M.A. in community development

MCD mission + vision

mission

The MCD Program integrates human, economic, physical and organizational aspects of community development so that a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach to the renewal of communities can be undertaken. This integration takes place at all levels of the curriculum but is especially evident in the Core Curriculum and the Capstone Project. Inherent in the MCD program is a focus on providing service and leadership in marginalized communities whether urban, suburban, or rural. Serving these marginalized communities is the essence of the values and foundation of the Jesuit and Mercy sponsors of the University.

vision

The MCD Program will be recognized as a hallmark of the University of Detroit Mercy's Mission and Vision and as a premier interdisciplinary community development program. Specifically, the overall objective of the program is to create leaders in building communities characterized by human, economic, physical and organizational sustainability.

MCD ideological foundation

Service, social justice, and sustainability comprise a three-part philosophical and ethical foundation of the MCD program. Each of these concepts are unique, yet inter-related, and together provide the ideological base that fosters the development of leaders in community development that: possess a value system that recognizes and promotes the growth of all individuals, are holistic in their approach to community development, and are motivated by a constant need to enhance and achieve communities that are self-sustaining and just.

service

Service is an integral part of the University of Detroit Mercy tradition drawing from the Mission to integrate the intellectual, spiritual, ethical, and social development of our students. Service opportunities involve learning through doing, helping others, meeting the needs of a community, and working collaboratively with others to accomplish common goals. Service opportunities complement classroom experiences and provide a wealth of potential growth benefits to the student including:

  • increased awareness of special needs
  • adopting new perspectives on communities and resources
  • opportunities to effect change and make a difference in local communities
  • opportunities to meet personal intrinsic needs
  • opportunities to actively apply the skills of social justice
  • a competitive edge towards entering the workforce as a servant leader

social justice

Directly related to service and equally significant to the Mission of the University is the concept of Social Justice. Social justice is based upon the notion that all individuals deserve equitable access and treatment in regard to society's rights, opportunities, and amenities; planning and development should be constituent based; and injustice and discrimination must be addressed and rectified. In a society with a profound history of injustice, in order to truly measure equality, the concept of social justice also demands a commitment to real tangible results as a measure of effective action. As such, social justice requires increased awareness of community problems, most especially those stemming from inequities and forms of oppression, and active engagement in addressing such issues. Social Justice integrates increased knowledge with the tools necessary for advocacy and social action. Social justice is integrated across the curriculum in the MCD program providing students with a deepened understanding and appreciation of issues of inequities and injustice that prohibit inclusive and effective community development, and with the tools to actively begin to engage in a life committed to social justice.

sustainability

The final component of the ideological foundation is also integral to the University Mission and the Program Mission. Sustainability literally deals with the long term health of a given community; what will the future effects of a given initiative be in terms of human, economic, and physical resources? Sustainability as a core philosophy establishes a goal of healthy impacts that reach beyond the immediate concerns of any situation. This would include the impact that may be felt in physical areas beyond the scope of a given development, as well as the impacts on future communities and their ability to continue to thrive. Traditionally the concept of sustainability is articulated by three primary components; economic, social (human), and environmental (physical) sustainability. In order to prepare students to become active change agents within this three part matrix, the program adds a fourth category: organizational sustainability, which addresses process issues specific to community development organizations. Borrowing the ecological understanding of environments from the natural sciences and applying it to the built environment, the concept of sustainability as exemplified in the MCD curriculum stresses the importance of a systems understanding of community development. Individual organisms do not function, and cannot be studied as independent entities isolated from other organisms and their habitat. Likewise, a foundational concept in the MCD program is the idea that communities cannot be built (or studied) without considering the complex interrelationships between human, economic, physical and organizational forces that together create whole communities. It is in this core value of sustainability that we find the roots of the program's ambition to develop leaders who will have the appropriate knowledge, skills and values to create truly livable communities. It is also the concept from which the program takes its distinctive approach to interdisciplinary development.

MCD curriculum

The MCD curriculum has four elements: an intensive introduction program, a core curriculum, a program of concentrations and a capstone course. "Introduction to Community Development" provides an overview of the four concentrations, while the remaining core curriculum explores more complex issues in contemporary community development, including diversity, social justice, regional and global issues and trends. The total credit hour requirement is 36 credit hours.

introduction to community development, 2 credit hours

course description

MCD 5010 : introduction to community development, 2 cr.

