Programme Specification for BA (Hons) in Community Regeneration and Development

Programme Specification for the BA (Hons) in Community Regeneration and Development

BA Hons Degree in Community Regeneration and Development

Foundation Degree in Community Regeneration and Development

School of Lifelong Education and Development

Awarding and teaching institution:University of Bradford

Final award: BA (Hons)

Programme title: Community Regeneration and Development

Duration: Three years full time or up to nine years part time

UCAS Code: KL43

Subject benchmark statement: not applicable

Programme accredited by: not applicable

Date: May 2006

Course Summary

Community development and regeneration is about building active and sustainable communities based on social justice and mutual respect. It is about understanding, engaging with and perhaps altering power structures to increase participation and remove the barriers that prevent people from participating meaningfully in social affairs and decision-making processes that affect their lives. The principle values of community development and regeneration practice are social equity, co-operation, participation and active learning. Community Development Exchange, formerly the Standing Conference for Community Development, uses the following working definition of community development:

Community development is about building active and sustainable communities based on social justice and mutual respect.

It is about changing power structures to remove the barriers that prevent people from participating in the issues that affect their lives.

The BA’s educational philosophy endorses this approach aiming throughout to integrate academic knowledge and understanding with practical experience through processes of reflection in and on action, critical evaluation and personal development.

Community Regeneration and Development is a growing area in which local, regional and national government, working in partnership with the voluntary and private sectors, is concentrating a lot of effort and investment. Successful community development and regeneration involved understanding the nature of communities and the context in which they exist. It also highlights the need for development projects and strategies, which accept the importance of social and economic justice, mutual respect and diversity. Creating sustainable communities in a sustainable world may be the biggest challenge ahead of us.

A key feature of the course is its relationship to local and sub-regional developments in regeneration policy and practice. It has been designed in consultation with a number of people professionally engaged in community regeneration in both rural and urban areas. The course is relevant to those who wish to develop new skills and understanding or enhance existing ones. The work-based options will enable you to gain accreditation for their current voluntary or paid activities in the field.

Learning Outcomes indicate what you should know, understand and be able to do on successful completion of the course.

Knowledge and Understanding: of key principles, values and practices of community development; processes of community regeneration; sustainable development; concepts of social equity, exclusion, participatory democracy, empowerment, social difference and diversity; structures and processes of local governance; multi agency working in a variety of contexts – crime and disorder, health; intercultural learning; community management, funding and finance; the value and limits of interdisciplinary and comparative methods.

Discipline skills: in demonstrating a detailed understanding of the strategies used to develop regeneration programmes in order to make an active contribution to community development, social change and social justice.

Personal Transferable Skills: critical, innovative and systems thinking; application of ethical principles to policy and practical development activities; capacity to manage and where possible direct change; self-directed and autonomous learning; written and oral communication; ICT skills; time planning and management; working with others and in groups; and, the application of number.

The Curriculum

Themes will be addressed throughout the programme: equal opportunities, intercultural learning, sustainable development, reflective practice and critical praxis.

Units of study are normally a mixture of 10 and 20 academic credits, however the final work placement unit is a unit of 40 academic credits. You will study units amounting to 240 credits (120 in Stage 1 and 120 in Stage 2).

Stage 1

Stage 1 is studied both at the University and your place of work (or placement if you are not in relevant employment). The minimum numbers of hours for work based learning at Stage 1 is 70 in the placement. Personal and Professional Development which is core to the programme will be studied in Semester 1, Stage 1. The intention of placing this unit at the forefront of the programme is to aid the diagnosis of current skill levels in areas of lifelong learning and personal development.

Unit code / Unit title / type / credit / level / sem
LEDF100D / Personal and Professional Development 1 / Core / 20 / 1 / 1
LEDF102D / Community Development Principles and Processes / Core / 20 / 1 / 1 or 2
LED6511D / Causes of Social Exclusion / Core / 20 / 1 / 1 or 2
LEDF101D / Learning from Experience in the Workplace / Core / 20 / 1 / 1 or 2
LED6509D / Project Management in a Community Context / Option / 20 / 1 / 1 or 2
LEDF103D / New Developments in Regeneration / Option / 20 / 1 / 1 or 2
LED1074D / Principles of Sustainable Development. / Option / 20 / 1 / 1 or 2
LED6510D / Understanding Urban Change / Option / 20 / 1 / 1 or 2
LED1098D / Guided Independent Study* / Option / 20 / 1 / 1 or 2

* Guided Independent Study modules are approved to this programme of study but are negotiated with the Course Leader to enable the overall learning outcomes of the programme to be met. These modules are not timetabled and will only be offered if a student is unable to choose a timetabled option.

Stage 2

Again there is study both at the University and work based learning. The minimum numbers of hours for work based learning at Stage 2 is 140 in the placement.

Unit code / Unit title / type / credit / level / sem
LEDF202D / Personal and Professional Development 2 / Core / 20 / 2 / 1 or 2
LEDF210D / Drugs, Crime and Communities / Core / 20 / 2 / 1 or 2
LED6502D / CapacityBuilding with Communities / Core / 20 / 2 / 1 or 2
LEDF203Q / Furthering Competence in the Workplace / Core / 40 / 2 / 1 or 2
LED@RESEARCHMETHODSANDMETHODOLOGIES / Research Methods and Methodologies (Level 2) / Option / 20 / 2 / 1 or 2
LED6507D / Theory and Practice of Multi Agency Partnerships / Option / 20 / 2 / 1 or 2
LED6504D / Funding Sources and Applications / Option / 20 / 2 / 1 or 2
LED6506D / Religions within Communities: theory and practice / Option / 20 / 2 / 1 or 2
LED2033D / Information Networks in Community Regeneration / Option / 20 / 2 / 1 or 2
LED2027D / Family and Household in Modern Britian / Option / 20 / 2 / 1 or 2
LED2025M / Guided Independent Study* / Option / 10 / 2 / 1 or 2
LED2026D / Guided Independent Study* / Option / 20 / 2 / 1 or 2

