Challenging Traditional Boundaries in a Community Studies Course

Abstract

The University of South Florida is searching for ways to redefine itself by challenging the traditional boundaries between research and teaching. With this in mind, we created a community studies course that confronts many of the dichotomies found in the university. Through the study of a neighborhood undergoing dramatic change, we implemented nontraditional teaching methods to create a dynamic course that affected the way students understand the city in which they live and also enhanced their intellectual development.