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Community and Economic Development
Graduate Education at Penn State
What You Will Learn
Gaining
Expertise and Proficiency
The program enables practitioners to more effectively implement community and
economic development through building knowledge and skills to assist regions,
communities and community organizations with
Effective and informed
decision-making
Job retention, creation and
expansion and entrepreneurship
Encouraging citizen participation
and involvement
Understanding community
institutions and processes that affect development and well-being
Including diverse public, private
and non-profit interests in local and regional decision-making and capacity
building
Land use decisions and sustainable
development
Understanding the causes and
consequences of economic, social and population change
Using research and information to
understand and shape economic and social change in communities and regions
Adapting programs and practices to
fit local situations and needs
“I now
have a more complete understanding of communities and how they work…there wasn’t
any material presented…that wasn’t beneficial or pertinent to….my employment
position in community and economic development.”
CEDEV certificate student, Marsha Walker
Collaborative Experience,
Practical Applications
The community and economic
development curriculum uses a blend of Web technology, print, and other media to
provide an effective balance of flexibility and interaction.
Students communicate with
faculty and each other through discussion forums, chat rooms and email. The
learning environment is collaborative and designed so that students can share
their knowledge and experiences and learn from each other. The curriculum and
course format offer theoretical understanding of sociological and economic
development concepts and application of those concepts to effective community
and economic development practice. Students in the community and economic
development master’s program and the postbaccalaureate certificate have noted an
immediate application of what they have learned in courses to their jobs or
elected positions.
“I
am very pleased with my learning experience in this and my other CEDEV World
Campus classes. I approached this with some trepidation (especially when I wrote
my check) but in many ways, I believe I am learning more online than I had in
most classroom experiences. I believe much of this is due to the discussions and
interactions between students and faculty. Online offers for far more give and
take opportunities than a classroom which is dominated by lectures and I am
finding this set up very rewarding.” CEDEV certificate student,
Keith Graffius.
For more information on
the Master of Professional Studies or the Postbaccalaureate Certificate
in Community and Economic Development you may email the program at
CEDEVinfo@psu.edu or 814-863-5884.
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