Online Class: Community Development 101

no certificate
with CEU Certificate*
-
15Lessons
-
23Exams &
Assignments -
1,516Students
have taken this course -
5Hours
average time -
0.5CEUs
Course Description
Unleashing Potential: The Power of Community Development
At the heart of human endeavor lies an innate yearning—a quest for enhancement, growth, and a brighter future. Each individual carries within them a vision—a dream of a better self, a harmonious society, and flourishing surroundings. Yet, while this drive propels many forward, a haze of uncertainties, challenges, and complexities often obstructs the path. Amidst these challenges, the question looms: how do we truly usher in positive transformation, not just for ourselves but for the larger community we're an integral part of?
Enter the realm of Community Development—a beacon of hope that has illuminated paths for countless communities across the globe. Historically, it has been a potent tool in combating societal disparities, predominantly poverty. Community development isn't just a methodology; it's a movement. A movement rooted in collaboration, where every voice matters, and collective action is harnessed to tackle deep-seated challenges. From urban skyscrapers to tranquil rural landscapes, this process has showcased its adaptability, relevance, and impact.
Our meticulously crafted course serves as a gateway to the profound world of community development. Embark on a transformative journey as you explore:
- Chronicles of Change: Dive deep into the rich tapestry of community development, understanding its origins, evolution, and the vistas of its promising future.
- Blueprints of Betterment: Decode the multifaceted strategies that have reshaped communities, unveiling the myriad avenues of application.
- Pillars of Progress: Understand the critical factors that influence this development process, ensuring its success and sustainability.
The promise of a brighter tomorrow is not just a distant dream—it's a tangible reality, waiting to be shaped by you. Our course equips you with the insights, tools, and perspectives to be a catalyst in this transformative journey. Each module is not just a lesson but an invitation—to envision, engage, and elevate.
Today, you stand on the brink of an empowering expedition. One that not only redefines communities but also reimagines destinies. So, take that decisive leap. Enroll, enlighten, and empower not just yourself, but an entire community. Together, let's sculpt a legacy of lasting change.
- Completely Online
- Self-Paced
- Printable Lessons
- Full HD Video
- 6 Months to Complete
- 24/7 Availability
- Start Anytime
- PC & Mac Compatible
- Android & iOS Friendly
- Accredited CEUs

Course Lessons
Lesson 1. Community Growth: The Pathway to Sustainable Success
Community development isn't overnight town sprouting but a patient cultivation of social and economic progress through community and government collaboration. Emphasizing quality of life, unity, communication, and sustainability, it brings domestic and international value through educational and economic opportunities.Lesson 2. The Role of Education and Policy in Shaping U.S. Communities
The historical progression of community development in America illustrates a shift from fundamental survival needs to a structured process involving various influences over time. This lesson examines these changes, focusing on how cultural and political developments have shaped community actions from colonial times to now.Lesson 3. Unveiling the Foundations of Empowered Communities
Character and appearance form the identity of a community, influencing its reputation and attraction to resources or new businesses. These visible traits help set the tone and public perception, impacting how residents interact with their surroundings.Lesson 4. CBOs Uncovered: Enhancing Community Development
CBOs, while similar to non-profits in their tax-exempt status and community-benefiting designs, remain highly localized, potentially collaborating with neighboring CBOs to address larger, common issues. Despite financial and volunteer challenges, they offer direct local impact and organizational continuity beyond their founders, underpinning their essential role in community development.Lesson 5. The Transformative Power of Community Development: Enhancing Lives for All
Community development aims to enrich the lives of community members, providing both large-scale enhancements and gradual improvements tailored to unique local needs. By addressing issues like health, economy, and safety, communities foster a stronger sense of ownership and leadership while reducing stress and improving well-being.Lesson 6. Harnessing Community Development for Change: Steps and Considerations
Implementing change in communities relies on a meticulous process of setting achievable goals, assessing options, and crafting a written action plan. The process remains dynamic and cyclic, allowing for adjustments as new issues and opportunities arise over time.Lesson 7. Understanding Human, Social, Environmental, and Resource Factors
In community development, the interplay of human factors, social dynamics, environmental conditions, and resource availability critically influences outcomes. Effective leadership and robust community interest can drive progress, but overcoming social prejudices and resource limitations remains essential.Lesson 8. Crime's Impact on Community Growth
To combat crime, communities can implement strategies like neighborhood watch programs, environmental improvements, and robust law enforcement practices. These measures, part of the community development process, enhance safety, improve public trust, and contribute to sustainable community growth.Lesson 9. Government's Role in Shaping Communities
Each community must weigh the pros and cons of government involvement, balancing access to resources and potential bureaucratic hurdles. While government can offer funding and experience, issues of control and political agendas can deter communities from embracing such partnerships.Lesson 10. Community Development Approaches: Tried, True, and Innovative
Social capital represents the strength of communal bonds, which may be under debate regarding its relevance but remains crucial for problem-solving within community contexts. Analyzing these bonds can guide improvements and predict potential challenges within a community's social structure.Lesson 11. Navigating the Challenges: Disasters and Community Development
Disasters, whether natural, biological, or man-made, highlight vulnerabilities, often propelling communities to address underlying issues through development planning. By leveraging local assets and external support, communities can effectively restore and enhance their resilience post-crisis.Lesson 12. Engage and Thrive: Building Stronger Communities Together
Improving engagement involves strategic empowerment, addressing obstacles, and fostering creativity in community development initiatives. This lesson emphasizes tailoring approaches to community interests and leveraging resources like technology to enhance engagement outcomes.Lesson 13. Why Sustainability Matters in Community Growth
Communities should assess available resources, financial responsibilities, and growth opportunities before implementing sustainability practices. Understanding these factors ensures a smooth transition without jeopardizing economic stability or community participation.Lesson 14. Understanding Community Development Corporations: A Comprehensive Guide
Community Development Corporations (CDCs) are influential non-profit entities that emerged as a by-product of the Civil Rights movement, primarily focusing on assisting communities in improvement efforts through a broader range of services compared to community-based organizations (CBOs). Though their numbers have dwindled since the estimated 4,600 in 2006, the demand for their diverse, demographically targeted services remains high due to prolonged economic struggles.Lesson 15. Envisioning Tomorrow's Community Development
Technology revolutionizes community development, offering tools for data analysis and prediction, while ever-evolving policies affect the framework of community actions. Cultural shifts redefine what communities value, impacting development priorities and methods.
Learning Outcomes
- Describe the roles of residents, local government, and other entities involved in community development processes.
- Define community development and identify its primary elements, distinguishing it from urban planning.
- Define the historical evolution of community development in America from the colonial era to the present by identifying key influences and changes over time.
- Demonstrate understanding of the role education and federal involvement played in the institutionalization and implementation of community development in the United States.
- Define the concept of empowerment in community development and describe how it motivates community members to take action for improvements.
- Identify and explain the importance of transparency and trust in the community development process, highlighting how they influence community collaboration and acceptance of changes.
- Define the role of community-based organizations in community development, including their function as intermediaries for resources and actions.
- Identify the advantages and disadvantages of community-based organizations, focusing on their impact and limitations in local development efforts.
- Demonstrate understanding of the personal, health, economic, and safety benefits of community development for individual community members.
- Identify key strategies within community development that enhance community ownership, leadership, and access to essential services like food resources.
- Assess community issues using SWOT analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for informed goal setting and effective action planning.
- Define the steps in the community development process and explain their importance in achieving successful community change.
- Define the impact of human elements, such as participation and leadership, on community development outcomes.
- Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
Additional Course Information

- Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
- Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
- Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
- View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
- Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media

Choose Your Subscription Plan
No Certificate / No CEUs
This course only
Includes certificate | X |
Includes CEUs | X |
Self-paced |
![]() |
Instructor support |
![]() |
Time to complete | 6 months |
No. of courses | 1 course |
Certificate & CEUs
This course only
Includes certificate |
![]() |
Includes CEUs |
![]() |
Self-paced |
![]() |
Instructor support |
![]() |
Time to complete | 6 months |
No. of courses | 1 course |
Certificates & CEUs
Includes all 600+ courses
Includes certificate |
![]() |
Includes CEUs |
![]() |
Self-paced |
![]() |
Instructor support |
![]() |
Time to complete | 12 Months |
No. of courses | 600+ |
Certificates & CEUs
Includes all 600+ courses
Includes certificate |
![]() |
Includes CEUs |
![]() |
Self-paced |
![]() |
Instructor support |
![]() |
Time to complete | 24 Months |
No. of courses | 600+ |
Student Testimonials
- "This course is very helpful to me. By living in my community over the past seven years, I think it is incredibly important to have an understanding of what community development entails and what can be done to ensure its success. Having completed this course, it gives me better understanding of the more complex aspects, the value and how to involve myself in my community development process and how to use community development as a means of general improvement for the benefit of all in the community I live." -- Waisea T.
- "The course was great, thank you." -- Ronald B.
Related Courses
-
45 hours 4.5 CEUs Event Management Course Bundle + More Info
-
26 hours 2.6 CEUs Human Resources Productivity Course Bundle + More Info
-
72 hours 7.2 CEUs Writing Help Course Bundle + More Info
-
8 hours 0.8 CEUs Strategic Planning + More Info
-
7 hours 0.7 CEUs Retirement Planning + More Info
-
8 hours 0.8 CEUs Creating a Positive Work Environment + More Info
-
15 hours 1.5 CEUs Customer Service 101 + More Info
-
5 hours 0.5 CEUs Listening Skills + More Info
-
5 hours 0.5 CEUs The Art of Setting Goals + More Info
-
6 hours 0.6 CEUs Business Branding 101 + More Info
-
5 hours 0.5 CEUs Running Effective Meetings + More Info
-
12 hours 1.2 CEUs Wedding Planning 101 + More Info
-
9 hours 0.9 CEUs How to Write a Grant Proposal + More Info
-
11 hours 1.1 CEUs How to Write Effective Policies and Procedures + More Info
-
11 hours 1.1 CEUs Business Writing + More Info
-
7 hours 0.7 CEUs Microsoft Visio Level 1 + More Info
-
6 hours 0.6 CEUs Confidence Building + More Info
-
7 hours 0.7 CEUs Employment Law Fundamentals + More Info
-
5 hours 0.5 CEUs Operations Management 101 + More Info
-
11 hours 1.1 CEUs Writing Effective Emails in the Workplace + More Info
-
5 hours 0.5 CEUs Team Building 101 + More Info
-
5 hours 0.5 CEUs Critical Thinking Skills + More Info
-
9 hours 0.9 CEUs Event Planning 101 + More Info
-
8 hours 0.8 CEUs Assertiveness Training + More Info
-
12 hours 1.2 CEUs Telephone Skills and Quality Customer Service + More Info
-
9 hours 0.9 CEUs Customer Relationship Management + More Info
-
3 hours 0.3 CEUs Business Analysis + More Info
-
12 hours 1.2 CEUs How to Write Case Studies + More Info
-
2 hours 0.2 CEUs Purchasing and Vendor Management 101 + More Info
-
9 hours 0.9 CEUs Party Planning 101 + More Info
-
6 hours 0.6 CEUs Sustainable Development for Business + More Info
-
5 hours 0.5 CEUs Emotional Intelligence + More Info