Academic Programs

Sustainable Community Development (SCD) is “a process by which communities generate their own solutions to their common economic problems through building long-term community capacity and fostering the integration of economic, social and environmental objectives.” SCD goes beyond critiquing the state of the world to developing the skills to build a practical alternative. It offers answers to globalization such as the problem of consumer goods factories in Third World countries, and to communities under stress like our own resource-based towns.

SCD teaches alternate economics, community planning, ecological sustainability and socially responsible economic activity. It is particularly valuable for anyone aspiring to a career in development work of any kind in their own communities or internationally. SCD is ideal for students thirsting to change their world and have a realistic career too.

The Undergraduate Certificate offers recognition to those who seek accreditation in community-based social and economic development. It offers a practical credential within an undergraduate degree with little or no extra cost. The SCD Certificate program offers a wide range of theoretical and practicable approaches to alternate economic strategies and to ecologically sustainable communities, both rural and urban. This 19-credit hour program has been developed with the student’s need for cost and time effective accreditation in mind.

The Post-Baccalaureate Diploma is a program designed for those who already have undergraduate degrees or the equivalent. It is not a master’s degree, but it is more advanced than a Bachelor’s degree. Totaling 30 credit hours, this PBD program combines SCD theory and guided practice, plus 300- and 400-level electives from many disciplines. This program is an excellent fit for those who are making a major change of field in later life, or who have previously obtained a highly specialized Bachelor’s degree in a different discipline.