Choosing Your Community Development Degree: How to Launch Your Career

Community development might be your perfect profession if you are passionate about working with people and guiding communities to positive change. Workers in this field make social, economic, and environmental services accessible to communities to achieve sustainability and growth for future generations.

LIS offers interdisciplinary degree programmes to help students gain valuable skills in critical areas. Our approach equips you with the experience you need for community development while allowing you to transfer your knowledge to various career paths.

This guide explores community development degree pathways, the skills employers require, the average salary to expect, and the job outlook.

Table of Contents

• What Does a Community Development Worker Do?
• Why a Degree is Important for Community Development Workers
• Great Degree Programmes for Community Development Workers
• Do You Need a Certificate to Become a Community Developer?
• How to Map Out Your Community Development Career‍
• How to Choose the Right Degree for Your Career in Community Development

Community development professionals work with individuals, families, and communities to bring about positive social and environmental change. The role may also fall under the terms 'community support worker' or 'community support officer.'

These workers help local community members gain better access to health, education, training, housing, welfare, economic activity, agriculture, and employment opportunities. Professionals in this field aim to improve community health and achieve sustainable development that empowers citizens.

The day-to-day responsibilities of community developers include:

• Finding out about the needs of the local area and community health
• Work to bring departments together to benefit community members (social workers, police, teachers etc)
• Raising public awareness about critical community issues and public policy
• Work with or in community councils, attending planning meetings and events to support sustainable communities
• Raise funds and complete applications
• Identify assets and capacities within communities
• Work on transformative projects like improving housing, tackling drug abuse or developing mental health awareness schemes

A degree is a great step for community development workers because it equips students with the practical skills and intellectual competencies to solve complex problems in rural and urban communities. Completing a degree programme gives students the required qualifications to launch a career and progress in this field.

If you choose to study community development, it will also be easier to land a job after graduation. While you can get into community development through volunteering or apprenticeships, a bachelor's degree will show employers your drive and commitment to work in the sector.

In a community development bachelor's degree programme, students learn concepts such as:

• Community economic development
• Natural resource management
• Community leadership
• Community analysis
• Urban planning

Beyond these skills, degree pathways are also a fantastic opportunity to develop real-world experience and industry networks, which can help you find your ideal job. 

To help you choose your degree pathway, we've compiled a list of some great community development courses and programmes.

We've included the curriculum, tuition fees, financial aid, and key takeaways so you have all the necessary information. 

Arts and Sciences: Interdisciplinary Problems and Methods (BASc) – The London Interdisciplinary School 

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The London Interdisciplinary School (LIS) offers a BASc degree that requires three years of full-time study. This programme aims to help students gain comprehensive interdisciplinary expertise to transfer to various career paths. While traditional degrees specifically prepare students to become community developers, LIS enables you to develop critical skills, giving you more flexibility over your future.

Diverse industry experts lead our curriculum, including artists, epidemiologists, philosophers, and journalists. Our expert faculty delivers unique perspectives and guides students to use their understanding in problem-solving.

At LIS, eligible students can also participate in summer internships for at least five weeks annually. These internships allow students to gain real-world experience and network with like-minded professionals. 

‍Key Curriculum:

• Problems 1A: Practise how to apply interdisciplinary solutions to complex problems. Gain skills in epistemology, problem-framing, pitching and public speaking. 
• Qualitative Methods 1A: Investigate the challenges of quantifying emotion and develop knowledge in thematic analysis, participant observation and close reading. 
• Problems 1B: Tackle problems with core sustainability principles, learn stakeholder mapping, work with external organisations, and draw and understand connections. 
• Capstone Project: Complete an extended research project on a problem area of choice that the student is passionate about.

‍Fees:

• £9,000 / a year for home students
• £17,000 / a year for international students

‍Financial Aid:

• Hardship Grants: Learners who experience sudden economic challenges can apply for financial support. LIS awards these grants on a case-by-case basis. 
• Financial Support Bursary: Qualifying students can apply for an annual bursary worth  £1,000 to £7,000 toward their degree programme.  
• Income from Internships: Eligible students who have an internship and earn at least the London Living Wage can apply for financial support.

‍Key Takeaways:

• Unlike a typical community development programme, this degree helps students gain valuable skills in core disciplines, giving them flexibility over their professional future.
• LIS provides career support and well-being programmes to help you launch a career after graduation.
• Qualifying students can complete internships and gain real-world skills. This will give you a competitive edge in the job market.

