The Specialization in International Development, which is administered by the College of Social Science, is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor's degree programs at Michigan State University. The specialization should be attractive to students who plan careers with an international orientation and who, therefore, wish to add a strong international dimension to their disciplinary majors. With the approval of the department 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 bachelor's degree.
The Specialization in International Development is designed for students who wish to increase their understanding of the processes of continuity and change in various regions of the world, particularly Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. The specialization provides an opportunity for students to learn how the structure of the contemporary world system influences international relations and national development, as well as how culture shapes the process of national development in one of the major world regions. Multidisciplinary in theory and practice, the specialization is based on the methodologies, theories, and literatures of the social sciences and liberal arts and involves faculty from the social sciences, arts, languages, and applied professional fields.
The academic advisor for international development in the College of Social Science assists the student in planning a program of study that is tailored to the student's interests, disciplinary major, and career objectives. The student's program of study for the specialization must be approved in advance and in writing by the advisor for international development.
Requirements for the Specialization in International Development
The student must meet the requirements specified below:
| 1. | Complete a minimum of 18 credits in courses at the 200 level or above excluding any credits in courses that are used to satisfy the Foreign Language Proficiency requirement referenced in item 2. below. Not more than 4 of the 18 credits may be in 200–level courses. | ||||||
| 2. | Foreign Language Proficiency: Demonstrate proficiency in a modern foreign language equivalent to four semesters of study at the university level. The results of the Michigan State University foreign language placement test will be considered in determining whether or not the student has fulfilled this requirement. The student is encouraged to complete a fifth semester of study in the language that focuses on the culture, history, and literature of a developing region of the world. | ||||||
| 3. | Conceptual/Descriptive Courses: Complete at least one of the following courses (3 or 4 credits): | ||||||
| ANP | 322 | Peasants and Social Change in the Developing World | 3 | ||||
| ANP | 470 | Food, Hunger, and Society | 3 | ||||
| EC | 410 | Principles of Economic Development | 3 | ||||
| EEP | 260 | World Food, Population and Poverty | 3 | ||||
| ISS | 315 | Global Diversity and Interdependence (I) | 4 | ||||
| MC | 320 | Politics, Society and Economy in the Third World | 4 | ||||
| PLS | 344 | Politics in the Third World | 3 | ||||
| SOC | 362 | Developing Societies | 3 | ||||
| 4. | Applied Courses: Complete at least one of the following courses that is a field other than the student's major (2 or 3 credits): | ||||||
| ANP | 370 | Culture, Health, and Illness | 3 | ||||
| ANR | 481 | Agricultural Research Systems in Developing Countries | 2 | ||||
| ANS | 480 | Animal Systems in International Development | 3 | ||||
| EC | 411 | Issues in Economic Development | 3 | ||||
| FOR | 450 | Forestry in International Development | 3 | ||||
| FSM | 462 | Agricultural Development in Less Developed Countries | 3 | ||||
| GEO | 435 | Geography of Health and Disease | 3 | ||||
| GEO | 445 | Environment and Development Policy | 3 | ||||
| PLS | 342 | Comparative Political Economy | 3 | ||||
| SOC | 452 | Environment and Society | 3 | ||||
| UP | 408 | Comparative Urban Development Planning | 3 | ||||
| WS | 403 | Women and Change in Developing Countries | 3 | ||||
| 5. | International Area Courses: Complete at least one course in any one of the following four geographic areas (3 or 4 credits): | ||||||
| Africa and the Middle East | |||||||
| ANP | 416 | Anthropology of Southern Africa | 3 | ||||
| ANP | 417 | Anthropology of East Africa | 3 | ||||
| EC | 414 | Economic Analysis of Sub–Saharan Africa | 3 | ||||
| GEO | 338 | Geography of Africa | 3 | ||||
| HST | 208 | The African Experience | 4 | ||||
| HST | 361 | African History since 1800 | 3 | ||||
| HST | 364 | Southern Africa since 1800 | 3 | ||||
| HST | 373 | The Middle East 1250–1914 | 3 | ||||
| HST | 484 | Seminar in African History (W) | 3 | ||||
| ISS | 330A | Africa: Social Science Perspectives (I) | 4 | ||||
| MC | 324A | Regional Politics, Cooperation, and Conflict in the Middle East | 4 | ||||
| MC | 324B | Regional Politics, Cooperation, and Conflict in Sub–Saharan Africa | 4 | ||||
| PLS | 351 | African Politics | 3 | ||||
| Asia | |||||||
| ANP | 413 | Cultures of Southeast Asia | 3 | ||||
| ANP | 414 | Anthropology of South Asia | 3 | ||||
| ANP | 415 | China: Culture and Society | 3 | ||||
| EC | 413 | Economic Analysis of Asia | 3 | ||||
| GEO | 337 | Geography of East Asia | 3 | ||||
| HST | 368 | China since 1900 | 3 | ||||
| HST | 485 | Seminar in Asian History (W) | 3 | ||||
| ISS | 330B | Asia: Social Science Perspectives | 4 | ||||
| MC | 324D | Regional Politics, Cooperation and Conflict in Asia | 4 | ||||
| PLS | 354 | Politics of Asia | 3 | ||||
| Eastern Europe | |||||||
| EC | 406 | Economic Analysis of the Soviet Union and Transition Economy | 3 | ||||
| HST | 342 | Eastern Europe | 3 | ||||
| HST | 344 | Russia and the Twentieth Century | 3 | ||||
| Latin America and the Caribbean | |||||||
| ANP | 410 | Revolution and Social Change in Latin America | 3 | ||||
| EC | 412 | Economic Analysis of Latin America | 3 | ||||
| GEO | 335 | Geography of Latin America | 3 | ||||
| HST | 381 | Latin America since 1820 | 3 | ||||
| HST | 382 | History of Brazil since 1822 | 3 | ||||
| HST | 384 | History of Mexico since 1810 | 3 | ||||
| HST | 385 | Modern Spanish Central and South America | 3 | ||||
| HST | 486 | Seminar in Latin American History (W) | 3 | ||||
| ISS | 330C | Latin America: Social Science Perspectives (I) | 4 | ||||
| MC | 324C | Regional Politics, Cooperation, and Conflict | 4 | ||||
| in Latin America and the Caribbean | |||||||
| 6. | Field Experience, Internship, Thesis, or Independent Study | ||||||
| (3 or 4 credits): Complete one of the following three options: | |||||||
| a. | An overseas field experience or internship in one of the four geographic areas listed in item 5. above. | ||||||
| b. | A domestic internship that involves working on local development issues. | ||||||
| c. | A thesis or independent study under the direction of a faculty member. | ||||||
| 7. | Senior–level Seminar or Capstone Course (3 or 4 credits). | ||||||
| Complete one course with significant international development content. | |||||||
Only one of the following four courses may be used to satisfy the requirements for the international development specialization: Integrative Studies in Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences 315, 330A, 330B, or 330C. That course may also be used to satisfy University requirements.
Upon completion of the requirements for the Specialization in International Development as specified by the undergraduate advisor for international development, the student should contact the Dean of 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.