Certificate in Urban Practice
2011-12 Course Schedule
Fall 2011
URB 140 Introduction to the City (3 credits)
This is an introduction to the discipline of Urban Studies, the study of the city and urban life. It acquaints the student with an understanding of the nature of the city. In this course the city is the “textbook” and students will spend much of the time in on-site field visits exploring the various aspects of urban life.
Friday: 11:00am - 1:30pm/Class begins September 2, 2011
SOC/HIS 340 Ethnic Relations in America (3 credits)
A study of racial and ethnic minorities, group conflicts, and problems of human and cultural interaction. The course utilizes the comparative-historical method and a human development theoretical perspective bolstered by structural power for the maintenance of dominance/subordination among groups, as well as for progress and cooperation.
Monday: 6:00pm - 9:00pm/Class begins August 29, 2011
URB/SS 403 Grant Writing & Fundraising for Faith-Based Programs
The focus of this course is to consider the nature and role of grant writing and fundraising within the context of urban faith-based programs, non-profit organizations, or churches. Special consideration is given to strategic planning, budget preparedness, grant prospects, the letter of inquiry, and grant proposal artisanship. Students will write one actual grant, and will conduct one mission-driven presentation on/for a faith-based program or non-profit organization within the urban Portland area. Students will give their presentation to their chosen organization/program for future promotions.
Monday: 6:00pm - 9:00pm/Class begins August 29, 2011
URB/PM 410/PM510 Urban Ministry (3 credits)
The course examines sociologically the role of ministry in the urban context with the purpose of understanding the city and how faith-based organizations can engage in diverse ministries relevant to society. Students will address topics such as: multicultural ministry, ministry to diverse population groups, an urban audit, the role of the Internet in ministry, and the church as a social agency. The combination of faith and urban knowledge will enable students to develop an urban mindset that empowers them to serve in the face of human need.
Tuesday: 6:00pm - 9:00pm/Class begins August 30, 2011
Spring 2012 Schedule
SOC/URB 255 Sociology of Compassion & Altruism (3 credits)
Seminar in theory and application in creating a more caring society, through an understanding of compassion and altruism, as an antidote to a divided world, and what motivates people to action. The seminar has a service component where students spend time in the field doing voluntary work applying the principles and philosophy of service and compassion.
Tuesday/Thursday: 11:35am - 12:50pm/Class begins January 10, 2012
SOC/URB 375 Community Sociology (3 credits)
This course examines the nature of community in an urban context, as well as the sociological principles and concepts used in the study and analysis of the community. The social, economic, religious, and political issues and challenges faced in fostering and maintaining community spirit and organization are also addressed. The course draws from a human development model, with its focus on operational value systems, as well as on levels of consciousness to understand the substrate of the spiral forces that shape urban communities. The course has a research component to examine the role of community organizations in addressing the needs of urban neighborhoods.
Monday/Wednesday/Friday: 11:00am - 11:50am/Class Begins January 9, 2012
SOC/URB/REL 395 Sociology of Urban Religion (3 credits)
This course addresses the nature of religion in the city from a sociological perspective. It acquaints the student with an understanding of religion as a social phenomenon and its function in the world as both accommodation and protest. It discusses the ways human beings organize their societies around a religious framework to create a semblance of order, meaning and continuity, and to cope with social change. The course explores the dynamics of diverse cultural value systems and their approach to the sacred in society, and how these approaches find an institutional expression.
Tuesday/Thursday: 2:30pm - 3:45pm/Class begins January 10, 2012
URB/PHIL 495 Wisdom: Its Acquisition & Practice (3 credits)
This course is a capstone course and is the culminatory course in the Urban Studies program. It is a seminar on ethics and how to create a more ethical society through an understanding of wisdom. The course seeks to understand wisdom: what it is, its origins, how it is acquired, and how it is practiced. Its purpose is to provide students with a biblical, psychological, ethical, cultural, practical, sociological, spiral and spiritual framework for the emergence of wisdom, thereby empowering students to become ethical change agents in today’s global urban economy. The course has a research/reflective component on the nature of wisdom, ethical behavior, and life choices. Students will be asked to develop a personal ethical covenant for wise living.
Tuesday: 6:00pm - 9:00pm/Class begins January 10, 2012
Auditing Course Fee - $160 per credit hour or $480 per 3-hour course
Traditional Academic Credit - $510 per credit hour or $1,530 per course
For more information please contact the Urban Studies Department
warnerpacific.edu/usp 503·517·1057