This is an intensive course format with the goals of introducing students to UDM, the MCD Program, and Community Development in Regional Detroit. The course provides students with an introduction to the MCD concentrations and core courses. Course format will feature case studies, guest lectures by community leaders, local tours, and exposure to Community Development techniques and technologies. The course structure will emphasize community building including team work, service, and social opportunities. To expose students to the qualitative aspects of the region, the course has a service learning component where students work in the community and interact with residents. The course will include an introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to enable students to understand quantitative data related to the City of Detroit and the Metro area.

core curriculum, 18 credit hours

course list and descriptions

MCD 5020 : introduction to economic development, 3 cr.

(Prerequisite: MCD 501: Introduction to Community Development). The objective of this course is to study the conditions that will strengthen the viability and vitality of enterprise and increase employment in the community. Topics include: Principles of Economic Development and Growth (community history and community growth potential, the role of business, labor, & jobs, building sustainable systems, social capital); the Role of Community-Based Institutions (community support organizations, sources of funding); Economic Development Planning (local economic development incentives, building public/private collaboratives); The Economic Influence of Neighborhood and Building Design; and Measuring Economic Growth (data sources, methodology).

MCD 5040 : introduction to human development, 3 cr.

(Prerequisite: MCD 501: Introduction to Community Development) This course applies human development principles and methods to define the interaction between the social, natural, and built environments and to study the behavioral and attitudinal reaction of the human inhabitant in terms of mutual and ongoing transactions. The course integrates theory, research, and practice in human ecology and ecofeminism; reviews critical factors affecting people in their environment; and offers a basis to assist community developers in the design and planning of the human environment in terms of social sustainability. Special emphasis will be given to neighborhood and residential environments.

MCD 5060 : introduction to physical development, 3 cr.

(Prerequisite: MCD 5010: Introduction to Community Development)
This course is an introduction to the physical aspects of community development. The course focuses on the relationship between physical conditions (built and natural environments) and the economic, social and environmental sustainability of communities. Subject matter includes the role of physical place in the historical and contemporary development of communities, the role of the built environment as an integral component of sustainable communities, and concepts related to real estate development and capital projects. The course is taught by an inter-disciplinary team of instructors, and incorporates real world examples and project based learning.

MCD 5080 : introduction to organizational development, 3 cr.

(Prerequisite: MCD 501 : Introduction to Community Development) This course is an introduction to the Organizational Development concentration. It will survey topics of transformational leadership, organizational management, and financial management. Primary emphasis will be on understanding 1) how to create, inspire and sustain a shared vision for community-based or agency-based initiatives; 2) the theories, dynamics, and life cycles of community development; and 3) how to utilize strategic planning, action planning, and financial management strategies to create sustainable community change initiatives. The course will utilize open systems theory as the theoretical framework in which community assessment and organizing, organizational design and development, interpersonal and team dynamics, and organizational funding and financial management are studied. Theory and practice are integrated.

MCD 5100 : role of diversity and multiculturalism in community development, 2 cr.

This course is designed to explore the role of diversity and multiculturalism on community development. Cultural identity and cultural institutions provide the foundation for an in-depth exploration of various aspects of diversity related to individuals, organizations, communities, and physical environments. Culturally based needs assessment is used to increase understanding related to community design and the influence of diversity in community development, specifically focusing on human services, community organizations, businesses, and the arts. Case studies are utilized to assess the various dimensions of cultural identity and to illustrate the influence of such on community development. Various awareness-raising experiences will be utilized in order to further promote cultural awareness and sensitivity.

MCD 5120 : environmental, social and economic justice, 2 cr.

This course examines the contested meanings of social justice within the context of a society which understands itself to be a liberal democracy based on the conviction that all humans are created equal. This course will raise questions about the ethical adequacy of existing social norms (legal and ethical) by examining concrete economic and environmental issues related to the dehumanizing conditions that shape communities of marginalized people, disproportionately persons of color, women and children. As a course shaped by the theory that knowledge, including social norms, is constructed by privileged social groups, the course will intentionally introduce contesting knowledges from marginalized voices. Throughout this process, the principles involved in doing social ethics, that is, for determining what is just, will be revealed and examined. Guest speakers will provide links to local community activism related to the issues raised.

