Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance

Iowa State University, Kansas State University, North Dakota State University South Dakota State University, University of Nebraska

Community Development
Courses

Program - Master's Degree, Course Schedule, Faculty, Benefits, Learning Outcomes, Careers
General Program Information: Cost, Admissions, Financial Assistance, Grade Translation
Computer System Recommendations, Frequently Asked Questions

Core Courses

Iowa State University, Mary Emery, Ph.D.

This course will introduce students to on-line learning environments, create a community of practice using distance education technology, explore attributes of ethical practice within the field, and introduce students to job opportunities connected to the field of Community Development.

South Dakota State University, Meredith Redlin, Ph.D. or Iowa State University, Cornelia Flora, Ph.D.

The course will introduce students to the breadth of consideration involved in community resource management. Included in the course are theoretical frameworks, methodological investigation techniques, and applied practices to enhance the ability of community development professionals to work with their communities to plan, develop, and monitor the conversation and development of natural resources with multiple functions.

Iowa State University, Jan Flora, Ph.D. or North Dakota State University, Gary Goreham, Ph.D.

This interdisciplinary course analyzes principles and practices of community change and development, beginning with definitions of community and the role of communities in social and economic change. Using case studies and the students’ communities of reference, the course will relate Community Development approaches to conceptual models from diverse disciplines. Conceptual models include conflict, neo-classical economic growth, participatory democracy, and others. Students will be exposed to professional practice principles and will leave the course having constructed their personal framework for the practice of community development.

Iowa State University, Tim Borich, Ph.D.

This course will examine the role of civil society in community planning efforts and offer students a comparative approach to planning theories and approaches. It will also focus on change within communities and the roles of government, planners, and citizens in reacting to or shaping change. Students will have an opportunity to explore current issues related to planning and dealing with change by examining controversial practices such as covenants and land trusts, as well as by studying various community responses to change. Students will understand how citizens, firms and governments act to improve their community and region; the structure and implications of power; the relation between social relationships and economic activity; coalition building; concepts of inclusiveness (class, gender, ethnicity, geography) and voice; and conflict and its management in communities and regions. The course will cover dimensions of social capital and the context of change. Students will learn to use this knowledge to promote equitable change at the community and regional level. They will study the implications of economic and demographic shifts on strategies and tactics for change and explore various resources for supporting these efforts.

University of Nebraska, Bruce Johnson, Ph.D. or North Dakota State University, Larry Leistritz, Ph.D.

A firm grounding in the reality of the local economy is necessary for successful programs in community economic development, as well as designing successful state and local policy and programs in economic development. The course introduces concepts of communities and regions, theories of economic growth, drivers of economic growth, the economic base of a community, sources of growth or decline in the community, roles of local government and institutions, analytical tools, and strategies for local economic development.

Kansas State University, Sheri L. Smith, Ph.D. or South Dakota State University, Meredith Redlin, Ph.D.

This course provides an introduction to research methods relevant to community development. Course topics include how to formulate and begin a research effort, methods of data collection and how conceptual frameworks are used to develop the questions and analyze data. Also included are strategies for reporting findings and applying findings in community action. The course will additionally look at methods of evaluating the entire research process. Significant attention is paid to issues of research ethics and inclusiveness throughout the course.

Students complete this component through their home university.

The Community Development On-line Master’s Program has a research element in addition to the required number of credit hours. Because of the variety of career and academic opportunities that may result from this degree program, students have considerable leeway in choosing projects that suit their programs of study and also fit their future professional or academic goals. Some universities allow Master’s candidates to choose either the creative component or the thesis.

Natural Resource Management Track

University of Nebraska, Gary Lynne, Ph.D.

The course seeks a synthesis across the notion of “utility” as represented in environmental/natural resource economics and the notion of “ecology’ in ecological economics. The perspective that is adopted has substantial affects on the approach taken to economic and community development, including natural resource management. A workable synthesis of ecology and utility will likely produce the most effective and viable economic/community development and natural resource management process by integrating across the best ideas emerging out of both perspectives.
In the spirit of synthesis, this course seeks ways to treat both economy and community/ecosystem as being on par, each influencing the other. This synthesis results in a search for the win-win through recognizing the potential for a kind of symbiotic complementarity between the two perspectives, the two systems, and the forces each puts in place. It is the search for this kind of complementarity which likely gives the soundest… both common sense and scientific… basis for sustainable economy and ecocommunity. The course examines this “third-way” approach to economy and community, one which sees the inherent interdependence, jointness, and potential complementarity as between the ecology and economy (utility) of a place. course syllabus

(cross-listed with Working with Native Communities Track)

South Dakota State University, Meredith Redlin, Ph.D. or John Phillips, South Dakota State University

This course will introduce the student to the historical and contemporary issues related to natural resource management on Native American lands. Students will study a variety of ecological settings across Native American lands, and analyze tribal sovereignty as it relates to land tenure and water rights. Federal, State, and Tribal policies concerning agriculture, fisheries, wildlife, parks and wilderness co-management, water supply and quality, emerging zoonotic diseases, and agri-security will be debated. Philosophical and economic arguments concerning natural resource conservation, preservation and extraction will be explored.

