Community and Civil Development Studies MA

Community and Civil Development Studies MA

The aim of the studies is to train community and civic development professionals who are able to work effectively in the life of the communities, knowing the values of the communities and the national, European and global role of civil society and nonprofit organizations. They are committed to the development of civil society / non-profit organizations and local communities, to the improvement of the quality of life, and to help solve the problems in the community. As a result, the students will be able to apply their community and civil development knowledge and skills in decisions of social and economic life, international relations and communication, as well as in their professional carrier. They are prepared to continue their studies in doctoral training.

This program is recommended to applicants who

• want to learn community development knowledge, methods, modern civil management and strategic thinking.
• believe in community solutions, believe in collective wisdom and teamwork
• like to learn from others, to share experiences, and are open to working forms of social learning
• plan to explore civil society or make research about communal dilemmas, want to understand its significance.

This program enables students to

• be a coordinator, manager or leader of a nonprofit organization
• plan and organize community development programs
• make social project, fundraising programs

Strengths of the program

One of the main features of the program is that we work together with Hungarian and international nonprofit organizations (Red Cross, Ashoka, Amnesty International, UNESCO, United Nations etc.), local municipalities, community centers and cultural institutions. With our group methods the participants learn teamwork, independent work and projectworks. We have a great variety of courses to acquire leadership skills, project and sustainable thinking. Our graduates will have a broad knowledge in many aspects of community and civil studies as well as in nonprofit management. Most of the teachers of the program have international teaching experience and they regularly give classes also at foreign universities. Some of them are leaders of international nonprofit organizations or experts of community development.

Mandatory Courses

Theoretical Foundation

• Contemporary Social Policy
• Legal and Administrative Theories and Skills
• Roma Minorities in East-Central Europe
• Organizational Sociology and Psychology
• Psychology of Groups

Theoretical Frameworks and Social Characteristics of Modern Community

• Community Theory
• Concept and Role of Civil Society and Nonprofit Sector
• Participation and Democratic Values in Community Work
• Global Civil Society

Specific Aspects of Community and Civic Development Work

• First Encounter with the Profession - Preparatory Professional Practice
• Community Development by Public Institutions

Methodology

• Methods, Working Processes in Community Work
• Management in the Civil Sector
• Research Methodology (Thesis Pro Seminar)

Practice and Skills Development

• Practicing Community Work
• Field Practice Seminar

Additional Theoretical Knowledge

• Introduction to Community Economic Development
• Comparative Nonprofit Law

Thesis

• Thesis Seminar 1
• Thesis Seminar 2

Elective Courses

Contexts of Developmental Work (min 2 courses)

• Modernization and Democratization
• Community Development as a Social Intervention
• Financial Resources of the EU to Promote Equal Opportunity
• Monitoring and Evaluate Development Programs
• Fundraising
• Settlement and Urban Development

Methodological Development Competencies

• Methodology (special groups)
• Project Planning and Management
• Conflict Management
• Case Studies of Community Work
• Adult Education Theories and Practice
• Publicity, Public Discourse, Public Deliberation, and Public Life
• Anthropological Theories and Methods

Optional Courses

• Volunteering
• Participatory Theater

Our former students have been working as academic researchers or professors in different universities: as civil experts or community developers at municipalities, at cultural community centers, at community houses or museums. Most of them became leaders of Hungarian or international non-governmental and voluntary organizations. Some of them have also found job possibilities in market research and multinational companies. Others work as social workers, social politicians or members of media.

Job examples

• community organisers, community developers
• charities workers
• nonprofit managers
• projectmanagers, fundraisers
• SCR developers
• volunteer-coordinatiors
• international aid/development workers
• Social researchers
• civil referents
• academic researchers, market researchers