Department Of Social Development Uct, We are thrilled to learn of your interest in our programmes. If you are looking for an educational experience that will be both fulfilling and exciting, and if you are committed to addressing issues that will affect human suffering and oppression, we’re confident the UCT Department of Social Development is the place for you.
We hope that this website will provide you with the information you need to select your academic programmes. To start your journey, navigate through the tabs along the top of the page. Should you need additional information, come and visit us on upper campus!
The Department of Social Development is housed on the 5th floor in the Leslie Social Sciences Building, University Avenue, Upper Campus. For more information, contact us on +27 21 650-3483 /93 or via fax +27 650 5203
What is Social Development?
Social Development is an exciting and relevant major for students interested in understanding and addressing situations and issues that impact on the development of human well-being in countries and regions. Students will study an interesting combination of courses which will enable them to understand processes at micro community and macro policy levels that create enabling environments for inclusive development.
Courses for this major include: professional interaction, community connections, the political economy of the social service professions, community and youth development and contemporary social issues.
Social Development focuses on the social and economic conditions that enable people to improve their overall quality of life. People with their diverse needs, customs, values and knowledge systems are considered both the ends and the means of development. Social development is a planned process and aims to promote the well-being of the whole population in conjunction with a dynamic process of fair and inclusive economic development. A human rights approach underpins Social Development and it emphasises community development and developmental social services.