Community Development BS

Tuition Fee

Not Available

Start Date

Not Available

Medium of studying

On campus

Duration

4 years

Details

Program Details

Degree

Bachelors

Major

Urban Planning | Community Development

Area of study

Social Sciences | Humanities

Education type

On campus

Timing

Full time

Course Language

English

About Program

Program Overview

Introduction to the Bachelor of Science in Community Development

The Bachelor of Science in Community Development, offered by the Department of Architecture and Environmental Design (AED) at Temple University, is designed to equip students with the knowledge and critical thinking skills necessary to understand and address the complex social, political, economic, and cultural dynamics that shape various types of communities. With a particular emphasis on empowering disadvantaged communities, the program focuses on promoting long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

Overview of the Program

The Community Development program enables students to lead efforts in creating and maintaining healthy, sustainable communities. It provides a broad-based understanding of the multi-dimensional aspects of urban and suburban community challenges within a metropolitan regional context. Students learn how to engage stakeholders, assess community assets and needs, plan community development, and develop strategies and policies to improve quality of life. The program extends beyond the classroom, incorporating hands-on experience through service learning, field research, informal gatherings, and workshops.

Campus Location and Program Code

Campus Location: Main
Program Code: TA-CMDV-BS

Admissions

For detailed information on the application process, prospective students should refer to the admissions page of the Tyler School of Art and Architecture.

Accelerated Program

Eligible undergraduate students can opt for the +1 accelerated BS in Community Development and MS in City and Regional Planning program. This accelerated degree program allows students to complete both degrees in five years by taking up to 12 specified graduate credits to fulfill undergraduate degree requirements. Upon graduating from their undergraduate program, students seamlessly transition into their graduate program, which they complete in one additional year, including two summer semesters of graduate coursework.

To be eligible, students must:

Be declared Community Development majors
Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 in at least 45 credits of coursework taken at Temple
Be able to complete their undergraduate degree according to the specified academic plan
Be able to complete the graduate degree in one additional year, including summer semesters of graduate coursework Community Development majors apply to the +1 accelerated program in March of their sophomore year.

Study Abroad

Students planning to study abroad should meet with their academic advisor and the Education Abroad and Overseas Campuses office as early as possible, preferably during their freshman year, to explore options and plan the sequence of courses that would be most appropriate.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Community Development program are prepared to tackle the challenges of community development in the 21st century, particularly in empowering disadvantaged communities to address inequalities and improve their long-term sustainability. They are equipped to serve as critical links between communities, local governments, and state and federal programs in various positions, including community organizing, nonprofit organizations, private foundations, community development corporations, and more.

Summary of Requirements

The degree of Bachelor of Science in Community Development may be conferred upon a student by recommendation of the faculty and upon the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 122 semester hours of credit with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 overall and in the major. At least half of the courses required for the major must be completed at Temple University.

University Requirements

MATH 0701 (4 s.h.) and/or ENG 0701 (4 s.h.), if required by placement assessment
Completion of the university General Education (GenEd) program
- Summer or semester study abroad will satisfy the GenEd Global/World Society requirement

Program Requirements

The courses fulfilling requirements for the Community Development major must be completed with a minimum grade of C- to apply towards degree requirements
All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses as part of the major. CDEV 2596 and CDEV 3197 are the specific writing-intensive courses required for Community Development majors

Course List

Fundamentals Courses

Select one of the following:
- PSY 1003: Statistics for Psychology 1
- ANTH/SOC/PSY/POLS 0825: Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences 1
- MATH 1013: Elements of Statistics 1
- SOC 1167: Social Statistics 1
Select one of the following:
- ECON 1001: Introduction to the Economy
- ECON 1101: Macroeconomic Principles 1
- ECON 1102: Microeconomic Principles 1
- ARCH 1502: Investigations into Built Environment Professions 1

Community Development Core Courses

ARCH 1196: History of Form of Cities
CDEV 1113: Introduction to Community Development
CTRP 1017: City Planning Principles and Practice
CDEV 2013: Community Redevelopment and Revitalization
CDEV 2155: Housing and Community Development
CTRP 2524: Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
CDEV 2596: Community Planning Analysis (WI)
CDEV 3113: Nonprofit Management
CDEV 3197: Community-based Organizations (WI)
CDEV 3313: Community Development Finance
CDEV 3455: Community Engagement and Empowerment
CDEV 4889: Community Development Workshop

