Working with Communities: Identities, Regeneration and Change – Foundation Degree in Arts (FdA)

About the course

This particular course, with its emphasis on Identities, Regeneration and Change seeks to help students understand the role of social and personal identity and their relationship to the idea of community. We focus on regeneration, as this concept has been key to policy formulations over the past 20 years.

Finally the idea of social change is crucial to community development, whether changes are planned or unplanned, welcomed or resisted. Understanding change is a vocational and academic necessity for community practitioners.

In particular the course allows students to:

• develop understanding of the issues and skills involved in working within community contexts
• develop the skills of reflexive, empowerment-oriented practice with people from marginalised groups, so as to be able to understand and take action for social change
• support students in their personal and professional development through an explicit scheme of teaching, learning and assessment opportunities designed to foster, and make the most of, real links with local community groups and projects

Students who successfully complete the Foundation Degree are eligible to progress straight onto the final year of the BA (Hons) Degree in Community Policy and Practice.

On the course there will be opportunities for students to learn by doing (‘action learning’) and through working on projects in the community wherever possible.

Throughout there will be an emphasis on doing research that aims to make direct social changes (action research). Students' work will attempt to understand the experience
of social marginalisation within group, organisational, community and societal contexts, in collaboration with local people.

The Foundation Degree and its Masters equivalent was designed over the course of nine months through consultation with community organisations, workers, volunteers and local authority employers.

The course is taught by locally, nationally and internationally known scholars in this field. The teaching on the course is research-led and other experts in the area of community development are regular contributors to the course.

It is offered on a flexible basis over two and a half years combining classroom based study at the University with community-based learning in settings of your choice.

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Modules

Level 1

• Study Skills for Higher Education
• Understanding Communities
• Understanding Social Exclusion
• Interpersonal Skills for Community Support
• Researching Your Community
• Researching With Communities
• Building Inclusion
• Getting Started with Research

Level 2

• Regenerating Communities
• Designing Projects that Make a Differenc
• Building Sustainable Communities
• Doing Projects that Make a Difference
• International Perspectives on Working With Communities
• Social Problem Solving Skills
• Developing Professionalism in Community Work
• Lifelong Learning and Community Practices
• Arts, Culture and Community Practices
• Healthy Communities

Module descriptions (PDF, 115KB)

Entry requirements

General TILL entry requirements

Contact

Dr Anita Franklin
T: 0114 222 7048
E: a.franklin@sheffield.ac.uk

Video: Sajaya Mehban, a student on the foundation degree, describes how studying has helped her career

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What is community development?

According to the National Occupational Standards for Community Development Work Standards Summary of 2004, 'the key purpose of community development is collectively to bring about social change and justice by working with communities to a) identify their needs, opportunities, rights and responsibilities, b) plan, organise and take action, c) evaluate the impact and effectiveness of the action, d) all in ways which challenge oppression and tackle inequalities.'

The Foundation Degree is influenced by the Standards and by their stated values which underpin Community Development Work, namely to promote social justice, self- determination, working and learning together, sustainable communities, participation and reflective practice.

What is a Foundation Degree?

This is a new type of degree promoted by the Government to help people from different backgrounds to go to University. Special features of Foundation Degrees are:

• agencies working with communities are closely involved in the course and will support students in community based learning
• there is emphasis on applying your new skills and knowledge to real projects of importance to people in the community
• learners develop personal and professional skills that are backed-up by serious academic learning
• you can extend your studies to get an honours degree if you wish

Who is the course for?

• people involved with communities – you might be working in the community as paid staff or as a volunteer or activist
• people from a range of local government or public bodies involved with community projects and the voluntary sector
• people who are serious about changing communities
• people who possess evidence of being able to benefit from university learning
More importantly what is required is an interest in your community and in changing it for the better plus a willingness to share your ideas with others.

How will the course be taught?

• we have worked hard to develop new ways of teaching the course – so that it is flexible, part-time and relevant to your work in the community
• core courses with options will be available
• you will be in the University approximately 1 day a week, as far as possible, and generally not more than 8 hours
• classes are during term-time
• additional learning takes place within the university
• a mix of teaching styles including seminars, workshops, visits and tutorial sessions
• a mix of learning opportunities including doing research, writing case studies, mock funding applications.

What kind of jobs will this course prepare you for?

Graduates of this programme are prepared for a range of mid-level posts in community development and jobs in the state, voluntary and/or private sector such as health, social policy, probation and advocacy.

In fact, over half of our current graduates have progressed from being volunteers to paid employees, have been promoted within their present setting or moved on to a better post than the one they had at the beginning of the course.

How to apply

You can apply online using our application form.

If you are applying to one of our named awards (Certificate, Foundation Programme or Foundation degree) we will usually invite you for an informal interview to discuss your programme of study and module choices.

Apply now