Module SOCI51315: Community Policy and Practice

Department: Applied Social Sciences

SOCI51315: Community Policy and Practice

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• to explore the origins and current practice of community development in the UK and internationally;
• to explore critically the concept of community and its relevance for policy and professional practice.

Content

• critical analysis of the concept of 'community';
• the origins and history of community work and community development;
• theoretical approaches to community development;
• contemporary forms of community development practice, including community organising and critical pedagogy;
• roles taken by professional practitioners and community activists and dilemmas experienced in practice;
• the role of community development in supporting and developing third sector organisations in tackling poverty and social exclusion;
• examination of key areas of practice including community audits, community partnerships, evaluation of community development.

Learning Outcomes

• an understanding of the origins and growth of community development as an intervention;
• an awareness of different approaches and theories;
• an appreciation of the current social and political context in which community development is taking place and the implications for policy and practice;
• an appreciation of the roles undertaken by community development practitioners, the potential for conflict and dilemmas and how these can be tackled.

• an ability to discuss and assess critically the literature on the theory, practice and policy of community development and to relate this to some of the relevant literature in the field of social policy.

• Critical reflection and an ability to link theory and practice.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Lectures, seminars, group discussions and student presentations.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

A seminar presentation.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University