Bachelor of Arts in Community Development

Community development gives individuals and groups the opportunity to take action and address issues within communities. Problems ranging from economic to social, environmental to cultural can help to rebuild inequitable systems that leave certain demographic populations isolated, marginalized, and without access to important resources vital to living efficiently and successfully. 

In line with Kenya's Vision 2030 and with the promulgation of a new constitution in Kenya, it is paramount that we build better communities that are responsible for their own development. The Bachelor of Science degree in Community Development directly responds to these challenges by endeavoring to equip community development workers with the required knowledge and skills that will enable them to act as facilitators in community development in all dimensions.

A career in Community development often involves collaborating with various stakeholders with different (and sometimes conflicting) goals to create solutions that work. Successful people in this field are comfortable navigating complex problems, thinking creatively and holistically about problems, and identifying and gaining consensus on cross-sector solutions. If you tend to avoid conflict and opposition, or prefer to work only with people just like you, you may want to explore other fields.

Community development is a continuous effort to find solutions that benefit the community and enact collective action to empower individuals and agencies to support and improve the lives of disadvantaged communities.

CAREER PROSPECTS

• Social Workers
• Community Development Specialists in NGOs
• Community Development trainers/teachers/lecturers upon upgrading

Objectives of Bachelor of Arts in Community Development

Bachelor of Arts in Community Development course is designed to prepare students to respond to the current needs and challenges in both rural and urban communities. The program will add value to development work within the local communities, churches, faith-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, co-operatives as well as relevant government departments.

By the end of the program, the learner will be able to:

• Analyze the productivity and the income of the rural and urban population through self-help projects in agriculture and other industries.
• Describe people?s diverse intrapersonal and interpersonal  Dimensions.
• Apply the scientific methods in problem identification, analysis, diagnosis and intervention.
• Critically trace the major influences that have informed social sciences thought and development 
• Empower communities by providing them with skills necessary for initiating and carrying out development projects .
• Conduct research in a relevant community development area.

Community development is a holistic approach grounded in principles of empowerment, human rights, inclusion, social justice, self-determination, and collective action. Community development considers community members to be experts in their lives and communities and values community knowledge and wisdom. Community development programs are led by community members at every stage - from deciding on issues to selecting and implementing actions, and evaluation. Community development has an explicit focus on the redistribution of power to address the causes of inequality and disadvantage.

What you will study

The Bachelor in Community Development program is designed to provide a thorough grounding in the discipline and applying sociological understanding to the areas of national and international concerns where graduates can put their critical thinking and skills into practice.

The units covered in this course are:

First Year, First Semester

• Introduction to Reading and Writing Skills                  
• Computer Literacy and Skills
• Ethnography of African Societies
• Introduction to Social Science
• Introduction to Sociology
• Introduction to Community Development
• Introduction to Basic Management Skills
• Human Relations in Counselling

Second Semester

• Deviation & Rehabilitation
• Social Science Perspectives on HIV/AIDS
• Introduction to Philosophy and Religion
• Introduction to World Civilizations
• Contemporary Community Development Issues
• Introduction to Social Work
• Introduction to Community Organizing
• Psychology of Individual Development & Social Life

Second Year, First Semester

• Introduction to Research Methods
• Kenya in World History
• Social Statistics
• Theories of Development and Underdevelopment
• Group Techniques and Analysis
• Project Monitoring & Evaluation
• Crisis Intervention in Community Development
• Social Psychology
• Second Semester
• Critical Thinking
• Ethnicity, Peace Relations & Nation Building in Kenya
• Religion & Society
• Introduction to Political Philosophy
• Institutional Structure & Policy Framework for CD
• Human Rights Education in CD
• Public Relations in Community Dev?t Organizations     
• Gerontology

Third Year, First Semester

• Contemporary Gender Issues
• Religion & Science
• Nationalism & African States
• Leadership & Management of Community Projects
• Rural Development Administration Strategies
• Research Methodology
• Qualitative Methods
• Social Policy & Administration
• Human Service Organizations

Third Year, Second Semester

• Entrepreneurship
• Contemporary   Political Ideology
• Social Change & Development
• Extension Education
• Community Development Field Attachment
• Human Growth & Development
• Advocacy for Institutional Change
• Formal Organizations

Fourth Year, First Semester

• Policy Analysis & Project Management
• Issues in Social Ethics
• History of Science
• Participatory Poverty Assessment Methodology
• Gender & Development
• Community Health
• Labour Movement & Contemporary Society        
• Rural Sociology
• Policy Analysis & Project Management

Fourth Year, Second Semester

• Disaster & Conflict Management
• Planning, Culture & Development
• Proposal Writing & Fundraising
• Environment & Community Development
• Community Development Field Course
• Community Development Research Paper