Here below you can find all master courses the University Centre offers. All courses are taught in 1-3 week modules running from August through June. See how the courses are organised in the teaching schedule for both programs. Usually 2-3 courses are taught at the same time, but students may only enroll in one course at a time.
The master courses are available to you whether you plan to pursue a degree or just take a course or courses. Please review the options for guest studies to determine how you can apply.
For further information, contact the Administrative Director of Education and Teaching.
Tools for Community Development
- Summer 2025
- Instructor: Dr. John Colton
About the course
This course explores the tools, methods, and frameworks used in community development. Case studies explore best practices in a range of contexts including coastal, remote, and indigenous communities. The course explores methods used in support of communities asserting self-determination and local control, such as Asset-Based Community Development, stakeholder mapping and power analysis, participatory learning and action (PLA), capabilities-based development, place making, Theory of Change and logic models. Students will practice and apply these tools in varying contexts in this course.
Instructor
has worked at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia for over 20 years in the Community Development and the Environmental and Sustainability Studies programs. His research areas span the terrestrial and marine environments and are often applied in nature focussing on meaning community outcomes. An example of this might include the Business and Community Toolkit for Tidal Energy Development or the Tidal Energy Community Engagement Handbook.
John has worked extensively in First Nation communities on economic development initiatives and more recently with rural coastal communities and local and provincial governments exploring the potential of MRE. He's particularly interested in the nature of community benefits and processes that support social acceptance (or not) or MRE development. He is a founding member of the Acadia Tidal Energy Institute and serves as head of department for Community Development.
John has also worked in the adventure/ecotourism tourism guiding wilderness river expeditions to remote areas in Alaska, British Columbia, the Yukon and Northwest Territories since the late 1980’s with Canadian River Expeditions.
Learning outcome
On completion of the course a student:
- can describe the social, political, cultural, and environmental contexts in which communities thrive and prosper.
- can critically review the role of power and self-determination in the application of community development concepts, processes, and tools as well as methodological approaches.
- understands the frameworks and strategies that support applied community development.
- can identify best practices in the application of tool and methods in support of community development.
- can demonstrate an understanding of Asset Based Community Development.
Prerequisites: No prerequisites registered for the course
Assessment: 10 % Class participation; 90% written or oral assignments
Final Exam: Assignment