The program incorporates issues related to class, race, ethnicity, gender, age, and cultural differences. It develops skills in organizing groups for social action, planning programs at the community level, developing community-based services, and involving people in the planning process. Students have many opportunities to participate in community-based planning projects associated with the Taubman College's Community Partnership Center and in research projects related to community development. Recent dual degree students worked on a plan to aid a Detroit faith-based organization in deciding what area to target for affordable housing development. Another worked in a planning organization in Durban, South Africa, to aid in the integration of several, previously independent planning offices for different areas of the city.
Students meet the specific requirements of each degree.
In Social Work, students usually major in community organization and also concentrate in a substantive policy or service field. Human behavior and social environment courses emphasize community structure, organizational processes, and related areas. In Urban and Regional Planning, students usually choose to concentrate in community development and housing, economic development, or international development. Coordinated Requirements Field experience is an important part of the program, and the Social Work field placement is usually arranged in a setting that gives the student exposure to community development from the perspective of both social work and urban and regional planning. Students may take either SW 661 or UP 610 to meet the budgeting and financial management requirement in Urban and Regional Planning.