Community Processes Graduate Certificate Program

							Community Processes Graduate Certificate Program
Get in Touch


Judith I. Stallmann
Director
Community Processes Program
231 Gentry Hall
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, MO 65211
Telephone: 573-882-6455
Email: stallmannj@missouri.edu


The Graduate Certificate in Community Processes offers graduate students and professionals a
unique opportunity to develop expertise in how spatial and relational communities function in
today's society: their processes for forming, for maintaining the community and for achieving
community objectives. A vital part of the certificate is acquiring applied skills in community
facilitation processes or community analytical processes. The certificate is offered jointly by
the Departments of Agricultural Economics, Rural Sociology and the Truman School of Public
Affairs.


The Certificate is for:



          Graduate students seeking certification in addition to their degree program.

          Professionals with at least a bachelor's degree seeking a stand-alone graduate
           certificate for additional professional certification.

The Certificate offers two tracks:


Track 1: Community Facilitation
Skills for working with groups and communities



          Building community

          Grassroots development

          Group dynamics

          Conflict resolution

          How organizations change
          Building community self-capacity

Track 2: Community Analytical Processes
Analytical skills for decision-making, or working with communities or decision-makers at the
organizational, local, regional or state level


Understanding the local economy
       Information and government

       Basic analytical tools and skills

       Regional analysis

       Analysis for decision-makers

       Devolution

       Public and private partnerships
       Theories applied to local economic growth


Program design

Required course: Rural Sociology RS 7407: American Community Studies provides a basic
understanding of geographic communities and communities of interest. See the MU Graduate
Catalog for course descriptions.


Students choose a track for 9 additional credits.



    1. One basic course (3 credits) in the chosen track and

    2. 6 additional credits:

            o   6 credits in the chosen track, or

            o   3 credits in the chosen track and 3 credits from a basic course in the other
                track (highly encouraged)

Analytical Processes for Communities track students must have studied statistical analysis
through multiple regression and basic macro and micro-economics.


Students must begin and complete the certificate in 3 years.


Transfer credits: With approval of the director and the faculty members of the advisory
committee, students may transfer-in 3 credits. Transferred credits must correspond directly to
the MU graduate certificate program course requirements. An original transcript, verifying
graduate credit received for the requested hours of transfer credit, must be submitted to the
Graduate School when the Course of Study form is submitted.


Students seeking a degree: With approval of the director and the faculty members of the
advisory committee,



       6 of the 12 required credits also may count toward the degree requirements, or

       Students may transfer-in 3 credits (see above) and 3 credits also may count toward
        the degree requirements

Community facilitation track
Required Course:



      RS 7325: American Community Studies (campus and online) Fall semester

Basic courses: (choose at least one)



      RS 7341: Building Communities from the Grass Roots (1-week intensive) Fall and

       Winter semesters

      PA 8610: Group Dynamics and Conflict Resolution (campus) Winter semester

      PA 8630: Organizational Change in a Community and Global Context (campus) Winter
       semester

Supporting courses:



      RS 7342: Empowering Communities for the Future (1-week intensive) Winter semester

      RS 7343: Creating Capacity for Dynamic Communities (1-week intensive) Fall

       semester
      PA 8150: Foundations of New Governance (campus) Fall semester

Community analytical processes track

Required Course:



      RRS 7325: American Community Studies (campus and online) Fall semester

Basic courses: (choose at least one)



      PA 8310: Community Decision Support Systems (campus) Winter semester

      PA 8330: Informatics and Local Governance (campus) Winter semester
      AE 9310: Rural Economic Growth and Development (campus) Fall semester

Supporting Courses:



      AE 9320: Regional Theory and Methods (campus)

      PA 8150: Foundations of New Governance (campus) Fall semester

      AE 7310: Local Economic Analysis (online only) Winter semester
      PA 8320: Spatial Analysis for Public Affairs (campus) Fall semester


How to Apply

Application Form from MU Graduate School (PDF)
Advisory Committee

     Judith I. Stallmann, Agricultural Economics, Rural Sociology and Truman School of

      Public Affairs

     Johanna Reed Adams, Rural Sociology

     Thomas Johnson, Agricultural Economics and Truman School of Public Affairs

     Cindy Mustard, Voluntary Action Center, Columbia, MO
     Phil Steinhaus, City of Columbia Community Services Office