CDEV Methods and Practice Electives

Select from the following courses for a total of 12 credits:
- CDEV 2255: Environmental Justice in Communities
- CDEV 2354: Cooperatives
- CDEV 2454: Grant Writing for Non-Profits
- CDEV 3155: Healthy Community Design and Development
- CDEV 3165: Placemaking: Revitalizing Urban Communities
- CDEV 3175: Gentrification and Equitable Development
- CDEV 3334: Community Economic Development
- CDEV 3860: Topics in Community Development
- CDEV 3870: Special Topics in Community Development
- CDEV 3882: Independent Study in Community Development
- CDEV 3883: Directed Reading/Study in Community Development
- CDEV 4885: Internship and Professional Practice in Community Development
- CTRP 2114: Urban Form and Design
- CTRP 2166: Land Use Planning
- CTRP 2213: Environmental Planning
- CTRP 2251: Sustainable Food Systems Planning
- CTRP 3155: Ecological Planning and Development
- CTRP 3255: Sustainability in Suburban Communities
- CTRP 3256: Sustainable Community Design and Development
- CTRP 3555: Internet and Digital Technologies for Community Engagement
- CTRP 3655: Transportation Planning
- CTRP 3755: Introduction to Emergency Management Planning
- CTRP 3860: Topics in Community & Regional Planning
- CTRP 3870: Special Topics

CDEV Interdisciplinary Electives

Select from the following courses for a total of 6 credits:
- ARCH 3040: Seminar: Special Topics in History and Theory
- ARCH 3070: Seminar: Special Topics in Site and Context
- ARCH 3146: Engaging Places: Observations
- ARCH 3273: Housing and Community Design
- ART 2011: Socially Engaged Arts Practices in Communities
- ARTH 2753: Art and Environment in American Culture
- CART 3089: Research and Project Planning Seminar in Community Arts
- GAD 2073: Introduction to Web Design
- GAD 2078: The Art of Infographics
- RE 3501: Real Estate Fundamentals
- RE 3502: Real Estate Practice
- SGM 3511: Doing Well by Doing Good: Where Innovation and Entrepreneurship Meet Social Impact
- AOD 2218: Leadership in Organizations
- AOD 3376: Facilitating Group Decision-Making
- CJ 3102: Community and Crime Prevention
- CJ 3404: Urban Crime Patterns
- POLS 3134: The Politics of Inequality
- POLS 3153: The Politics of Poverty
- GSWS 2022: Gender, Race, Class, and the City
- GSWS 3259: Women and Poverty

Suggested Academic Plan

The suggested academic plan for the Bachelor of Science in Community Development is outlined over four years, including specific courses for each semester to ensure students meet all program requirements.

Year 1

Fall: CDEV 1113, ARCH 1196, ARCH 1502, ENG 0802 (or ENG 0812 or ENG 0902), GenEd Breadth Course, GenEd Breadth Course
Spring: CTRP 1017, ECON 1001 (or ECON 1101 or ECON 1102), IH 0851 (or IH 0951), GenEd Quantitative Literacy, GenEd Breadth Course

Year 2

Fall: CTRP 2524, CDEV 2013, MATH 1013 (or SOC 1167 or PSY 1003 or ANTH/SOC/PSY/POLS 0825), IH 0852 (or IH 0952), GenEd Breadth Course
Spring: CDEV 2155, CDEV 2596, GenEd Breadth Course, GenEd Breadth Course, Free Elective

Year 3

Fall: CDEV 3113, CDEV 3455, CDEV Methods & Practice Elective, Free Electives
Spring: CDEV 3313, CDEV Methods & Practice Elective, GenEd Breadth Course, Free Electives

Year 4

Fall: CDEV 3197, CDEV Methods & Practice Elective, CDEV Interdisciplinary Elective, Free Electives
Spring: CDEV 4889, CDEV Methods & Practice Elective, CDEV Interdisciplinary Elective, Free Electives

Study Abroad Options

Students are encouraged to explore study abroad options, which can be integrated into their academic plan with careful planning and consultation with their academic advisor. Various options, including those in Rome and Japan, offer unique opportunities for cultural immersion and academic enrichment.

Accelerated Programs

The Community Development BS offers an accelerated +1 program with the City and Regional Planning MS, allowing students to complete both degrees in less time than traditional routes. This program is designed for highly motivated students who wish to expedite their academic and professional careers in community development and planning.