MCD 5140 : regional development + sustainability, 2 cr.

This seminar course will introduce students to ideas about the form of metropolitan regions and how they begin, grow, decline and grow again. We will investigate the ways in which we define "Region" - the natural, political, economic, social, cultural, technological and temporal boundaries that we assign to regions, and the way in which they function and play increasingly important roles in the United States, North America, and throughout the world. The pedagogic approach will be Case Study methodology. We have identified Regional Detroit as our "laboratory", and will include comparative case studies of other national, North American, and international regional efforts in regional planning and development. Students will be required to analyze Case Materials utilizing the following Regional Themes: catalyst, development, choice+consequence, governance, and assessment. The seminar will include readings, discussions, site visits, team and individual written and graphic assignment.


concentrations, 12 credit hours

human development description and course list

This area of study emphasizes the relationship between people and their social and physical environment. Students study human interactions, by people of all ages that take place in community settings such as the home, the school and the neighborhood. Community needs assessment and social service requirements are part of this concentration.

courses include:

  • CNS 5360 Counseling Services: Organization & Administration
  • EDU 5140 Society and Education
  • EDU 5820 School / Community Relations
  • HLH 5320 Health Promotion and Risk Reduction
  • HLH 5700 Health Care Delivery & Policy Issues
  • PYC 5020 Lifespan Development
  • RELS 5480 Justice: Contemporary Issues and Theories

organizational development description and course list

This area of study emphasizes how communities can organize to address their human, economic and physical conditions. Students study organizational funding and financing, transformational leadership, organizing volunteer services and working with governmental agencies to create community change.

courses include:

  • MBA 5210 Personal Development and Social Responsibility
  • MBA 5250 Organizational Process and Leadership
  • MBA 5680 Diversity in Management and Marketing
  • MBA 5850 Organizational Development and Change
  • PYC 5700 Issues in Industrial / Organizational Psychology
  • PYC 5740 Training and Development
  • PYC 5760 Multi-Cultural Issues and Race Relations in Work

physical development description and course list

This area of study emphasizes the man-made environment and its importance to the creation of community. Students study planning and design issues, ecological criteria of design, real estate development and the physical elements that help create a sense of place and identity in the community.

courses include:

  • ARCH 5180 Urban Design Issues
  • ARCH 5290 Real Estate Development Practicum
  • ARCH 5970 Urban Public Policy & Politics
  • ARCH 5980 Revitalizing the Core: Historic Preservation
  • ARCH 5980 Introduction to Urban Design & Development
  • ARCH 5980 Social Justice in Design
  • SEC 5240 Crime Prevention through Environmental Design

economic development description and course list

This area of study emphasizes the complex role of economics in community development. Students study an array of issues including job creation, business development and entrepreneurship and their impact on communities.

courses include:

  • ECN 5100 Economic Analysis
  • ECN 5220 The Economics of Cities in Metropolitan Areas
  • ECN 5450 Economics of the Public Sector
  • ECN 5790 Economic Development
  • MBA 5160 Foundations of Marketing
  • MBA 5620 Entrepreneurship
  • RELS 5430 Ethics and Economic Theories

capstone project, 4 credit hours

course descriptions

MCD 5900 : capstone preparation, 1 cr.

(Prerequisite: advanced status in the MCD program) Capstone Preparation is a six week seminar course intended to prepare student teams for the successful completion of the Capstone Project. This course will outline research methods and project expectations. It will also serve as a vehicle to establish student project teams, faculty advisory committees, and project abstracts. All three elements should be completed and approved by the Program Chair prior to beginning the Capstone Project. Abstracts must also be submitted to the selected sponsoring agency for approval. The Capstone Preparation course will be assessed on a pass/fail basis.

MCD 5950 : capstone, 3 cr.

(Prerequisite: MCD 5900: Capstone Preparation) The final step of the Masters of Community Development program is the creation of a comprehensive community development project. The project must make a proposal for a real situation in a specific community that integrates economic, human, organizational and physical concerns. The project is to be developed by a team of students and must be pursued in collaboration with a local municipality, community development corporation, or other non-profit sponsoring entity. Each student team will be advised by a primary Faculty Advisor as well as a Faculty Advisory Committee. Although actual realization of the project is not expected, the project should be framed with that future possibility in mind.