Weeklong courses offer college credit for CAFNR students
By Chris Matthews, 12/05/05

Students wishing to add credit hours to their winter semester now have the option of taking classes over spring break. The Community Development Program offers a series of rural sociology courses for college credit through intensive five-day sessions in St. Louis.

Dr. Johanna Reed Adams, a community leadership state extension specialist at MU, said the classes provide community development training for individuals who are interested in working in areas like rural development or federal government. The classes can be used for major requirements or CAFNR electives.

Adams describes community development as a process in which a community becomes engaged in helping its future. She said a community is defined as an interest or issue that people want to work on. It could be a community of people working on local government issues or a group of people dedicated to cleaning up litter from local walking trails.

Classes help students learn to understand how a community works and gives them the tools to operate within a community. Adams said classes are practical to students and will help them assimilate to their community, wherever they end up living after graduation.

Courses seem to be practical to students as indicated by a recent survey. Ninety-five percent of respondents said they used what they learned in the classes and many participants said skills learned in class contributed to positive community impacts.

There are three different courses offered to students throughout the academic year. Rural Sociology 4341 and 4343 are offered during the fall. Rural Sociology 4341 and 4342 are offered during the winter. Rural Sociology 4341 is a foundation course and must be taken before the other two classes are taken. All three classes can also be taken for graduate credit as well.

For students who wish to take one of the courses in the fall, they would have to take a week off from their studies. Students taking winter courses will not miss regularly scheduled classes because the courses are held over spring break. The next scheduled courses are to be held March 27-31, 2006, at the Mercy Center retreat in St. Louis. Next fall and winter, courses will be held at the Elms resort in Excelsior Springs, Mo. Courses are held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Four books are mandatory for each course and two papers must be written in order to receive a grade. Adams said 75 percent of the course grade is based on the two papers and 25 percent of the grade is base on class participation.

For students wishing to load up on classes during the semester, this is a good way to gain three extra credits. Class fees are the same as other class at MU except that students must pay for lodging and meals if they are not commuting. Lodging is double-occupancy and costs $350, meals included.

Stephen Jeanetta, a state extension specialist, is the program coordinator for the classes and is also one of the teachers. For further information on how to register for classes, go to the community development web site at www.ssu.missouri.edu/commdev/cda/cda.htm or contact Jeanetta at (573) 882-8393.

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