Mar 29, 2024  
2012-2013 Graduate Catalog 
    
2012-2013 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Community Development (M.S.)


(Distance Education)

This MS degree program in Community Development is a 36 credit hour program which is an Online Collaborative Inter-Institutional Degree program offered through the Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning  graduate program in cooperation with the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (IDEA). Participating universities include Kansas State University, Iowa State University, North Dakota State University, University of Missouri, University of Nebraska, and South Dakota State University. The format of the program delivery focuses on the distance learning environments using the internet for course delivery and contact with instructors. Students interested in obtaining this MS degree in Community Development may enroll in this collaborative program at any of the participating universities. While the program name and degree name may vary by university, the curriculum will be essentially the same, and courses offered in the program will be the collaborative result of a divergent faculty from within the participating universities. The basic requirements for the Master of Science in Community Development at Kansas State University are as follows:

Program Faculty:

In that this program is one of collaboration between six universities in the Midwest, courses will be offered and taught by distinguished faculty members from each of the participating universities. As such, students enrolling, for example at Kansas State University, in a KSU listed course can expect to experience having a lead instructor from another participating university, who is simultaneously teaching the course to others who have enrolled at other participating universities under a different course name as approved at that institution. In this manner, the program faculty assembled will be the most experienced and knowledgeable instructors in their areas of expertise from within the participating universities.

The following faculty members will serve as the initial program faculty for this Community Development Specialization Option:

Kansas State University:

Stephanie Rolley, Head, Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional & Community Planning
Larry Lawhon Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional & Community Planning
Jayna Elsasser, Academic Advisor, Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional & Community Planning

Iowa State University:

Tim Borich Department of Community and Regional Planning
Cornelia Flora North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
Jan Flora Department of Sociology

North Dakota State University:

Gary Goreham Department of Sociology
Barbara Schmitt United Tribes Technical College

South Dakota State University:

Janet Gritzner Department of Geography
Donna Hess Department of Sociology
Meredith Redlin Department of Rural Sociology

University of Missouri:

Mary Simon Leuci Community Development

University of Nebraska at Omaha:

Teresa Lamsam School of Communication and Native American Studies

University of Nebraska at Lincoln:

Gary Lynne Department of Agricultural Economics and School of Natural Resources

American Indian Higher Education Consortium:

John Phillips USDA Tribal College Liaison

Program coordinators will be assigned at each participating institution.

Admission Requirements:

Admission to the Community Development specialization under the MS program is predicated upon graduation from an undergraduate program with a Bachelors Degree, and meeting the admission requirements of the Graduate School at Kansas State University. Regular admission requires a GPA of 3.0 during the students last two years of their undergraduate program. Probationary admission status may be granted to those applicants who have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 and who have shown the capability to complete graduate level course work through individual research and work experiences. Potential students who do not meet these admission guidelines may petition the program director for a review of the students credentials and seek exceptions to the admission policy on a case by case merit evaluation.

Completion Requirements:

At the completion of the Community Development specialization in the MS program, the student will be required to complete a comprehensive examination administered by the degree granting program. No credit is given for the examination per Graduate School policy. The form, content and grading of the exam will be the responsibility of an assigned three member committee, comprised of a minimum of one faculty member from within the department (from the home institution), plus two additional committee member from the students track concentration (from any of the participating universities). The committee must be members of the Graduate Faculty at their respective institutions. An option to complete a Master’s Report (2 credit hours) or Thesis (6 credit hours) will exist, pending approval by the student’s academic advisory committee of a proposal prepared by the student following completion of 24 credit hours in the program.

Program of Study Requirements:

Students are encouraged to select elective course work that meets the Program of Study requirements of the Graduate School at KSU, as outlined in Section C., Chapter 2 of the Graduate Handbook (http://www.k-state.edu/grad/gscurrent/handbook/chap2.htm) A Program of Study is required to be filed with the Graduate School prior to entering the last semester of the program.

