Course Description
Explores the link between housing and community development. The quality of a community’s housing stock and the range of housing options offered have a significant impact on the quality of life experienced by its residents. Students will learn basic techniques of community and neighborhood analysis.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Students will conduct additional analysis of the data, prepare
a final report, and present findings to the partnering,
community organization.
Athena Title
HOUS & COMMUNIT DEV
Non-Traditional Format
Course includes a service-learning project during the semester that either employs skills or knowledge learned in the course or teaches new skills or knowledge related to course objectives. Students will be involved in the planning and implementation of the projects(s) and may spend time outside of the classroom. Students will be engaged in the service-learning component for approximately 50-75% of overall instructional time.
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Students taking this course will: • Understand the concepts and theories related to community development and the ways in which we measure housing and neighborhood conditions. • Understand how place-based communities differ (Why do some neighborhoods thrive while others experience decline?). • Develop and use the skills needed to analyze the housing and economic conditions of neighborhoods/place-based communities while working through a service-learning project that benefits a local community organization. • Be able to make connections between community development theories and the real-life communities. • Learn how to work with others who have different work styles, life experiences, and expertise.
Topical Outline
Introduction to neighborhoods and communities Neighborhood as a concept Planning and citizen participation Housing markets and managing neighborhood change Neighborhood housing assessments Safe, decent, and affordable housing – National housing acts and HUD Understanding housing needs and problems Identifying physical housing issues Using data sources to learn about housing and community Housing rehabilitation Smart growth and economic development Gentrification and historic districts Rebuilding after natural disasters Successful neighborhood development
Syllabus