Undergraduate Programs
Course Information
| Back to Courses List |COURSES IN HUMAN AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (HCD)
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HCD 531. Community Studies Theory ©
Covers main currents of thought and paradigms in community studies and development. Focuses on theories of community definition and functioning, building and sustaining community, and the impact of societal change on community processes. Same as SOC 574, and UP 517. 4 hours.
HCD 532. Top Commty Studies & Outreach
Provides an in-depth examination of contemporary issues and emerging research topics in the fields of community studies and rural studies. Major emphasis is placed on examining various theoretical perspectives, evaluating research designs and writing for academic markets. 4 hours.
HCD 533. Community in American Society ©
Classic U. S. community studies are paired with current journal articles to examine how people in rural, suburban, and urban places go about making, maintaining or losing "community" in the context of societal change. The community studies provide a window on change at the local level including: urbanization, suburbanization, ethnic group interactions, inner-city poverty concentration, household structure variation, economic restructuring, and environmental impacts. Community studies are also critically evaluated both theoretically and as a research strategy. Same as SOC 572, and UP 533. Prerequisite: HCD 531. 4 hours.
HCD 534. Neighborhoods and Human Dev ©
Theories, methodological issues, and current empirical research on the impact of neighborhoods on human development and family welfare across the life course including how neighborhoods characteristics, e.g., poverty, racial and ethnic composition, and geographic space, influence child and adolescent development, health, and employment opportunities and success in adulthood. Key mechanisms include: family conditions, local environment, social networks, and spatial mismatch.
4 hours.
HCD 535. Community Development ©
Critical theories and current issues in community development, both domestic and international, including key factors such as economic development, globalization, and racial and ethnic diversity. Explores application of community development practice to analyze and address these issues, including asset-based development, participatory approaches, and the community capitals framework. Semester projects will contribute to local community development initiatives. Prerequisite: HCD 531. 4 hours.
HCD 536. Education & Human Capital ©
In-depth examination of fundamental philosophical and contemporary issues and emerging research topics in the fields of experiential, career, and outreach education; examines how career and outreach education builds human capital for local communities through career and leadership development, youth and adult learning, and experiential and life-long learning.
4 hours.
HCD 537. Experiential Learning ©
In-depth investigation of the theoretical and practical approaches of experiential learning in a variety of instructional settings. Investigates the foundations of experiential learning processes, focusing upon applications in career, outreach and community-based education in both formal and non-formal situations. Provides theoretical foundations and instruction related to the planning, implementation and evaluation of experiential-based instructional programs and activities.
4 hours.
HCD 538. Community Mobilization ©
Current theory and practices in community organizing and mobilization: the history and traditions of organizing, why people organize, how organizing works, and the impact of societal change on community processes. Content is drawn from both community and social movement theory.
4 hours.
HCD 541. Social Ent in Diverse Society
Examines issues raised by race, ethnicity, and class in the context of a diverse American society so that students may critically analyze the complexity these bring to the creation and implementation of public policy, service delivery, as well as governance and politics. Emphasizes both the processes of critical analysis and principles of social entrepreneurship as important vehicles to bring about sustainable change. Effective social policies and interventions in a diverse society are characterized by a demonstrable reduction of social tensions at the community level as well as increased access to social goods such as adequate housing, safe communities, efficient transportation, affordable health care, quality education, and other public goods and services. Same as LLS 554 and SOCW 554. Prerequisite: SOCW 451, or consent of instructor for non-Social Work majors. 4 hours.
HCD 590. Advanced Research Methods ©
Overview of positivist, interpretive, and critical research paradigms and their quantitative and qualitative methodologies; critical evaluation of current social science literature; students develop their own research proposals. 4 hours.
HCD 591. Qualitative Methods ©
Training in field research methods, including various forms of observation and interviewing, to gain a comprehensive and holistic view of social life through the study of people in natural settings in a selected field site. Topics include: historical background of qualitative research, theoretical traditions informing qualitative studies, site and informant selection, research strategies, data analysis, and managing field relations. Emphasizes use of qualitative methods to study diverse families and neighborhood settings. 4 hours.
HCD 592. GRID Research Methods
Explores use of quantitative and qualitative methods to examine gender issues in development countries. Topics include: the availability of data from the United Nations and other sources, methods of collecting one's own data and working with local specialists and participants, ethics, and focus groups. Students choose research methods for a project and critically evaluate alternatives. Satisfies the methodology requirement for the doctoral GRID (Gender Roles in International Development) concentration offered by the Women and Gender in Global Perspectives program. 4 hours.
HCD 594. Advanced Quantitative Methods ©
Detailed overview of quantitative research methods and analyses used in human development, family, and community research, including data management, multi-method approaches, and considerations typical in logintudinal research. Students prepare an NSF-format research grant proposal,including budget and IRB approval documentation. Prerequisite: HCD 590 or equivalent. 4 hours.
HCD 595. Seminar ©
Discussion and evaluation of current literature on selected topics in human and community development. May be repeated. 1 to 4 hours.
HCD 598. Special Problems in HCD
Research or independent study on a special problem that is not part of thesis work. May be repeated in the same or separate terms to a maximum of 8 hours. 2 to 4 hours.
HCD 599. Thesis Research
Individual thesis research under supervision of faculty in specialized fields of human and community development. May be repeated. Approved for S/U grading only. 0 to 16 hours.