Community Development (PHCM9010)
This course explores the meaning and conceptual frameworks of community development as an approach to improving the health of individuals and the broader community in both the local and international context.
The material covered in this course facilitates exploration of the fundamental components of community development, such as needs assessment, empowerment and evaluation. Local and international case examples are used to explore theories and models in practice and to highlight and reflect on the issues and dilemmas faced in community development work across a range of settings. This course is useful for community workers, researchers, policy officers/managers, health service administrators/managers, educators or clinicians. For those with field experience, this course will provide a strong theoretical basis and will introduce some new practice tools. For those with little or no field experience, it provides a good mix of theories, models, practical examples and tools to introduce this exciting approach to improving health.
Mode of study
External (Distance fully online) and Internal (Face-to-Face) classes on campus
Key contacts
A/Prof Faye McMillan
Course Convenor
+61 (2) 9065 4554
f.mcmillan@unsw.edu..au
A/Prof Sally Nathan
Course Convenor
+61 (2) 9385 1061
s.nathan@unsw.edu.au
- Who should do this course?
- Course outcomes
- Learning & teaching
- Assessments
- Readings & resources
Who should do this course?
This course is an elective course of the Master of Public Health, Master of Global Health and the Master of Health Leadership and Management comprising 6 units of credit towards the total required for completion of each study program. There are no prerequisites for this course.
Course outcomes
The aim of this course is to explore and examine issues, theoretical perspectives and practical examples of community development and community building.
The outcomes for this course are to enable you to:
- discuss the meaning of community, community development (CD) and related terms
- explain the history of CD and understand the rationale for its application
- compare the different conceptual frameworks underpinning CD as a philosophy and relate them to the approaches taken in practice
- analyse and synthesise the fundamental components of CD practice
- reflect on how community development principles and practice relate to your past, current and future work and life experiences
- appreciate the issues and dilemmas which can enable or hinder this approach in practice.
Learning & teaching
Our collective approach to learning and teaching is student-focused and deliberately includes students in decision-making about their learning options and the approaches taken in the delivery of the course – whilst acknowledging the diverse geographical participation of the course cohort. The course involves participatory and creative approaches to student learning and teaching. The small group activities you will take part in online have been designed to actively engage you in the learning process. They allow you to interact and collaborate with your peers and the teaching team to build and reflect on your prior experience and knowledge, drawing on the diversity of experiences we collectively bring to discussions as well as provide an opportunity to apply new knowledge. In this course, we plan to share with you the insights gained through our lived experiences, our working lives and the research undertaken in the School of Population Health, and assist you to integrate your own experiences with the theories and practice of community development.
This course is designed to provide theoretical perspectives and frameworks to guide community development practice and research. It also facilitates exploration of the fundamental components of community development, such as empowerment. Case examples are used to explore theories and models in practice and to highlight and reflect on the issues and dilemmas faced in community development work.
Assessments
Assessment 1 – Online discussion of video community in Rampant and Standing Rock
Weighting: 10%
Length: 200 + 200 words
Assessment 2 – Understanding Community: individual written assignment
Weighting: 25%
Length: 1500 words
Assessment 3 – Scenario-based group participation and role as moderator
Weighting: 25%
Length: 150 words per contribution post. Summary post by co-moderators on wiki page can be up to 1000 words
Assessment Task 4 – Individual written assignment
Weighting: 40%
Length: 2000 words
Readings & resources
Learning resources for this course consist of the following available on Moodle:
- course notes and readings
- community descriptions
- lecture slides and recordings
- supplementary resources such as videos and podcasts.
Text
Minkler M (ed), Community Organizing and Community Building for Health and Welfare, (3rd Edition), Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, N.J., 2012.
Baum, Fran. The New Public Health, OUPANZ, 2015. ProQuest Ebook Central.