Community Development - BSc (Hons) - Ulster University

Ulster University offers a four-year part-time Community Development bachelor's degree. This programme covers high-level skills in community planning, economic development, and empowering social change.

Students will learn theoretical and practical skills for successful careers in community development. They also have a choice of completing a placement year. They can work in real-world community development settings, manage events and projects and how to design and implement training programmes. 

‍Key Curriculum:

• Understanding Community Development: History, Context and Philosophy
• Power, Inequality, and anti-discriminatory practice
• The Northern Ireland Context - Transforming Communities
• Managing Community Projects
  

Fees:

• £9,250 / per 120 credit points for home students
• £16,320 / per 120 credit points for international students

Financial Aid:

• Financial Hardship Fund: Eligible students can apply for financial support if they experience sudden financial hardship. 
• Care Leavers Bursary: Full-time undergraduate students who are leaving care or have spent three months or more in care may be eligible for this financial support. 
• Widening Access Bursary: Qualifying students can apply for £475 toward their studies. 

Key Takeaways:

• There are limited scholarships and bursaries available.
• Students can gain real-world experience and complete job placements.
• This programme requires part-time study, which may be ideal for students with other commitments, such as work. 

BA (Hons) Community Development and Youth Work (Endorsed Route)  - University of Bolton

If you want to become a community developer focusing on youth social studies, the University of Bolton's bachelor's degree is a great choice. This three-year programme offers flexible and adaptable skills for a successful career working with communities, particularly young people.

Students will participate in extensive practical-based learning, with access to guidance from industry experts. 

Students can also expect visits from guest speakers during their lectures, which will give them a first-hand understanding of the impact of youth in communities and how to help them access social, environmental, and economic services. 

‍Key Curriculum:

• Global Youth Work and Sustainable Communities
• Professional and Academic Research Methods
• Community Living: Housing and Homelessness
• Management, Governance, and Organisational Development

Fees:

• The University of Bolton has not disclosed its tuition fees for the next academic year. 

‍Financial Aid:

• Care Experienced Bursary: Eligible students who have experience in living in care can apply for financial aid. 
• Military Service Award: Students who have completed three years of military service since their 18th birthday can receive £500 per academic year. 

‍Key Takeaways:

• There aren't many scholarships and bursaries available.
• This programme is fantastic for students who want to specialise in youth development.
• Students have to wait for this university to announce their tuition fees before evaluating it as an option.

Community Development (BA) - The University of Glasgow

The well-respected University of Glasgow is another fantastic choice for a bachelor's degree in community development. This is a four-year programme, with a mandatory placement year during the third year. Students can demonstrate their skills and competence in local and global placements. They will also be able to establish industry relationships.

This degree focuses on community growth's cornerstones, from economic development and environmental justice to understanding diverse perspectives and making social services accessible. In addition, during their second year, students can participate in an international, national or local study trip. 

‍Key Curriculum:

• Professional practice for working in communities
• Critical understandings of culture & power in communities
• Space, place & community development
• Approaches & applied research methods

‍Fees:

• £9,250 / a year for home students
• £22,740 / a year for international students

‍Financial Aid:

• RUK Excellence Scholarship: Qualifying new entrants who have attained academic excellence in one sitting at A Level can apply for £1,000 for each year of study. 
• James McCune Smith Undergraduate Scholarship: 30 scholarships are available for students of African/African-Caribbean backgrounds. These scholarships are worth  £2,000 each. 
• Sanctuary Scholarships: Eligible students who have been forced to travel to the UK for humanitarian purposes can apply for one of 20 scholarships to cover the cost of all their tuition fees.

‍Key Takeaways:

• An impressive range of financial aid options is available, especially for underrepresented students.
• Students can gain real-world experience in their third year and work alongside organisations in community development.
• Students can broaden their skills and connections in the second year through a study trip. 

Social Science, Community Development & Youth Work - Goldsmiths, University of London

Goldsmiths, University of London, offers this community development bachelor's degree for three years of full-time study. This programme trains students on social justice and equality and provides opportunities to specialise in conflict transformation, international development, community enterprise, community arts, and youth offending. 

The lecturers have extensive experience in community development and guide students through analysing theoretical concepts and social policies and how to link them to practical solutions.

‍Key Curriculum:

• Introduction to Applied Social Science Research
• Theory, Policy and Politics
• Community Development and Youth Work in Context
• Social Justice in Community Development and Youth Work

‍Fees:

• £9,250 / a year for home students
• £19,640 / a year for international students

‍Financial Aid:

• International Response Scholarship: Eligible students with refugee status in the UK can apply for a £8,825 allowance, accommodation fee and a full tuition fee waiver for each year of study. 
• Goldsmiths International Undergraduate Scholarships: Qualifying international students can apply for financial aid between £2,000 and £5,000. 
• Care Experienced and Estranged Students Bursary: Students leaving government care might be eligible for financial assistance of £1,000 for each year of study. 

