December 7, 2007 

The University of Northern British Columbia is launching a uniqueprogram next semester that will provide students with skills andknowledge related to community development. The new major in PublicAdministration and Community Development is part of UNBC’s Geographyprogram. The first course in the new degree – a Political Sciencecourse on Community Development (POLS 332) – will be offered inJanuary.

The program has been designed by Greg Halseth, a Canada Research Chairin Rural and Small-town Studies at UNBC and a national expert on thechallenges confronting rural communities. “From the mountain pinebeetle epidemic to changing local populations, non-metropolitancommunities are facing tough challenges, but having people skilled incommunity development will help these communities to realizeopportunities,” says Dr. Halseth. “This program will provide courses onissues around social geography, public administration, governance,First Nations, the environment and sustainability, the economy – areasthat converge whenever we talk of community development.”  

The degree will have three specializations: local public administration, Aboriginal community development, and planning.  

The program will be offered primarily in Prince George but the programmay be of particular interest to students from various rural andnorthern colleges who are interested in applying their credits towardsa degree focused on community development. “For example, the new majorwas designed to accommodate students who have completed a two-yeardiploma in ‘Aboriginal Community Economic Development’ or ‘FirstNations Public Administration’ at the Nicola Valley Institute ofTechnology in Merritt,” says Dr. Halseth. “To date, there really hasbeen nowhere for these students to go if they wanted to complete adegree focused on community development. The program is a perfect fitfor UNBC and for the region.”

For more detailed course information, click here to download a PDF file indicating program structure, required courses, etc..

Contact:
Dr. Greg Halseth, professor, Geography, UNBC – 250.960.5826
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC – 250.960.5622