Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Community Development Programs Combine Various Fields

Did you know that in order to apply for one of Toronto's respected Community Development programs (at Centennial College), students just require an interest in the field; possession of an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status (19 years or older); as well as completion of English Grade 12 C or U, or equivalent (minimum grade required) or the Centennial College English Skills Assessment for Admission? With these admission requirements met, they can apply to study the ins and outs of the field of social planning that strives to enhance the social and economic well being of people living in various communities.

 
What exactly is community development? At its core, it is a term used to describe the practices and academic disciplines of civic leaders, activists, involved citizens and professionals to improve various aspects of local communities. These community advocates must understand both how to work with individuals and how to affect communities' positions within the context of larger social institutions. As a result, they empower individuals and groups of people by providing them with the skills they need to effect change in their own communities.

With this in mind, Centennial College's Community Development program balances politics, economics, research and an understanding of cultural diversity in its courses. In addition, Community Development program students have the opportunity to apply what they learn to two different work placements in semesters three and four. During these experiences, students work under the supervision of community practitioners in "real world" fieldwork settings where they also network and obtain new knowledge from these seasoned professionals.

Specific courses in which students of this community develop program partake are: Global Citizenship: From Social Analysis to Social Action (learners use individual portfolios to demonstrate personal and professional development that connects social responsibility to program studies. These portfolios are introduced and evaluated in a designated program course in the first semester of their program, are anchored in this course, and evaluated as a final product in a designated program course in the final semester of their program); College Communications (introduces the standards of college-level English. It enables students to develop skills in grammar, sentence variety, paragraph development, vocabulary, and reading comprehension); Social Psychology (designed to introduce the student to the theories, research, and applications that constitute the field of social psychology. Important social phenomena are described in order to demonstrate how social psychologists analyze and explain such phenomena); as well as Sustainable Community Development, Community Economic Development, Community Development in Action, Business Essentials, Community Engagement and Participation as well as others such as.

As a result of the Community Development program in Canada, grads work in public, private and non-profit sector careers in a wide array of positions geared at building community capacity, promoting sustainable community and managing/directing community economic development initiatives. Among specific areas in which students of the Community Development program may find careers upon graduation are: government, voluntary organizations, corporations, and international community settings.

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