CMT6710EN - Evaluating Approaches to Poverty Alleviation

Course description

Often in our lack of understanding or perceptions of what is best, we harm to those we hope to help. This course examines the concept of human dignity elevation and proposes societal actions that individuals can engage in to help alleviate poverty without bringing harm to those on the margins.

How this course benefits students

These courses will examine harmful charitable practices and potentially damaging impacts so as to better assist students in engaging in compassionate outreach that elevates human dignity within the culture the students finds themselves engaged.

Why this course is important

Unequal distribution of power and economic resources invite relationships that can lead toward dependency and human devaluing. While we as individuals of compassion desire to “help” our brothers and sisters in the marginalized communities we may minister in, we additionally desire to do so in ways that truly help without hurting those populations. This course extends the opportunity to analyze potentially harmful practices and encourages dignifying alternatives.

Credit hours
3 hours
Subject area
Community Transformation
Educational level
Master
Learning type
Instructional
Prerequisites
None
Upcoming terms
Pending
* Schedule subject to change. Please contact the Registrar's office with schedule questions.
Professor
Prof. Sublime Mabiala, Professor of International Development

How this course relates to missional core values

Biblically based

As the student reaches out to our global community with the message of Christ s/he will strive to meet them at their point of need and understanding in ways that elevate human dignity. Better understanding of healthy and unhealthy benevolent action by examining harmful charitable impacts and elevating alternatives leads to that end. “…‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31

Missionally driven

As the student goes out among individuals from different backgrounds and understandings this course helps s/he to better engage the local environment in ways that strengthen self-sufficiency and sustainability and minimize interaction that strengthens power divides and dependency.

Contextually informed

The content of this course directly strengthens the cultural competence and understanding of charitable engagement impacts. Therefore assisting students to better participate and work with increase knowledge and effectiveness in cross-cultural situations.

Interculturally focused

As the course unpacks harmful charitable practices it reveals the influences of their damaging impacts on a population and society and encourages interaction that supports elevating human dignity and proposes societal actions that individuals can engage in to help alleviate poverty without bringing harm to recipients of the intended charitable generosities.

Practically minded

This course offers a practical examination of the influences of unhealthy charitable practice. With this knowledge an individual can potentially engage with an increased level of understanding as to how to better support benevolent action that leads toward self-sufficiency and sustainability, while minimizing interaction that strengthens power divides and dependency.

Experientially transformed

Students will have the opportunity to examine their own real world situations to research, identify and report evidence and impact of various development theories and practices that is demonstrated in their own context.