Postgraduate Community Development

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• Post-Graduate Diploma in Community Development

  Introduction

  The Postgraduate Diploma in Community Development is a postgraduate qualification at the NQF level 6. It offers a foundation for understanding contemporary issues in Community Development. The diploma is intended for people who work in the broad field of community development as development practitioners or development managers. Trainers of adult education programmes as well as development policy makers will also find it useful.

  The course will broaden the experience of people in community development practice who work in such specific areas as health education, worker education, environmental education and training, rural development and local government, agriculture, public works programme etc. It will empower students to function effectively and expand their knowledge in a rapidly changing micro and macro society.

  PGD Honours Module PDF 

  Course Outline

  The course consists of six modules taken part-time over two years or full-time over one year.

  •  Principles of Community Development (32 C)

  This module provides a general overview of the community development field, and introduces students to the key principles and debates in community development. Students will acquaint themselves with the history of community development and various theories of practice.

  • Major Issues in Community Development (16 C)

  This module aims to critically explore some of the ?major issues? and how they impact on community development, such as:

  •  Development
  •  The environment and development
  •  Macroeconomic policies
  •  Adult basic education
  •  HIV/AIDS

  •  Power, Participation and Social Change (16 C)

  This module deals with practical issues of community development including community mobilisation and how to engage communitymembers in participatory methods of dealing with community challenges as well as handling local initiatives.

  • Project Management and Sustainability (16 C)

  This module introduces students to the field of project management, planning and control with particular emphasis on community based development projects.

  • Advance Community Economic Development (16 C)

  The module explores the concept of Community Economic Development as an integral component of rural development. Students will gain exposure to a wide range of recent CED experiences in South Africa within the context of Development Local Government. Accordingly, the module will provide students with an advanced understanding of the theory of Community Economic Development and give insight into the application thereof for planning economic processes for rural change and general Community Development within the framework of the sustainable livelihoods approach.

  • Independent Study (32 C)

  This is a research module in which students are guided to develop a detailed case study by conducting in-depth analysis of a community development initiative. In this way, students will apply theory to practice.

  Semester one	Semester two
  Principles of Community Development     Course outline Assignments Tests Lecture notes	Power, Participation and Social Change Course outline Assignments Tests Lecture notes
  Advance Community Economic Development Course outline Assignments Tests Lecture notes	Project Management and Sustainability Course outline Assignments Tests Lecture notes
  Independent Study Course outline Assignments Tests Lecture notes	Major issues in Community Development Course outline Assignments Tests Lecture notes

• Bachelor of Community Development Studies Honours

  The Bachelor of Community and Development Studies Honours is a postgraduate qualification at the NQF level 7. It offers a foundation for understanding contemporary issues in Community Development.

  The ComDev Honours is intended for people who work in the broad field of community development as development practitioners or development managers. Trainers of adult education programmes as well as development policy makers will also find it useful.

  The course will broaden the experience of people in community development practice who work in such specific areas as health education, worker education, environmental education and training, rural development and local government, agriculture, public works programmes etc. It will empower students to function effectively and expand their knowledge in a rapidly changing micro and macro society.

  On successful completion of the diploma students may proceed to a Masters programme.

  Programme Outline

  The programme consists of six modules taken part time over two years or full time over one year.

  1.    Principles of Community Development (32 credits)

  Community Development Programme was granted to permission last year to start an Honours Programme. Accordingly, some of the courses have to be upgraded to Honours level courses. This course aims to introduce students to the principles of community development. Among some of the principles to be discussed are ecology, social justice, valuing the local, community development as a process and the relationship between the local and the global.

  2.    Systems and Processes in Community Development (16 credits)

  The purpose of this module is to develop an understanding of pertinent national and global debates with regard to sustainable community development. Students will gain exposure to a wide range of policies, systems and processes pertinent to community development and in doing so gain insight into the prevailing opportunities and challenges of implementing community development interventions that are people-centred, empowering and sustainable.

  3.  Project Management and Sustainability (16 credits)

  The main purpose of the module is to introduce students to advanced procedures and techniques of project management. Students will be introduced to project planning and management procedures, including the preparation of project proposals, plans and budgets; the design and implementation of projects or programmes; the management of projects or programme; the evaluation of the implementation of projects and programmes and the analysis of project and programme impact.

