Community development is the discipline concerned with the identification, allocation and effective use of human, physical, financial, or social resources in neighborhoods, and rural regions. It encompasses the understanding and development of the social organizations and institutions, such as community development corporations (CDCs), community based organizations, and informal voluntary associations, that facilitate the association and interaction of neighborhood residents in activities of common interest. Community development has become an important approach for revitalizing poor urban and rural communities, and can include such aspects as organizing residents in a targeted area, local planning, advocacy and political mobilization, institution building, physical revitalization, and economic development. The first part of this course exposes students to the major theories, policies and conceptual approaches of community development. The second part reviews the major strategies and approaches deployed by practitioners and policy makers to revitalize poor urban communities. The final part of the course is devoted to projects for community development clients. (Typically offered Fall Term.)