The Nature of Community: Place, Space, and Identity

What is a community? How can it best be organized and strengthened? How can communities contribute to social justice? This course examines boundaries and identities, rights, responsibilities, cooperation and conflict, and the roles of volunteerism, sports, stories, language, meals and even sleep in community life. Concern about the nature and well-being of "community" has been at the heart of sociology since the discipline was born, so examining these issues provides an in-depth introduction to the sociological way of thinking. The course is particularly aimed at those working within community settings, such as residential units, student activites, and service programs.