‍Key Takeaways:

• The tuition fees for international students are affordable compared to other programmes.
• There are many specialisations available to help students achieve their professional goals.
• Students will find loads of scholarships and bursaries, especially for underrepresented groups. 

No, you don't need a certificate to become a community developer. However, completing certificate courses in addition to your bachelor's degree will make your job application stand out. If you want to complete courses beyond community development to expand your skillset, LIS is the ideal solution. 

We offer three online short courses to help students broaden their knowledge and capabilities in core disciplines, such as communication, sustainability and leadership. 

You can take one or all of these short courses:

• Systems Thinking for Sustainability: Discover how systems thinking can transform your approach to sustainability through critical insights and techniques to navigate today's ecological challenges. 
• Risk and Reputation: Understand the impact of online communities in today's media-driven world and gain insight into leadership through interdisciplinary methods. 
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Learn how interdisciplinary techniques help you tackle complex problems and lead teams with various expertise.

These courses all cover imperative knowledge for a successful career in community development. A significant advantage is that students can transfer these skills to various sectors without being limited to specialised community development training. 

It's essential to consider your professional goals for community development and plan how to achieve them. Here are the top skills employers look at and the job outlook to get you on the right path. 

What Skills Do Employers Require for Community Development?

Community development graduates must show potential employers they have the necessary skills for this field. Employers must be assured they have the expertise to lead communities and correctly guide individuals and families to find and leverage the resources needed.

Here are the top soft and technical skills employers look for in community development workers:

• Leadership: Aspiring community developers require leadership skills in research and communication. They must be able to guide individuals, teams, or entire organisations toward a common goal. 
• Political Science: Community development professionals must understand resource management, social work, gender studies, and political science concepts. 
• Psychology: Working with people from all walks of life requires community development workers to understand psychology in-depth.
• Grant Writing: In community development, professionals are expected to write government grants to fund various community projects and services. They must know how to identify and secure funding sources. 
• Collaboration: Professionals in this line of work must understand how to apply active listening and manage different people's expectations. They should also know how to unite people, working toward shared objectives. 
• Advocacy: Community development workers must often advocate for their communities or projects. They will work with government agencies to implement their strategies and achieve social justice, economic opportunity, affordable housing, etc. 

What is the Average Salary for Community Development Workers?

The average annual salary for community developer professionals in the UK is £28,820. Entry-level workers can expect to earn approximately £24,799 per year, while seasoned developers have a salary potential of up to £39,834. 

A bachelor's degree and as much experience as possible are the best ways to increase your earning potential. 

Is the Community Development Jobs Market Growing?

Community development-related professions are expected to grow around 4% over the next three years. This job growth rate is three times faster than the average career, emphasising significant employment opportunities for professionals.  

These are the main factors to consider when choosing the right degree programme for your community development career.

Tuition Costs

Completing a bachelor's degree programme can be costly. Students must evaluate how much they can afford and find a programme that suits their budget. You must ensure you can afford the entire duration of your studies, whether you're self-funding your education or applying for student loans. 

Financial Aid

Student loans are not the only solution to afford your degree programme. If needed, you can look for a university that offers various financial aid options, such as scholarships and bursaries. You don't have to repay this financial support, making it a better option than student loans and the hefty interest. 

Practical Training

Choosing a degree pathway that exposes you to practical training is best. To become a community developer, you must have real-world experience with nonprofit organisations and government agencies and work face-to-face with community members. Opt for a programme that trains you in these environments and scenarios. 

Career Support

Students may find it challenging to start their careers after graduation. However, this will be much easier if your bachelor's programme provides career support. You should have resources on how to ace interviews, create a winning resume and establish industry relationships to get a headstart in your job hunt. 

Study with LIS and Become a Community Developer 

Community development is an ideal career choice for professionals interested in nonprofit management, youth services, and making a positive change in citizens' lives. 

Aspiring professionals should aim to achieve a bachelor's degree in community development to launch a career in this field. 

At LIS, we provide all the resources, tools, and knowledge you need to enter community development. Our degree programme focuses on critical interdisciplinary skills and real-world experience to maximise flexibility in your career path.

Ready to become a community developer? Contact LIS to get started.