Stage 3

Unit code / Unit title / type / credit / level / sem
LED5014Q / Dissertation / C / 40 / 3 / 1 or 2
LED6517D / Socio-ecological approaches to Community Health / O / 20 / 3 / 1 or 2
LED6518D / Intercultural Learning in Community Regeneration / O / 20 / 3 / 1 or 2
LED6505D / Global Perspectives in Community Regeneration / O / 20 / 3 / 1 or 2
LED6520D / New Developments in Housing and Neighbourhood Renewal / O / 20 / 3 / 1 or 2
LED6521D / Crime, Social Exclusion and Urban Development / O / 20 / 3 / 1 or 2
LED4058D / Race and Ethnicity (SS) / O / 20 / 3 / 1 or 2
LED6522D / Research Methods and Methodologies / O / 20 / 3 / 1 or 2

Assessment regulations: a summary (the text of the progression regulations is maintained on the University website)

To pass and proceed from each stage to the next, and also to be eligible for a classified Honours award, you must achieve at least 40% in 100 credits and 35% in the other 20 credits.

The class and division of the Honours degree that you are awarded is based on the overall weighted marks that you receive for each stage; stage 2 contributes 30% and stage 3, 70%. The classes and divisions of the Honours degree are awarded on the basis of the following final overall weighted average marks (the Board of Examiners has a discretion of ± 2%):

70.0% or above: / First Class Honours
60.0% or above: / Second Class Honours – First Division
50.0% or above: / Second Class Honours – Second Division
otherwise: / Third Class Honours

If you complete Stage 1 successfully, you are eligible for a Certificate of Higher Education; if you complete Stage 2 successfully, you are eligible for a Foundation Degree in Community Regeneration and Development and may progress to the BA programme (Level 3). The learning outcomes for these awards and the final award are consistent with those of the national qualifications framework for England

The full text of the University progression regulations is on the Web at

Admission Requirements

This course caters for a range of entry and qualifications.

For those wishing to study full time, applicants should have passes in five GCE subjects including three at GCSE Grade C or above and two at A level - or equivalent such as BTEC, GNVQ Advanced/Advanced (full award), OU Credits or successful completion of an accredited Access course or the University of Bradford’s Foundation Certificate in Combined Studies.

Mature applicants (over 21) who do not satisfy the requirements set out above may apply directly in writing to SLED. They will need to demonstrate their capacity to successfully attain the course’s learning outcomes and have some relevant practical experience in either voluntary or paid community work, urban or rural development or related activity.

Applicants wishing to study part time will be able to access the course through:

Successful completion of Foundation Certificate in Combined Studies or
Via the Associate Student Scheme. Associate Students become eligible to join the award bearing course upon successful completion of at least 20 Level 1 credits from the programme. To qualify for an award Associate Students must state their intention before commencing their final Level 1 module of study or
By direct application. This will be through a written application and interview with the Course Leader and/or Guidance Officer.

APL

Those already possessing relevant advanced qualifications, e.g. a degree, Diploma of Higher Education, Certificate of Higher Education, may apply for exemption from up to 50% of the balance of the award in accordance with University regulations.

The full text of the University importation of credit regulations is on the Web at

Learning, Teaching and Assessment (LTA)

The learning and teaching strategy takes into consideration the learning outcomes, progression through the levels of study, the nature of the subject and the need for you to take greater responsibility for your own learning as you progress through the course.

Each module will enable you to develop a full range of skills appropriate to subject area or mode of learning, which taken holistically will enhance your capability to function as a self-directed learner. Much of your learning will be in the form of guided study where you will make use of the full range of learning materials and resources, including electronic ones. Detailed and clear documentation will support teaching and learning. Participation in informal discussion and seminars will be key features. Several modules include field trips, for example to particular geographical areas, or site visits.

Assessment is a crucial component of student learning - necessary to monitor your progress, motivate learning, provide feedback and grades. Assessment methods will reflect the diversity of provision and directly assess desired learning outcomes. There will be the opportunity for you to undertake assignments requiring the exercise of initiative in their definition, design and execution, such as project work or the dissertation.

Student support and guidance

The School of Lifelong Education and Development operates a pre-entry and pathway guidance service supplementing the support provided by the University's Disabilities Office and careers service. In addition, all students on the award(s) will be allocated an individual personal tutor who will have responsibility for academic and some pastoral matters. Study support will include the SLED student handbook, course and module details, including full details of tutors, module learning outcomes, schemes of work, assignments, submission deadlines, key learning resources, including the Library and Computer Centre.

Quality Management

The course will be located within the School Of Lifelong Education and Development. The School is committed to maintaining and improving the quality of its courses. The course will be reviewed periodically to ensure structure and modules remain relevant. A course monitoring report is prepared annually. The marking of assessments is monitored by the Course Leader and a sample of work is second considered. The course is externally examined. When modules have been completed you will be given the opportunity to evaluate the module with reference to teaching quality, learning environment, support and resources. In addition to this there is a Staff-Student Liaison Committee which meets twice each semester. The Committee is student led and students may raise questions or make suggestions about course-wide or other issues. It reports to the School Academic Committee, which in turn reports to the School Board, and in its turn to the Senate of the University.

Further Information

If you would like more information about the University of Bradford, please check the undergraduate prospectus. More details about the BA in Community Development and Regeneration can be obtained from the School of Lifelong Education and Development

Tel: 01274 233210

Website:

Email: