student group
discussions for each of the three assigned reading sections are to be together on BlackBoard by the date
indicated on the class schedule. These will provide the foundation for your final essay.
D. Final essay on the concepts of community development” (4-6 pages in length) (30 points)
Students are to write an essay on “Making the Case for Community Development – Why Communities
Matter/How Communities Develop” The essay is to argue, substantiate and reflect on your claims about
the field and practice of Community Development:




How the field of Community Development can be understood and clarified
How the practice of Community Development can be effective
How the field and/or practice can be/should be questioned and challenged
How this field shapes & directs your work, study and/or community life.
Class Schedule
Tues
1/4
Tues
1/11
Course introduction
Review assignments
Work Session: Informational
Interview Work Groups
Thurs
1/6
Thurs
1/13
Course Goals and Learning Assessment Exercise
Bring to class:
(1) CD ‘assets’ – personal inventory;
(2) Course learning goals
Required reading for class: Chapter 1, Reader
Learning Objectives due - BB
History and Future of Community Development
Class presentation and discussion
Required reading for class: Section I, Reader
Informational interview plan due- BB
Tues
1/18
Work Session: Guest Speaker
Selection
Proposals for guest speakers due
Thurs
1/20
The ‘Tenets’ of Community Development
Class presentation and discussion
Tues
1/25
Field Work Day (No Class Meeting)
Thurs
1/27
Required reading for class: See BlackBoard for articles
Community Development Institutions & Practices
Reading response exercise
Thurs
2/3
Prepare reading response to Section II to share in class
(Chapter 6 and at least 3 additional chapters)
Reading synopsis on Section II due
Reflection exercise on reading and final paper draft
Draft essay – Phase I due
Thurs
2/10
Understanding, Building & Organizing Community
Reading response exercise
Tues
2/1
Tues
2/8
Class Assessment Exercises
Mid-term class/self assessment dueBB
Guest Speaker(s)
Tues
2/15
Guest Speaker(s)
Thurs
2/17
Prepare reading response to Section III to share in class
(Chapter 19 and at least 3 additional chapters)
Reading synopsis on Section III due
Reflection exercise on reading and final paper draft
Draft essay – Phase II due
Tues
2/22
Guest Speaker(s)
Thurs
2/24
Theoretical Conceptions & Debates
Reading response exercise
Tues
3/1
Guest Speaker(s)
Thurs
3/3
Tues
3/8
Field Work Day (No Class Meeting)
Thurs
3/10
Mon
3/14
Final Class
NOTE: Day & time of Final Class:
Monday, March 15, 10:15-12:05
Final Essay Due on BB
Prepare reading response to Section IV to share in class
(Chapter 31 and at least 3 additional chapters)
Reading synopsis on Section IV due
Reflection exercise on reading and final paper draft
Draft essay – Phase III due
Informational Interview Report out in groups.
Informational interviews results to be posted on Blackboard