THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY

FACULTY OF COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE

DEVELOPMENT STUDIES (DEST) 400 L27

(FULL COURSE): NONGOVERNMANTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOS) AND

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (CD)

SPRING 2008

Instructor:                                   Dr. R. C. Apentiik

Office/Ph. #/Office Hours:         n/a

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The few last decades witnessed an "explosion" in NGOs as important vehicles for the delivery of development assistances. This course examines the role of NGOs, their multiple accountabilities to donors, beneficiaries and other stakeholders, as well as their limitations, challenges and successes as development organizations. Some of the assumptions about NGOs including their comparative advantage in reaching out to the marginalized groups , ensuring gender equity, community participation and grassroots development will be explored through class lectures, guest speakers (professionals working with NGOs) and fieldtrips to some NGOs' offices and recipient communities.

OBJECTIVES

To provide students with an awareness and a better understanding of development issues at the community level through practical field experience, and thus helping to  bridge the gap between theory and practice.

TEXTBOOKS/READINGS

The readings will be posted material on Blackboard, which all students enrolled in the course are expected to read.

ASSIGNMENTS AND EVALUATION

• Participation: Seminars and course activities 20%
• Take-Home Final Exam 30 (June 17)
• Daily Journal of, and Commentary on NGOs & CD Activities 25%(due date: June 18,)
• Group Project 25%(Due date: June19)

** Students will be divided into groups and each group will either identify a community development issue or project and a do critical analysis or an assessment it or design a grant proposal for any of the local NGOs or CBO. Students are encouraged to consult with the instructor in their choice of topic to ensure that it fits within the parameters of the course. The final paper for the group project should be a maximum of 8 pages. Details will be covered in class.

Note:

•·        * All students are expected to contribute to class discussions. Marks will be based not only on the frequency of contributions, but on their quality as well.

• All components of the course must be completed in order to pass. Marks will, in part, be based on the coherence of arguments and clarity of expression.
• THERE WILL NOT BE A REGISTRAR-SCHEDULED FINAL EXAMINATION.

Grading System

The following grading system is used in the Faculty of Communication and Culture:

A+ (96-100); A (92-95); A- (86-91); B+ (81-85); B (77-80); B- (71-76);
C+ (65-70); C (62-64); C- (59-61); D+ (55-58); D (50-54); F (0-49)