  4.    Power and Participation (16 credits)

  To develop in students an appreciation of the importance of participation in community development, and the need for community mobilisation, capacity building and leadership in order to ensure longer-term commitment and hence sustainability of projects; create awareness of processes of critical reflection and learning in the course of participation in community activities.

  5.    Community Economic Development (16 credits)

  The module introduces participants to the concept of Community Economic Development as an integral component of rural development. Taking a sustainable human capability approaches to economic development, the module has as its purpose to deliberate and challenge the capitalist paradigm and its adverse effects on community development. Participants will gain exposure to a wide range of recent CED experiences in South Africa within the context of Developmental Local Government. Accordingly, the module will provide participants with an advanced understanding of the theory of Community Economic Development and gain insight into the application thereof in planning economic processes for rural change and general Community Development within the framework of the sustainable livelihoods approach.

  6.    Research Project (32 credits)

  The first 7 weeks of the module is spent assisting qualifying students to prepare research proposals for their theses. The students spend the remaining seven weeks collecting data, analysing it and writing the Theses. To prepare students for writing their theses, sessions are used to prepare them for writing the proposals, as well as for the preparation of the Introduction, Literature Review and Theory sections as well as the Research Methods sections of the proposals. Students will also be exposed to various qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis skills.

  Course Format

  The course is run full-time over one year or part-time over two years. There is a weekly class from 2.00-5.30p.m.on Tuesdays for Year 1 and on Thursdays for Year 2.  Attendance is essential.

  Assessment

  Assessment will be based on coursework assignments and examinations or exam-equivalent assignments.

  Entry Requirements

  Students are eligible for admission if:

  • They have completed a bachelors degree OR
  • They have received permission of the programme director based on a selection interview
  • Applicants with considerable experience of work in community development or related fields will be given preference, as the number of students that can be accommodated is limited.

  Fees

  The fees are set by the University each year. Fees are charged for each course for which you register. The cost of the first year of the Postgraduate degree in 2007 is likely to be approximately R12000 full time or R6 000 part time.

  Semester one	Semester two
  Principles of Community Development     Course outline Assignments Tests Lecture notes	Power, Participation and Social Change Course outline Assignments Tests Lecture notes
  Advance Community Economic Development Course outline Assignments Tests Lecture notes	Project Management and Sustainability Course outline Assignments Tests Lecture notes
  Independent Study Course outline Assignments Tests Lecture notes	Systems and Processes in Community Development Course outline Assignments Tests Lecture notes

• Masters of Social Sciences in Community Development Studies

   

  Mission

  The programme of Community Development is driven by a sense of responsibility to the development of communities at the local, regional, national and continental level. For this, considerations of race, gender, class and physical ability are central. Academic staff within the programme are engaged in both the theoretical principles underlying African Scholarship, and applied research into local and regional issues such as poverty, social exclusion and political governance. Our work is underscored by a deep interest in indigenous knowledge systems and ways of negotiating and valorising different ways of knowing and scientific knowledge.

  A belief in and commitment to actively fostering social justice translates into participatory forms of teaching, conducting research and community outreach. As work in community development demands active citizenship, members of staff engage in civil society both as academics and citizens.

  Vision

  To produce qualified community development practitioners who are equipped with both theoretical knowledge and the practical skills necessary to initiate, implement and manage community development initiatives at all levels.

  Purpose

  The purpose of this degree is to offer advanced understanding of sustainable development at a community level specifically through enhanced theoretical knowledge and practical skills using the integrated approach to economic, social and political aspects of community development.  This is a post-graduate degree for senior community development practitioners such as community development managers and policy makers in local government, NGO?s and international development agencies.

  CORE MODULES

  The MSSCDS Programme comprises of the following modules:

  • Developmental Local Government (32)
  • Sustainable Community Development (16)
  • Research Methods (32)
  • Dissertation (96)

  ELECTIVES

  The Programme also has electives that could be taken from other Schools and Programmes

  • Community Health 
  •  Contemporary Social Policy
  •  Urban Planning
  •  Industrial Organisation & Labour Studies
  •  Environmental Science

  • Indigenous Knowledge systems  (offered by Community Development)