Academic Programs Catalog

College of Social Science

Interdepartmental Graduate Specializations

Graduate Specialization in International Development

The Graduate Specialization in International Development is available as an elective 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:

  1. Provide an opportunity for graduate students to obtain a comprehensive and contemporary academic experience in the field of international development studies.
  2. Sensitize graduate students with an interest in development studies to their professional obligations and responsibilities.
  3. Develop an intellectual environment that will foster the growth of research and teaching in the area of development studies.

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

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 graduate student advisor for international development and must meet the requirements specified below:

The student must complete 12 credits as outlined below:

  1. Complete two of the Core Courses listed below. Only one of the courses may be at the 400 level. (6 credits)
  2. Complete at least two additional courses, of at least 3 credits each, which are relevant to international development either from the Core Courses listed below or from applicable courses selected in consultation with the international development advisor. (6 credits)

Core Courses

AFRE 817 Political Economy of Agricultural Trade Policy 3
AFRE 861 Agriculture in Economic Development 3
ANP 436 Globalization and Justice: Issues in Political and Legal Anthropology 3
CSUS 826 International Development Theory and Practice 3
CSUS 848 Community-Based Natural Resource Management in International Development 3
EAD 947 Comparative International Education Policy 3
EAD 972 International and Comparative Issues in Higher and Adult Education 3
EC 410 Issues in the Economics of Developing Countries 3
EC 840 International Trade: Theory and Commercial Policy 3
FOR 833 Human Dimensions of Forest Carbon Management 3
FOR 835 Forest Carbon Policy, Economics and Finance 3
GEO 816 The World System of Cities 3
GEO 872 Seminar in Human Geography 3
PHL 452 Ethics and Development 3
SOC 852 Migration and Social Change 3
TE 923 Comparative Perspectives on Curriculum, Instruction, and Teacher Education 3
WS 403 Women and Change in Developing Countries 3