Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Community Development (NQF 8)
Programme Coordinator
Henrietta Settler Programme, Head of Department for Sociology and Community Development. She holds a MPhil degree in Social Science Methods from the University of Stellenbosch, a BPhil in Community and Youth Studies from the University of Birmingham and a Diploma in Teaching from Dower College of Education. Henrietta has more than 20 years’ experience in the community and youth development sector. Her dedication to education and freedom stem from her desire to contribute positively to the lives of marginal constituencies, and with this a deep understanding of issues affecting the most vulnerable. As a black feminist, she also has a keen interest in gender migration, in particular black female migrants. She is currently reading for a doctoral degree focusing on gender and migrants, by exploring, personal economic and social agency of Black Female Migrants in the hair industry. Her research interests include Gender and Migration, Youth Development and Research Ethics. Henrietta has extensive experience lecturing in Sociology, Youth Development and Research Methods at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Social Theory for Community Development (15 credits)
This module introduces students critically to the epistemological and theoretical foundations of community development in order to build advanced analytical capacity among community development practitioners. It does this by interrogating philosophical and conceptual assumptions, as well as analytical approaches in community development practice.
Research Methods for Community Development (15 credits)
This module focuses on the methodology of social science research and is designed to build research capacity amongst future community development practitioners. During the course students will be taught the logic inherent to social research methodology, covering the design stage, data collection, data capturing, data analysis, data interpretation and research ethics. A research proposal, which may form the basis of the Independent Research Project (IRP), forms a major part of this module.
Organisational Management in Community Development Practice (15 credits)
This module will focus on expanding knowledge and skills needed on the project, programme and organisational environment in which community leaders mobilise and manage their people and other resources to achieve desired outcomes and impacts in their communities. Students will be guided to achieve personal, interpersonal, and organisational effectiveness through the “frames” of ethical and theoretical guidelines. The module will furthermore attend to the application of the impact value chain, log-frame planning, monitoring and evaluation as it applies to project, programme and organisational development.
Policy and Legislative / Regulatory Framework for Community Development (15 credits)
This module introduces students to the policy and legislative ecology that governs the profession of community development and examines the need for and strategic importance of policies and regulations with regard to their respective functions and roles in the systemic structuring and application of community development. The impact that relevant policies and regulations have on the practice of community development will be analysed in order to maximise the efficiency and efficacy of community development professionals. Students will also explore legal requirements and procedures to be followed in community development practice.
Local Economic Development (15 credits)
This module introduces students to the local economic development approach as a mechanism that contributes towards sustainable community development. The module will give due attention to the global and South African macroeconomic environment that impact on local urban, semi – urban and rural economies. It will unpack a selection of the pressing socio-economic challenges confronting South African communities and will explore the most appropriate LED approaches to meet these challenges. Particular attention will be given to different approaches to LED, the range of LED tools and stakeholders involved, different programmes, successes and constraints.
Community Development in the Rural-Urban Continuum (15 credits)
This module interrogates contemporary theoretical approaches that translate in policies, strategies and designs that ensure sustainable, rural and urban spaces/areas with a view to improve the quality of life of these communities through regional economic development, social equitable planning and ecological restoration.
Youth Development (15 credits)
This module explores the concept of Youth Development on an International and local (South African) level from the perspective of the Community Development Practitioner. Youth development theories and youth development practices will be critically evaluated. Dimensions of youth development and its application within a community will be discussed as it relates to community transformation.
Sustainable Community Development (15 credits)
In this module, developing a human community is viewed as the outcome of ecological processes. Through communities, people come together and collectively not only survive but may also increase their standard of living. The four principal ecological dimensions are population, organization, environment and technology, acronym POET. The module thus expounds the importance of: Population as the group of humans that occupy an area; How they get organized into a community to gain sustenance; Their common environment (including other communities); The application of knowledge, and the tools they use, to adapt to their environment, in order to enhance their sustenance, is called a population’s technology. Particular attention is given to the principle and challenge of sustainable community development in diverse community located settings.
Independent Research Project (linked to Work Integrated Learning) (30 credits)
This module is designed to facilitate the independent planning, execution and reporting/ writing up of a research project in partial fulfilment of the programme. The Independent Research Project (IRP) report, which is based on work integrated research, forms the major part of this module. The IRP involves conducting independent, empirical research, using quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods, into an aspect of community development linked to a fieldwork placement, where students also gain practical experience. The IRP may be based on the research proposal completed in the Social Research Methods for Community Development course.
