Curriculum & Requirements
Curriculum
The curriculum for the Community Studies Program gives students the benefit of a well-rounded and integrated learning experience. It provides a solid foundation of academic skills; as well as interdisciplinary content focused on contemporary issues in social policy, urban studies, global studies; and reflects the complexities of the field. It includes five foundation courses all College of Public and Community Service (CPCS) students take and ten major-specific community studies courses (see descriptions below).
All ten community studies courses are required. They are scheduled in a prescribed sequence that reflects the complexity of the subject matter and appropriately builds understanding. Following this sequence will allow students to complete the program in four semesters and two summers, assuming that they meet the university’s general education requirements (see below) in a timely manner. On the rare occasion that a student requires more time to complete the requirements, he or she must obtain written approval from the program director.
As a rule, students enter the program in the fall or spring semester and take two foundation courses and two community studies courses per term. Summer sessions are also offered to accelerate graduation and/or complete general education courses not transferred.
Requirements
Degree Requirements:
To complete a degree in community studies students must complete 120 credits:
- 45 credits general education
- 15 credits CPCS foundation
- 30 credits in the major field of study
- 30 credits in electives that complement their work in the major or satisfy any other interests they may have
Required Courses:
Students enrolled in this program should only use the link that arrives in a letter from the university to register for courses. Do not register using the links below or through Wiser. Students who have not received this letter should email communitystudies@umb.edu or call 617.287.7175.
- PCSCOR200 Concepts of Community
- PCSCOR220 Concepts of Social Justice
- PCSCOR300 Diversity and Cultural Competence
- PCSCOR325 Civic Engagement
- PCSCOR350 Media and Society
- CSTCTR225 Media and Community Building
- CSTCTR250 Social Organization of Communities
- CSTCTR300 Comparative Methods of Community Analysis
- CSTCTR325 Community Portraits
- CSTCTR330 Dynamics of Community Change
- CSTCTR335 Media and Culture
- CSTCTR370 Community Studies Special Topics Level III *
- CSTCTR400 Communities in Global Context
- CSTCTR430 Economic Issues and Strategies in Communities
- CSTCTR470 Special Topics Level IV *
- CSTCTR490 Community Studies Capstone
*offerings vary from semester to semester. Students can choose only one special topic.
General Education and Other Requirements:
Students in the Massachusetts higher education system, who complete either an approved associate degree or the MassTransfer Block, may transfer 34 general education credits, exclusive of developmental courses. The MassTransfer Block satisfies the general education distribution core requirements.
These other general education requirements cannot be transferred and will need to be completed while in residency at UMass Boston:
- quantitative reasoning
- an intermediate seminar
- a writing proficiency requirement
- diversity course
- capstone course
Students who need to complete the general education distribution courses and the required courses not offered online at UMass Boston may take them at any of the University of Massachusetts campuses and transfer them to UMass Boston, with the consent of their advisor.
