Community Development

Degree and UCAS code

This degree programme is a professional qualification endorsed by the Standards Council for Community Learning and Development in Scotland. It is designed for people who are working, either paid or unpaid, in the fields of community development, community learning and development, youth work and related practice areas. We understand community development to be the approach which underpins all of these forms of practice.

What will I study?

In the first year you will study

• Community development and social action models
• Local and global contexts
• Practice methodology for community development and social action    
• Social theories 1    
• Transformational practice.    

In the second year you will study

• Lifelong learning and social change
• Empowerment strategies and practice models
• Popular education theory and practice
• Organisation, planning and evaluation
• Social theories 2
• Critical practice.

In the third year you will study

• Social theories 3
  
• Research methods
• Research project
• Practice placement.

This programme provides you with the opportunity to demonstrate your competence as a worker in a different setting, thereby demonstrating the transferability of your skills. A range of placement opportunities will be available by negotiation with the teaching team.

How will I learn?

Teaching is delivered through a combination of lectures, work in groups and popular education methods. As this is a work-based learning programme, in addition to formal learning you will draw from your own practice in the community.

Special feature

There is the possibility of carrying out an overseas placement in the third year of the programme. In addition there are annual overseas study trips which, although not part of the degree programme, are run by the course team and enrich the learning of students by exposing them to different cultures and alternative forms of practice. In recent years we have visited Kathmandu, Mumbai, New York, Amsterdam and Ireland.

Note

As part of our selection process you will be interviewed. Interviews normally begin in mid to late January and run until April.

Entry requirements

Typical offer

• Highers: AAB/ABBB
• A-levels: BBB

Full details of Entry requirements: Education

What are my career prospects?

Students who complete this degree go on to work in many aspects of community development. These include

• youth work
• community arts
• housing
• addictions
• economic development
• literacies
• adult education
• community regeneration work.

Find out more

• Departmental information: Faculty of Education: Programmes and courses: Undergraduate study: Community Development

How to apply

If you are seeking full-time entry, you must apply through the Universities & Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). There is an application fee for this service.

• Apply at www.ucas.com or through your school or college.
• Contact UCAS on 0870 112 2200.

For further details, see: Undergraduate study: How to apply