Minor in Community Organizing and Development
Students presenting posters about various communities in Buffalo.
Become a community change agent – help build economically and socially just communities and work in unity with others to find solutions that empower citizens.
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Interested in making a change in society?
Graduates of this minor will be well-positioned to work with people engaged in community and neighborhood capacity building efforts. Because of growing income inequality and its consequences for under-resourced communities, there is an increased need for persons with expertise in these areas. Students acquire knowledge of innovative means of alleviating and rectifying social problems and injustices and develop essential skills that are transferrable in many professional settings.
Careers can range from lead organizer to community outreach worker, healthcare policy advocate, canvasser, labor relations representative and much more.
Program Overview
This minor is designed to meet the need of professions requiring expertise in organizing and development of communities that can work in collaboration with diverse partners to enhance capacity and well-being, frame social problems, co-produce solutions, navigate systems and effect sustainable change.
| Academic minor completed | Community Organizing and Development |
| Credits required for completion | 18 |
| Course delivery | seated |
| Open to undergraduate students from | all majors |
| Required cumulative GPA | 2.0 |
Program Coursework
Click the social work course links to see the full course description, some may have preqrequisites.
Required Courses (6 credits)
- SW 220 Introduction to Community Organizing
- SW 230 Theories and Politics of Community Organizing and Development*
*Prerequisite to SW 230 is SW 220.
Social Work courses are open to those not in the minor.
Elective Courses (12 credits, must include four 300-400 level courses)
- SW 309 Developing Leadership in Communities
- SW 380 Negotiation, Mediation, and Conflict Resolution
- SW 430 Grassroots Economic Development
- SW 460 Strategy and Practice in Organizing and Development
- COM 420 Conflict Theory
- PSY 332 Social Conflict and Its Resolution
- SSC 317 Environmental Politics
- SSC 442 Environmental Movements
- SOC 341 Environment & Society
- SOC 385 Neighborhoods and Health
- CEP 412 Diversity & Human Relations
- GEO 460 Geography and Development
- PSC 413 Comparative Political Economy
- END 306 Community and Educational Development
- END 406 Housing and Community Development
- END 442 Central City Revitalization
- END 443 Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
- LAW 309 Introduction to Business Organizations and Business Law
- LAW 315 Introduction International Climate Change Law
Application Requirements
Students are required to have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA. There are no prerequisite course requirements for enrollment in the minor. Students are encouraged to have a declared major. By doing so, coursework in the minor will be more effectively focused.
Questions?
Questions about the minor? Contact Associate Professor and Undergraduate Studies Coordinator Filomena Critelli.
Email: fmc8@buffalo.edu
Phone: (716) 645-1250