Planning and Community Development (CMTY)

Planning and Community Development (CMTY)

Sustainable Development Goals

Presentation

The program in Planning and Community Development is a partner in a commitment to foster the study, development, and enhancement of sustainable communities, with particular focus on Minnesota.

Objectives

The program aims at establishing partnerships with other institutions and organizations that will permit the Department to sponsor community-oriented symposia and workshops, serving as a resource center for community concerns and issues in the upper midwest, and providing students from the department with hands-on experience working directly with local communities.

Main activities

Planning and Community Development focuses on the design and implementation of programs designed to make a community a better place to live and work. Working to enhance a sense of place and sense of community is central to this field, as are the principles of sustainable development, social and environmental justice. Planning and Community Development integrates the following key elements:

• The characteristics of rural, suburban, and urban communities, emphasizing their heritage, built and natural environments, economic and social conditions, and cultural features;
• The issues confronting communities, such as suburban sprawl, affordable housing, downtown revitalization, environmental quality, social justice, traffic congestion, aging populations, neighborhood cohesion, and heritage preservation, to name but a few;
• Strategies to address these community issues, which can combine aspects of community organization and partnerships, urban and regional planning, citizen participation, community design, economic development, advocacy, and sustainable development.

Results

Through class activities, community-based research projects, guest speakers, and a required full-semester professional internship experience, students gain the necessary tools and experience to be successful in this field. 

Innovative aspects

The program strongly emphasizes communication and leadership skills. Students of Community Development learn to speak, write, and interact effectively, both as individuals and in groups.

Contact

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Website

Community Development

Useful links

bulletin.stcloudstate.edu/ugb/programs/cmty.asp