Faculty Information. Course Description and Outcomes

Transcription

1 PMG460 Community Development Credit Hours: 3 Contact Hours: This is a 3-credit course, offered in accelerated format. This means that 16 weeks of material is covered in 8 weeks. The exact number of hours per week that you can expect to spend on each course will vary based upon the weekly coursework, as well as your study style and preferences. You should plan to spend hours per week in each course reading material, interacting on the discussion boards, writing papers, completing projects, and doing research. Faculty Information Name: Phone: CSU-GC Virtual Office Hours: Course Description and Outcomes This course consists of a study of the complex challenges, issues, and opportunities evidenced in communities across the United States, with a particular emphasis upon modern-day approaches to remedy those concerns from the federal, state, and nonprofit sectors. This course surveys the origins of inequality in America s urban centers, and provides different viewpoints regarding the role of community in modern American society, as well as explanations for the degradation of neighborhood bonds once so prominent in American communities. In addition, the course explores issues concerning stratification and globalization, race and ethnicity, sexuality and gender, work and the economy, and politics and health care as they impact and amplify challenges to community development. Upon completion of this course, students should be able to better recognize the complex dynamics in America s communities, and understand and appreciate the policy approaches taken to encourage the development and to spur the growth of community dynamics and interaction. Course Learning Outcomes: 1. Describe the origins and components of culture, and the freedoms and constraintss inherent in cultural practices. 2. Discuss the role of ethnocentrism in the modern American community. 3. Summarize the modes of social interaction in both urban and suburban environments. 4. Illustrate the factors that shape social interaction among and between neighborhoods and communities. 5. Interpret crime rates given socioeconomic and cultural factors. 6. Examine the causes behind America s rapidly growing federal and state prison populations. 7. Identify patterns of social inequity and the concentration of wealth. 8. Recognize the impact of globalization on American workers and American communities. 9. Analyze the role of race and ethnicity in community relationships. 10. Examine the opportunities and challenges of a diverse and multicultural workforce and community structure.

2 11. Assess the increasing role of religion in modern American communities and politics. 12. Compare the roles of fundamentalism and secularism among American workers and voters 13. Examine the impact of at will employment upon domestic labor markets and employee/employer 14. relationships 15. Define the current structure of American healthcare and its ramifications for Americans within different socioeconomic strata. 16. Identify competing approaches to reforming American healthcare. Participation & Attendance Prompt and consistent attendance in your online courses is essential for your success at CSU-Global Campus. Failure to verify your attendance within the first 7 days of this course may result in your withdrawal. If for some reason you would like to drop a course, please contact your advisor. Online classes have deadlines, assignments, and participation requirements just like on-campus classes. Budget your time carefully and keep an open line of communication with your instructor. If you are having technical problems, problems with your assignments, or other problems that are impeding your progress, let your instructor know as soon as possible. Course Materials Required: Brym, R. J., & Lie, J. (2012). Sociology: Pop Culture to Social Structure (3rd Ed.). Florence, KY: Cengage. ISBN-13: **All non-textbook required readings and materials necessary to complete assignments, discussions, and/or supplemental or required exercises will be provided within the course itself. Please read through each course module carefully. Course Schedule Due Dates The Academic Week at CSU-Global begins on Monday and ends the following Sunday. Discussion Boards: The original post must be completed by Thursday at 12 midnight MT and Peer Responses posted by Sunday 12 midnight MT. Late posts may not be awarded points. Mastery Exercises: Students may access and retake mastery exercises through the last day of class until they achieve the scores they desire. Critical Thinking Activities: Assignments are due Sunday at 12 midnight MT. Week # 1 2 Readings Assignments Chapters 1, 2, & 3 in Sociology: Pop Culture to Social Structure Discussion Board (25) Chapter 4 in Sociology: Pop Culture to Social Structure Discussion Board (25)

3 Chapter 5 in Sociology: Pop Culture to Social Structure Discussion Board (25) Chapters 6 & 7 in Sociology: Pop Culture to Social Structure Discussion Board (25) Mastery Exercises (20) Chapters 8 & 9 in Sociology: Pop Culture to Social Structure Discussion Board (25) Chapters 10 & 11 in Sociology: Pop Culture to Social Structure Discussion Board (25) Chapter 12 in Sociology: Pop Culture to Social Structure Discussion Board (25) Chapters 13 in Sociology: Pop Culture to Social Structure Discussion Board (25) Mastery Exercises (20) Portfolio Assignment (350) Assignment Details This course includes the following assignments/projects: Week 3 Week 4 Week 5

4 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Portfolio Assignment (350 points) Policy Paper on Strengthening Community in the Internet Age (15-20 pages) Community development increasing relies upon the Internet to bridge divisions and to forge linkages between disparate communities. From Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn, to instant messaging and e- mail, communities across the United States have turned to the Internet as a way to not only connect communities but also to provide core government services. It is not an exaggeration to claim that the Internet has transformed the way that communities do business. In a 15 to 20 page paper, reflect upon what strategies community developers could enact that could capitalize on the Internet to not only provide government services to citizens, but to also spark renewed development and interest in local communities. You may wish to focus on the following considerations: How can communities provide greater access to broadband Internet access to their citizens? Do all citizens need Internet access? If so, how would that enhance responsible community development? What government services should be transmitted to citizens via the Internet? Which should not? Why? Are social networking sites an effective mechanism for communities to link citizens and to encourage community development? What dangers, if any, confront community developers as they seek new technological means to provide linkages between citizens and between government and citizens? You may, and indeed are encouraged to, support your arguments by strategies that you have either read about in the news or have seen enacted in your local communities. Use this as an opportunity to brainstorm about ways that community development can be enhanced in this, the Internet age. For project details, see the Portfolio Project Description, which can be accessed from the Week 8 Assignments page. Course Policies

5 Course Grading 20% Discussion Participation 10% Mastery Exercises 35% Critical Thinking Activities 35% Final Portfolio Paper Grading Scale and Policies A A B B B C C D F 59.9 or below In-Classroom Policies For information on late work and Incomplete grade policies, please refer to our In-Classroom Student Policies and Guidelines or the Academic Catalog for comprehensive documentation of CSU-Global institutional policies. Academic Integrity Students must assume responsibility for maintaining honesty in all work submitted for credit and in any other work designated by the instructor of the course. Academic dishonesty includes cheating, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, plagiarism, reusing /re-purposing your own work (see CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements for percentage of repurposed work that can be used in an assignment), unauthorized possession of academic materials, and unauthorized collaboration. The CSU-Global Library provides information on how students can avoid plagiarism by understanding what it is and how to use the Library and Internet resources. Citing Sources with APA Style All students are expected to follow the CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements when citing in APA (based on the APA Style Manual, 6th edition) for all assignments. For details on CSU-Globall APA style, please review the APA resources within the CSU-Global Library under the APA Guide & Resources link. A link to this document should also be provided within most assignment descriptions on your course s Assignments page. Netiquette Respect the diversity of opinions among the instructor and classmates and engage with them in a courteous, respectful, and professional manner. All posts and classroom communication must be conducted in accordance with the student code of conduct. Think before you push the Send button. Did you say just what you meant? How will the person on the other end read the words? Maintain an environment free of harassment, stalking, threats, abuse, insults or humiliation toward the instructor and classmates. This includes, but is not limited to, demeaning written or oral comments of an ethnic, religious, age, disability, sexist (or sexual orientation), or racist nature; and the unwanted sexual advances or intimidations by , or on discussion boards and other postings within or connected to the online classroom. If you have concerns about something that has been said, please let your instructor know.