Details of the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Community Development (NQF 8)
Programme Coordinator
Henrietta Settler Programme Head of Department for Sociology and Community Development. She holds a MPhil degree in Social Science Methods from the University Stellenbosch, a BPhil in Community and Youth Studies from the University of Birmingham and a Diploma in Teaching from Dower College of Education. Henrietta has more than 20 years’ experience in the community and youth development sector. Her dedication to education and freedom stem from her desire to contribute positively to the lives of marginal constituencies and with this a deep understanding of issues affecting the most vulnerable. As a black feminist she also has a keen interest in gender migration in particular black female migrants. She is currently reading for a doctoral degree focusing on gender and migrants, by exploring, personal economic and social agency of Black Female Migrants in the hair industry. Her research interests include Gender and Migration, Youth Development and Research Ethics. Henrietta has extensive experience lecturing in Sociology, Youth Development and Research Methods at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Social Theory for Community Development (15 credits) This module introduces students critically to the epistemological and theoretical foundations of community development in order to build advanced analytical capacity among community development practitioners. It does this by interrogating philosophical and conceptual assumptions as well as analytical approaches in community development practice. Research Methods for Community Development (15 credits) This module focuses on the methodology of social science research and is designed to build research capacity amongst future community development practitioners. During the course students will be taught the logic inherent to social research methodology, covering the design stage, data collection, data capturing, data analysis, data interpretation and research ethics. A research proposal, which may form the basis of the Independent Research Project (IRP), forms a major part of this module. Organisational Management in Community Development Practice (15 credits) This module will focus on expanding knowledge and skills needed on the project, programme and organisational environment in which community leaders mobilise and manage their people and other resources to achieve desired outcomes and impacts in their communities. Students will be guided to achieve personal, interpersonal, and organisational effectiveness through the “frames” of ethical and theoretical guidelines. The module will furthermore attend to the application of the impact value chain, log-frame planning, monitoring and evaluation as it applies to project, programme and organisational development. Policy and Legislative / Regulatory Framework for Community Development (15 credits) This module introduces students to the policy and legislative ecology that governs the profession of community development and examines the need for and strategic importance of policies and regulations with regard to their respective functions and roles in the systemic structuring and application of community development. The impact that relevant policies and regulations have on the practice of community development will be analysed in order to maximise the efficiency and efficacy of community development professionals. Students will also explore legal requirements and procedures to be followed in community development practice. Local Economic Development (15 credits) This module introduces students to the local economic development approach as a mechanism that contributes towards sustainable community development. The module will give due attention to the global and South African macroeconomic environment that impact on local urban, semi – urban and rural economies. It will unpack a selection of the pressing socio-economic challenges confronting South African communities and will explore the most appropriate LED approaches to meet these challenges. Particular attention will be given to different approaches to LED, the range of LED tools and stakeholders involved, different programmes, successes and constraints. Community Development in the Rural-Urban Continuum (15 credits) This module interrogates contemporary theoretical approaches that translate in policies, strategies and designs that ensure sustainable, rural and urban spaces/areas with a view to improve the quality of life of these communities through regional economic development, social equitable planning and ecological restoration. Youth Development (15 credits) This module explores the concept of Youth Development on an International and local (South African) level from the perspective of the Community Development Practitioner. Youth development theories and youth development practices will be critically evaluated. Dimensions of youth development and its application within a community will be discussed as it relates to community transformation. Sustainable Community Development (15 credits) In this module developing a human community is viewed as the outcome of ecological processes. Through communities people come together and collectively not only survive but may also increase their standard of living. The four principal ecological dimensions are population, organization, environment and technology, acronym POET. The module thus expounds the importance of: Population as the group of humans that occupy an area; How they get organized into a community to gain sustenance; Their common environment (including other communities); The application of knowledge, and the tools they use, to adapt to their environment, in order to enhance their sustenance, is called a population’s technology. Particular attention is given to the principle and challenge of sustainable community development in diverse community located settings. Independent Research Project (linked to Work Integrated Learning) (30 credits) This module is designed to facilitate the independent planning, execution and reporting/ writing up of a research project in partial fulfilment of the programme. The Independent Research Project (IRP) report, which is based on work integrated research, forms the major part of this module. The IRP involves conducting independent, empirical research, using quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods, into an aspect of community development linked to a fieldwork placement, where students also gain practical experience. The IRP may be based on the research proposal completed in the Social Research Methods for Community Development course.