Transfer Credits from Other Accredited Institutions of Higher Learning:

Information concerning the transfer of credits from other accredited institutions is contained in the KSU Graduate Handbook, Section D.6, Chapter 2, which may be perused via the Internet using the following url: http://www.k-state.edu/grad/gscurrent/handbook/chap2.htm.

Program Administration:

The MS program in Community Development is officially administered by the Graduate Program in Regional and Community Planning, under the auspices of the Graduate School at Kansas State University, and in conjunction with the Institute for Academic Alliances at Kansas State University. The degree is awarded by the Graduate School, through the Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning, College of Architecture, Planning and Design. All courses in this program option will be taught through the Division of Continuing Education at KSU as an on-line offering. Additional information may be obtained by contacting either the department at the following address or the GP IDEA Program Coordinator:

Director, Graduate Program in Regional and Community Planning
Department of Landscape Architecture / Regional and Community Planning
Kansas State University
302 Seaton Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506-2909

or

GP IDEA Program Coordinator
Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance
College of Human Ecology
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS 66502-2909

Master’s degree requirements


Core requirements:


Successful completion of the following courses with a minimum overall grade requirement of 3.0:

Track options:


Completion of this Community Development Specialization will require that the student complete a minimum of 15 credit hours of elective courses within two of the four tracks (taking a minimum of six credit hours per track) available within the Community Development specialization, as described below:

Working with native communities track:


This track is designed for students working within or in partnership with native communities. The purpose is for students to understand the unique characteristics of native communities, culture and governance which affect community development. This track incorporates a variety of methods for understanding and working in native communities  including historical analysis, case studies, assetbased approaches, talking circles, narratives, GIS and other mapping techniques, and Appreciate Inquiry. Students will utilize team learning and cross cultural comparisons throughout the track. Topics covered in one or more courses include partnerships with native communities, effective community development strategies within native communities, and wellness approaches to community economic development. Special topics may include youth, natural resources, and health.

Natural resource management track:


This track provides specific tools that enhance the ability of community development professionals engaged in planning, water and wastewater, forest, park or range management, recreation, and similar areas to work with their communities to plan, develop and monitor the conservation and development of natural resources with multiple functions.

Building economic capacity track:


The purpose of this track is to strengthen the competencies of students interested in community economic capacity building. This will be accomplished through five courses that include information strategies, and appropriate tools and will include courses on: Building institutional capacity for community economic development, Economic development strategies/programs, Cost-benefit analysis, Community economic base study, and Impact analysis.

Non-Profit Leadership Track:


This track focuses on the role of leadership in community development and change.  It includes situating leadership conceptually in the community development process, reviewing the effectiveness of different styles of leadership, and relating shared and inclusive leadership to community building and learning.  Examination of group and individual communications strategies, including intercultural communication, is another element of this track.  Finally skills and processes that facilitate effective shared leadership are explained and tried out.  These include facilitation, conflict resolution, use of participatory techniques, and others. 

Combining planning courses in other degree programs


To assist the student wishing to gain an exposure to the planning program and/or profession, the following represents a listing of what could be considered as a reasonable start, in gaining an insight to the benefits of planning in other degree programs. Students are encouraged to check with their academic advisors concerning applicability of planning courses as electives in their designated degree programs.

Recommended courses


Students seeking entry into the management professions via the Master of Public Administration, or Master of Business Administration:

Integration of a selection of the following RCP courses into other management programs could provide the student with an appreciation of the interrelationship between physical planning and other community based management activities in small to medium sized cities. Course recommendations are as follows:

Selection of fifteen credit hours from the below list would constitute a concentration in planning with an emphasis in community planning and development, and would qualify the student for award of the Graduate Certificate in Community Planning (see graduate certificate).

Students in the design professions seeking a concentration in regional and community planning:


Those students planning to enter the design professions upon graduation, might wish to consider acquiring the Graduate Certificate in Community Planning and Development, as such may make them a better informed citizen within the community, as well as at work in the professions.