About Community Studies

 

The Community Studies major is an academic field related to the study of human experiences in particular localities and of the broad forces affecting community development over time. It focuses on social institutions and their interrelationships, structural properties, factors that influence community identity, and the challenges of community change. This major is designed to increase students’ knowledge of a range of social groups — their histories, cultures, economic and political systems, and environmental concerns. Community Studies enables students to live and work effectively in communities, provide the knowledge and skills to strengthen civil society and influence larger social systems, in local, national and international settings. Upon graduation, students will have a broad and rich understanding about the human experience in communities, which is grounded in knowledge and methods drawn from the social sciences, humanities, applied sciences and interdisciplinary fields. Program graduates have pursued graduate studies in law, environmental work, public policy, community organizing, human and environmental rights, non-profit management, healthcare, social policy, ethnic studies and education. Some students have pursued their graduate work in traditional disciplines, including anthropology, political science and sociology. Others seek careers in a variety of arenas including public agencies, private sectors, non-profit organizations and community service agencies.

Online Bachelor of Arts Degree Completion Program in Community Studies allows students the most flexible and convenient way to finish their degree. This 30-credit (ten courses) program offers returning students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree online. The Online BA Degree Completion Program is a collaborative endeavor between the College of Public and Community Service (CPCS) and the Division of Corporate, Continuing and Distance Education (CCDE). For more information about this program, please contact Online.BACompletion@umb.edu, phone 617 287 7172, or go to http://www.ccde.umb.edu/degree/cpcs