Bachelor of Science

Community Development (B.S.)

Admissions and General Information

Deborah Howe, PhD, FAICP

Department Chair

267-468-8300
dhowe@temple.edu

For undergraduate admissions information:
267-468-8100
ambler@temple.edu

For advising and curricular information:
267-468-8200
tuaadvis@temple.edu

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.

Curriculum

Community Development Major (39 credits)

Please see Bulletin for detailed program requirements.

Fundamentals (6 Credits)

Courses available on Ambler and Main Campuses

One three credit statistics course

One three credit economics course

 

Core (21 Credits)

Courses available on Ambler and Center City Campuses

 

CDEV 1113      Introduction to Community Development 

CDEV 2155      Housing and Community Development*

OR

CDEV 3313      Community Development Finance*

CRP 2524         Fundamentals of GIS 

CDEV 2596      Community Planning Analysis (WI)

CDEV 3113      Non-profit Management

CDEV 3197      Community-based Organizations (WI)

CDEV 4889      Community Development Workshop

*Courses approved as elective if not fulfilling Core requirements

 

Approved Electives (12 credits)

Courses available on Ambler and Main campuses

See Bulletin for list of approved courses under the following themes: 

Arts/Material Culture 

Community as Place

Diversity

Economics and Real Estate

Organization and Community Management

Planning and Sustainability

Social Change

Public Policy

Urban Crime and Justice

Community Development 4+1 Program

Earn credit toward a Master's in Community and Regional Planning

The B.S in Community Development prepares students to pursue graduate studies in planning and related fields.  Community Development majors with a minimum grade point average of 3.5 may apply to the M.S. in Community and Regional Planning program. If accepted, they may take up to 12 graduate credits in CRP which will apply to both the B.S. in Community Development as well as the M.S. in Community & Regional Planning.

Eligible graduate courses are:   

CRP 5014 (formerly, 8014) - Planning Politics and Administration                 

CRP 5413 (formerly, 8413) - Planning Communications

CRP 5513 (formerly, 8513)- Planning Analysis        

CRP 5525 - Advanced Techniques in Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Learn more about the M.S. in Community and Regional Planning.

Minor in Community Development

Students in the School of Environmental Design (except for Community Development majors) as well as students in other colleges, schools, and departments may choose to minor 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. Through this minor students undertake formal studies about community development, thereby preparing themselves for contributions as informed citizens and civically engaged professionals. The minor provides students with stronger credentials to apply for graduate level work in planning and other related fields.

In this 18 credit minor, 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. The three electives allow students to explore interests in different facets of community development.

A student may not double count any course for the Minor in Community Development toward any other major, minor, or certificate. At least half of the courses for the minor must be taken at Temple University. Students must complete successfully each of the following courses with a grade of C- or better and a cumulative average of 2.0 or higher for all courses in the minor:

Minor in Community and Regional Planning

Students in the School of Environmental Design (except for CRP majors) as well as students in other colleges, schools, and departments may choose to minor in Community and Regional Planning. Through this minor students undertake formal studies about public planning, thereby preparing themselves for contributions as informed citizens, civically engaged professionals, or ultimately as professional planners. The minor provides students with the background and with stronger credentials to apply for graduate level work in planning.

In this 18 credit minor, the required courses provide common background in the basics of planning, including history, theory, comprehensive planning and its components, ethics and principles of planning practice with particular emphasis on citizen participation, and exposure to a range of analytical methods for understanding community planning issues. The four electives allow students to explore interests in different facets of community planning: land use, housing, economic development, transportation, sustainability and environmental planning.

Students must complete successfully each of the following courses with a grade of C- or better and a cumulative average of 2.0 or higher for all courses in the minor:

A student may not double-counted any course for the Minor in CRP toward any other major, minor, or certificate.

At least half of the courses for the minor must be taken at Temple University.