The Graduate Specialization in International Development are available as electives for students who are enrolled in master’s and doctoral degree programs at Michigan State University. The College of Social Science administers the specialization. The graduate academic advisor for international development, located in the college, coordinates the specialization on behalf of the Dean.
The Specialization in International Development is designed to:
- Provide an opportunity for graduate students to obtain a comprehensive and contemporary academic experience in the field of international development studies.
- Sensitize graduate students with an interest in development studies to their professional obligations and responsibilities.
- Develop an intellectual environment that will foster the growth of research and teaching in the area of development studies.
The graduate academic advisor for international development in the College of Social Science is responsible for establishing a guidance committee for the specialization for each student. With the approval of the graduate academic advisor for international development in the College of Social Science, a guidance committee that has responsibility for overseeing a student’s master’s or doctoral degree program will normally oversee the student’s program of study for the specialization. At least one member of the committee must be a member of the international development core faculty who will serve as the student’s academic advisor for the specialization.
Students who elect the specialization may be required to study the foreign language most relevant to their educational and career objectives, to acquire practical experience in development work, and to complete courses in addition to the courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the specialization.
Although separate graduate specializations in international development have been established for master’s and doctoral students, a given student may receive certification of completion of either the specialization for master’s students or the specialization for doctoral students, but not for both of the specializations.
With the approval of the department or school and college that administer the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the specialization may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the degree.
Requirements for the Graduate Specialization in International Development
The student must complete a concentration within international development such as gender and health, gender and work, rural development, environment and development, development administration, nongovernmental organizations in development, or politics of development. Any course that was used to satisfy the requirements for the undergraduate Specialization in International Development may not be used to satisfy the requirements for the Graduate Specialization in International Development. The student’s program of study must be approved by the student’s guidance committee for the specialization and must meet the requirements specified below:
Master’s Student: The student must complete 12 credits as outlined below. At least half of the credits must come from outside the student's
major.
- Complete two of the Core Courses listed below. Only one of the courses may be at the 400 level. (6)
- Complete at least two additional courses, of at least 3 credits each, which are relevant to the student’s concentration within international development (6)
Doctoral Student: The student must complete 18 credits as outlined below:
- Complete two of the Core Courses listed below. Only one of the courses
may be at the 400 level (6) - Complete at least four additional courses, of at least 3 credits each, which are relevant to the student’s concentration within international development (12)
- Pass a written comprehensive examination on the student’s concentration within international development. With the approval of the department or school and college that administer the student’s degree program, this examination may be incorporated into the comprehensive examinations that are required for the degree.
Core Courses:
AEC 861 Agriculture in Economic Development (3)
ANP 867 Archaeological Theory (3)
EC 410 Issues in the Economics of Developing Countries (3)
GEO 454 Spatial Aspects of Regional Development (3)
PLS 853 Political Economy of Development Policy (3)
RD 826 International Development and Sustainability (3)
SOC 832 International Inequality and Development (3)
WS 403 Women and Change in Developing Countries (3)
Upon completion of the requirements for the Graduate Specialization in International Development, the student should contact the graduate academic advisor for international development in the College of Social Science and request certification for the completion of the specialization. After the certification is approved by the Dean of the College of Social Science, the Office of the Registrar will enter on the student’s academic record the name of the specialization and the date that it was completed. This certification will appear on the student’s transcript.