Course introduces community assessment through participatory theory and practice. It covers community roles, goals, and strategies, emphasizing relationship-building and action-oriented assessment. Students explore frameworks, historical and contemporary community concepts, and models like capacity mapping, time banking, and photovoice. Discussions focus on power, empowerment, and cultural humility in diverse communities.
Athena Title
Comm Engagement and Assessment
Pre or Corequisite
[(SOWK 7118 or SOWK 7118E) and (SOWK 7121 or SOWK 7121E) and (SOWK 7115 or SOWK 7115E) and (SOWK 7125 or SOWK 7125E)] or permission of school
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
Students will be able to examine the ways in which privilege, power, oppression, discrimination, and/or marginalization impact communities and the community assessment process.
Students will be able to develop a data collection proposal, as part of a participatory community assessment effort.
Students will be able to conduct a community assessment by calling upon primary (e.g., surveys, interviews/focus groups) and secondary (e.g., census) data collection methods.
Students will be able to analyze, summarize, and present community assessment findings, to include suggested next steps.
Topical Outline
Community-Based Participatory Practice
Developing and Maintaining Effective Community Partnerships
Community Assessment Overview
Community Time Banking and Interview Strategies
Community Capacity Mapping and Focus Group Strategies
Photovoice and Qualitative Data Analysis
Issue Selection: Force-Field and SWOT Analyses
Community Practice Within and Across Diverse Groups and Cultures
Reflections on Power and “Empowerment” in Community Practice
Institutional Competencies Learning Outcomes
Social Awareness & Responsibility
The capacity to understand the interdependence of people, communities, and self in a global society.
