This course is an experiential field course involving two visits per week to Southwest Detroit. Students will be assigned to work with community-based organizations on projects to improve the well being of children and families. Projects involve such activities as tutoring, developing outreach activities, assisting in child care settings, and working in community education projects. Internships will be supervised by the instructor and program staff. Transportation will be provided.
Students meet once a week to integrate theory with practice.
Assignments will include a paper, poster presentation, and journal. These two dimensions will be synthesized in the seminar discussions, with readings and assignments. The seminar component of this course covers research methodologies that are useful in understanding how communities function. These include community needs assessment, analysis of census and other statistical information on communities, evaluation of programs offered by community organizations, and surveys of community residents. Through readings, lectures, and discussion, the class will consider what is involved in each of these methods and when each is appropriate for studies of communities.