Introduces students to city life through a variety of lectures and readings along with field trips and personal assignments pertaining to the urban context, with special attention to the City of Philadelphia. Additional lab fee is required.

This course introduces students to urban theories and concepts that form a foundation for faith-based work in urban social change. Students will explore the complex factors behind major urban problems around the world, and the integration of theory and practice from an interdisciplinary perspective. Readings and research in urban sociology and urban issues are required. Lab fee.

This course analyzes the relationship of the life and ministry of Christ to the urban context. While taking a theological (Christological) approach, the seminar also examines broader New Testament, social, historical, economic, and cultural factors which underpin our framework for theology of the city. The purpose of the course is to enable students to articulate a biblical and personal perspective on cities and ministry in cities.

This course focuses on the integration of personal faith, theology and the student practice of the profession. Based upon a theological framework for urban transformation, the student will explore the role of the Christian in the professional world and will clarify his or her role and relevant issues of ministry, including personal witness, values awareness, ethics, and social justice within diverse ethnic and faith environments. Attention will be given to the role of faith in both the public and private sectors. Students will explore the concepts of what it means to live as Christian Change Agent and participate in seeing the Kingdom of God advanced in their particular profession. Reading and reflection papers required.

This course provides basic cross-cultural skills for relationship building, community development, and conflict management in the urban context. Through discussion of cultural value and world view differences, behavior norms, and conflict management styles, the student will gain basic theoretical understanding for work and ministry in the urban context. Through in-class exercises, students will develop beginning skills for adjusting behavior in a variety of cultural contexts. Readings, experiential activities and reflection paper are required.

This course will provide students with concrete information to help them gain greater access to funding opportunities and resources to support a ministry or organization with which they are affiliated. Students will review core elements of program development, and will gain an understanding of the principles of grant writing, fundraising, and building a network of partners and supporters. Students will gain awareness of potential funding sources, and effective ways to engage potential funders, donors and volunteers. Students will complete a practical writing project, including fund-ready materials that can be used in seeking resources for a project of choice.

This course examines the social, historical, economic, spiritual and cultural factors that influence society's treatment of members of various racial and ethnic groups. It acquaints the student with an understanding of how social structures are organized in terms of minority-majority relations, for the advantage of some at the expense of others. This course utilizes the comparative-historical method, bolstered by structural power for the maintenance of dominance/subordination among groups. In addition to texts that describe the experiences of various racial and ethnic groups in American society, readings will be assigned that examine social relationships within the context of transforming communities. Required of all students in the Community Development and Youth Development Concentrations. Student may opt to take ARTS 54-(required of all ARTS students) as an alternative to this course.

This is a course in the theory and application of leadership for effective administration of human resources in an urban context. Using the model of a community of practice, students will learn through readings, discussion, interviews, research and reflection on personal experience. The course examines various approaches to leadership and the theories that undergird them, while upholding the servant-leader model of Jesus as the guiding example. Students will examine the lives of living leaders, as well as the essential skills and characteristics necessary for effective leadership. Students will evaluate their own strengths and weaknesses as leaders and develop a Leadership Action Plan addressing a specific organizational need as a culminating project. Lab fee.

This course is an introduction to applied research and evaluation. The primary emphasis is on qualitative research and evaluation methods for use in private voluntary organizations such as churches, urban ministries, missions, and relief and development organizations. Applied research is presented as a systematic inquiry designed to provide information to decision makers and/or groups concerned with particular human and societal problems. Christian perspective on the purpose and practice of research is of special interest.

This culminating seminar course in the MA in Urban Studies Programs is taken at the beginning of the final year of the Program. It requires students to study in-depth replicable models for social change. Based on research by faculty and other professionals, students will review interdisciplinary theory, collaborative processes, program evaluation, and effective practices in preparation for a required final urban community transformation thesis project proposal. Program Case Study, final thesis/project proposal, IRB application, and reading required. Prerequisites: URBN 501, URBN 575. Lab fee.

The Graduate Research Project / Thesis is a culminating scholarly process demonstrating the student's academic studies in the MA in Urban Studies Program. The graduate research requirement may be met by a research project. This project may be an acceptable program research project, including but not limited to a business plan or feasibility study including survey research and literature review, a program evaluation, a case study report, a major literature review, an impact case study project, or original research thesis. The final determination of the form to be selected must be decided in consultation with the director(s) of the student's study. A culminating oral presentation of the project will be presented at the Annual Graduate Research Forum. (Prerequisites: URBN 501, 575, 580) $300 thesis fee.

This course is a practicum emphasizing the implementation of basic philosophy and methodology of youth outreach of community organizing and development. For YTHL students the development of personal realationships, community relationships and youth development experiences with urban young people through relevant forms of outreach is essential. Anyone graduating from this program must demonstrate a high level of ability in the formation of youth development programs. This practicum includes the implementation of leadership skills including: the principles of recruitment, training, and the ongoing empowerment of volunteers(commnity, adult, and youth) for outreach ministry. A combination of leadership experiences of these experiences are required. For CDEV students the development of necessary personal and community relationships is essential. Anyone graduing from this program must demonstrate a high level of ability in the formation of socially relevant programs. This practicum includes the implementation of leadership skills including: the principles and practices of needs assessment, planning, recreuitment, training and the ongoing empowerment of others. A combination of leadership experiences based on the student's learning goals for function and written reflective evaluations of these experiences are required. An integral part of this esperience is the opportunity for students to: (1) observe competent, experienced, practitioners in the field, and (2) become experienced under the care and counsel of a competent, experienced practitioner(mentor). Students will complete regularly scheduled supervisory dialogues with a mentor(from a church, para-church, or community organization) over a period of one semester. Additionally, each student will be required to conduct weekly, supervised outreach to youth(120 hours).

This course is a practicum emphasizing the implementation of the basic philosophy and methodology of youth outreach or community organizing and development. For YTHL sutdents the development of personal relationships, community relationships and youth development with urban young people through relevant forms of outreach is essential. Anyone graduating from this program must demonstrate a high level of ability in the formation of youth development programs. This practicum includes the implementation of leadership skills including: the principles of reruitment, training, and the ongoing empowerment of volunterrs(community, adult, and youth) for outreach ministry. A combination of leadership experiences based on the student's learning goals for ministry function and written reflective evaluations of these experiences are required. For CDEV students the development of necessary personal and community relationships is essential. Anyone graduating from this program must demonstrate a high level of ability in the formation of socially relevant programs. This practicum includes the implementation of leadership skills including the principles and practices of needs assessment, planning, recruitment, training, and the ongoing empowerment of others. A combination of leadership experiences based on the student's learning goals for written reflective evaluations of these experiences are required. An integral part of this experience is the opportunity for students to: (1) observe competent, experienced practitioners in the field, and (2) become experienced under the care and consel of a competent, experienced practitioner(mentor). Students will complete regularly scheduled supervisory dialogues with a mentor(from a church, para-church or community organization) over a period of one semester. Additionally, each student will be required to conduct weekly, supervised outreach to youth(120 hours).