Building Communities and Forging Identities

Singapore University of Social Sciences

Building Communities and Forging Identities (CSD502)

Synopsis

CSD502 Building Communities and Forging Identities provides an introduction and important grounding to the topic of community building and identity formation within societies, with particular attention to Singapore society. It adopts an interdisciplinary approach that combines useful knowledge from the social sciences and practical community leadership skills informed by a range of professional and people-management disciplines. Students will gain familiarity with complex issues related to culture, religion, social inclusivity, inequality and national identity within local and global contexts. Such knowledge will be combined with essential relation building and resource mobilization skills required for community engagement and social outreach.

Level: 5
Credit Units: 5
Presentation Pattern: EVERY JULY

Topics

What is a Community?
The Relationship between Society and the Individual
Identity Formation: Classical and Modern Perspectives
Community, Society and Nation
History, Culture and Nationalism
Urbanization and Community in Singapore
Challenges of Community-Building
Understanding Diversity and Inequality
Relationship Building and Resource Management
Ground-up Communities and Identities
Managing Conflict in the Community
Serving to Lead: Community Leadership that Works

Learning Outcome

Describe the key perspectives on community building and identity formation.
Explain the possible challenges to community building and identity formation.
Propose possible stratetgies to build communities and forge identities.
Relate social scientific knowledge to practical situations for community leadership.
Apply relationship building and resource management skills within a community.
Evaluate various approaches to community building and identity formation.