(TBA)

This course links the management of natural capital to other community-based actions around resource allocation and the impacts on quality of life. The literature on community-based natural resource management will be examined and alternative ways of valuing natural capital will be assessed. Contrasting theories of the role of natural capital in communities and human society will be linked to their implications for community sustainability in terms of economic vitality, social well-being, and ecosystem health.

Iowa State University , Steffen Schmidt, Ph.D.

This Coastal Policy course focuses on coastal zone management policy issues. Students learn more about the fragile coastal environment and what they can do to protect it.

Working with Native Communities Track

University of Nebraska, Teresa Lamsam, Ph.D. or South Dakota State University, John Phillips, Ph.D.

This course is designed as a base knowledge course for students currently working within or in partnership with Native communities or considering working in this area. Students taking this course will develop a basic understanding within the context of community development of the diversity of tribal structures and cultures and the unique history and jurisdictional considerations of these nations. Course topics will include: working with tribes, Federal and Indian relations, and governance and cultural issues. Students taking this course will complete a holistic analysis and conceptual mapping of a tribe. This course is required before students may take other courses in this track.

South Dakota State University , John Phillips, Ph.D.

This course will focus on non-western approaches to helping Native communities build their capacity. Students will learn to take a participatory, culture-centered, and strength-based approach to development.

(cross-listed with Natural Resource Management Track)

South Dakota State University, Meredith Redlin, Ph.D. or John Phillips, South Dakota State University

This course will introduce the student to the historical and contemporary issues related to natural resource management on Native American lands. Students will study a variety of ecological settings across Native American lands, and analyze tribal sovereignty as it relates to land tenure and water rights. Federal, State, and Tribal policies concerning agriculture, fisheries, wildlife, parks and wilderness co-management, water supply and quality, emerging zoonotic diseases, and agri-security will be debated. Philosophical and economic arguments concerning natural resource conservation, preservation and extraction will be explored.

University of Nebraska, Jessiline Anderson, Ph.D.

This is a one-credit course within the Working with Native Communities track focusing on contemporary issues impacting Native youth including: demographics, Native youth in the criminal justice system, early parenting among Native youth, and educational levels as well as mental, emotional, and overall health, identify formation, and opportunities for youth and youth-elder connections.

University of Nebraska, Jessiline Anderson, Ph.D.

This one-credit course will highlight the healthcare issues challenging Native communities and identify strategies and practices to address those challenges. The course will review current statistics documenting the disparity in Indian people’s health. It will also examine the impact of the Indian Health System, other bureaucratic systems, and current consumer practices that impact healthcare for Native peoples. Finally, the course the will look at ways tribes are working to create healthier communities and improve the lifestyle of Indian people.

South Dakota State University , John Phillips, Ph.D.

This course will focus on the role of tribally-chartered colleges and universities in economic development within Native communities. Students will learn the historical and contemporary case for tribal self-determination in higher education vis-à-vis economic development. Using a social capital analytical framework, students will examine and evaluate the tribal college model of economic development. Topics will include the use of bonding and bridging social capital as an analytical tool, the historical and contemporary case for tribally-chartered higher education, the economic impact of tribal colleges on their local economies, and opportunities and challenges of broad and diverse collaborative networks.

Building Economic Capacity Track

Iowa State University, Dave Peters , Ph.D.

This course will cover the most widely used strategies and programs for economic development within an action planning process. Retention and expansion of business and industry, retail development and downtown revitalization, incubating new firm creation, industrial attraction, and tourism development all will be covered. These are both strategies and programs that utilize all forms of capital from all sources, the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Students will study the organized efforts to plan, build, and manage each program.

(TBA)

This 3-credit course includes the principles and practices of real estate, including legal, economic, and social implications from the viewpoint of the real estate practitioner, investor, and society.

Iowa State University , Dave Swenson, Ph.D.

South Dakota State University , John Phillips, Ph.D.

This course will focus on the role of tribally-chartered colleges and universities in economic development within Native communities. Students will learn the historical and contemporary case for tribal self-determination in higher education vis-à-vis economic development. Using a social capital analytical framework, students will examine and evaluate the tribal college model of economic development. Topics will include the use of bonding and bridging social capital as an analytical tool, the historical and contemporary case for tribally-chartered higher education, the economic impact of tribal colleges on their local economies, and opportunities and challenges of broad and diverse collaborative networks.

Non-Profit Leadership Track

Kansas State University , Elaine Johannes, Sue Maes, Dana Reinert

This course will focus on the intricacies of grantsmanship. Topics covered will include identification of funding sources, procedure for proposal preparation, composition of grants, and the affects of organizational and personal linkages. Assignments include proposal preparation, grant application based upon a RFP or a continuous funding sources, addendum or market analysis, and an on-line presentation.

Kansas State University, TBA

This course provides an overview of non-profit management with a consideration of the appropriate role of non-profit organizations as agents of community development in addressing various social problems. It focuses on the growth of the nonprofit sector as a major part of economy of the U.S. and the impact of the sector on the community as a source of citizen empowerment. This course will focus on the structure of the non-profit sector, its tax status, fundraising, volunteer and Board management, the relationship with government and private counterparts, and issues and challenges in nonprofit management.

Iowa State University, TBA

This course will explore the various approaches to leadership and leadership development, evaluation of leadership projects, and the relationship of leadership to community capacity building. Topics include defining leadership, challenges and opportunities related to leadership, designing and development leadership, impact of leadership training on community development, and evaluation of leadership development programs.