Rural Community Development
- Agricultural Sciences
- 500 level
- 3 credit units
- 88 pages
- 14 units
This course introduces students to the science and art of rural community development, providing a foundation in the underlying theories and practical solutions for addressing rural development challenges. It explores the concept, process, and constituents of development within a rural context, highlighting relevant theories and contemporary approaches used in developing countries. The course also examines the future prospects of rural development in Nigeria.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 50 hours
- Maths
- Basic
- Content
- Theoretical, case study
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assignments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of ARD504, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
ARD504 · UNIT 1: RURAL DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT
In theory, the concept of development is a normative term which implies growth and change. So its definition depends on the individual backgrounds. Essentially, community development is a continuous process of generating and efficiently allocating scarce resources for achieving socially satisfying needs of community members. It is made up of points which are inter-related.
What you should be able to do
- Define the concept of rural community development.
- Explain sociological and economic policy perspectives on development.
- Trace the underlying theories of rural development.
- Compare community development with other development approaches.
- Highlight problems of constitution and infrastructures in rural communities.
What it prepares you for
- Community Development Officer
- Rural Development Planner
- Agricultural Extension Officer
- Social Worker
- Policy Analyst
- Government Agencies
- Non-Governmental Organizations
- International Development
- Agriculture
- Social Services
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 2:
Unit 1: Micro-Approaches to Social Change
Understanding the nuances between micro and macro approaches to social change requires critical thinking and comparative analysis of different theoretical perspectives.
- Module 2:
Unit 2: Macro-Approaches to Social Change
The abstract nature of social change theories and their application to real-world scenarios can be challenging, requiring students to connect theoretical concepts with practical examples.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 42 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1:
Unit 1: Rural Development Concept · 2 hours
Read Unit 1: Understand the concept of rural community development, its rationale, and associated problems.. Define rural communities and list problems hindering rural development efforts..
Unit 2: Sociological Perspective of Development · 2 hours
Read Unit 2: Understand sociological perspectives of development, including differences between development, growth, and westernization.. State factors responsible for westernization and Sen Amartya's view of development..
- Week 2Module 1:
Unit 3: Economic Perspective of Development · 2 hours
Read Unit 3: Define economic development indices and identify core values and basic objectives of development.. Differentiate between economic development indices..
Unit 4: Theories of Community Development · 2 hours
Read Unit 4: Identify and explain grand theories of community development.. State phases of development and identify strengths and weaknesses of each theory..
- Week 3Module 1:
Unit 5: Community Development and other Developments · 3 hours
Read Unit 5: Trace the history of rural community development and state approaches to community development.. List steps in community development and explain problems..
- Week 4Module 2:
Unit 1: Micro-Approaches to Social Change · 3 hours
Read Unit 1: Understand micro-level theories of social change and explain experiences of changes at the micro level.. Focus on symbolic interactionism, ethno methodology, and exchange theory..
- Week 5Module 2:
Unit 2: Macro-Approaches to Social Change · 3 hours
Read Unit 2: Understand theoretical orientation of championing change involving the entire system.. Focus on structural functionalist theory and conflict theory..
- Week 6Module 2:
Unit 3: Rural Community as a Unit of Social Change · 3 hours
Read Unit 3: Define community and rural community; explain settlement patterns.. Define social change and list/explain factors affecting change..
- Week 7Module 2:
Unit 4: Dimension of Innovations · 3 hours
Read Unit 4: Define innovation, state its objectives, and understand various facets of life it can affect.. Originate an innovation from existing practice..
- Week 8Module 2:
Unit 5: Models of Rural/Agricultural Development and Their Relevance to Nigerian Situations · 3 hours
Read Unit 5: Identify different development approaches and state principles of rural development.. Identify various components of rural development approach..
- Week 9Module 3:
Unit 1: Problems of Institutions and Infrastructural Community · 3 hours
Read Unit 1: Define infrastructure and state problems militating against infrastructural development.. Trace agricultural extension as a major institutional support for infrastructural development..
- Week 10Module 3:
Unit 2: Case Studies of Community Development in Nigeria · 3 hours
Read Unit 2: Review case studies of rural development efforts in Nigeria.. Understand reasons for proliferation of rural development programs..
- Week 11Module 3:
Unit 3: Case Studies of Community Development in Other Developing Countries · 3 hours
Read Unit 3: Review case studies of rural development activities in other developing nations.. Cross-fertilize ideas and observe how other countries have failed or succeeded..
- Week 12Module 3:
Unit 4: The Future of Rural Communities in Nigeria · 3 hours
Read Unit 4: State the future of rural communities and list intervention policies beneficial to these communities.. Organize rural developments and identify basic indicators of progress..
- Week 13All Modules
Final Revision · 4 hours
Review all course materials, focusing on key concepts and theories.. Prepare for final examination by revisiting tutor-marked assignments and self-assessment exercises..
Preparing for the exam
- Review all unit objectives and ensure you can confidently address each one.
- Create concept maps linking key theories and concepts from Modules 1 and 2.
- Focus on understanding the differences between micro and macro approaches to social change.
- Analyze case studies from Units 2 and 3 in Module 3, identifying key success factors and challenges.
- Practice applying theoretical frameworks to real-world rural development scenarios.
- Allocate specific study time for each module, prioritizing areas where you feel less confident.
Questions students ask about this course
What is ARD504 about?
This course introduces students to the science and art of rural community development, providing a foundation in the underlying theories and practical solutions for addressing rural development challenges. It explores the concept, process, and constituents of development within a rural context, highlighting relevant theories and contemporary approaches used in developing countries. The course also examines the future prospects of rural development in Nigeria.
How many units does ARD504 have?
ARD504, Rural Community Development, has 14 units across 3 modules, over 88 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is ARD504?
ARD504 carries 3 credit units, at 500 level in Agricultural Sciences.
Is ARD504 hard?
ARD504 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.
How long does ARD504 take to study?
About 50 hours of study, spread across its 14 units.
How is ARD504 assessed?
ARD504 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assignments and final examination.
What can I do with ARD504?
Community Development Officer, Rural Development Planner, Agricultural Extension Officer, Social Worker and Policy Analyst.