Academic Programs Catalog

College of Communication Arts and Sciences

Department of Media and Information

Undergraduate Programs
Minor in Information and Communication Technology and Development

The Minor in Information and Communication Technology and Development focuses on the role of information and communication technology in fostering economic, social, and environmental change in developing countries. Students will gain a theoretical and practical background in the challenges and opportunities for deploying information and communication technology infrastructure The program culminates in a field-based experience during which students implement an innovative project in a developing country as part of a study abroad program or execute a project in an underprivileged rural or urban region of the United States.

The Minor in Information and Communication Technology and Development is administered by the Department of Media and Information and is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University.

The minor is open to sophomores, juniors, or seniors in good academic standing.

Students who are interested in the minor must submit an application essay describing their interest in the minor and any applicable prior course work or work experience. Applications must be submitted by the second week of the fall or spring semester. Students accepted into the program may begin in either the following fall or spring semester.

With the approval of the department or school and college that administers the student’s degree program, courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree. The student’s program of study must be approved by the student’s academic advisor for the minor.

Requirements for the Minor in Information and Communication Technology and Development

Students must complete a minimum of 15 credits selected from the following:
 

1. Two of the following courses (6 credits):
CSE 422 Computer Networks 3
CSE 425 Introduction to Computer Security 3
CSE 429 Interdisciplinary Topics in CyberSecurity 3
CSE 471 Media Processing and Multimedia Computing 3
ECE 404 Radio Frequency Electronic Circuits 4
ECE 442 Introduction to Communication Networks 3
ECE 457 Communication Systems 3
ECE 458 Communication Systems Laboratory 1
MI 201 Introduction to Media and Information Technologies and Industries 3
MI 361 IT Network Management and Security 3
MI 349 Web Design and Development 3
MI 362 Web Administration 3
MI 449 Advanced Web Development and Database Management 3
MI 462 Social Media and Social Computing 3
MI 472 Digital Business Commerce 3
Students may not select both Computer Science and Engineering 422 and Electrical and Computer Engineering 442 as these are equivalent courses.
2. One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
ANP 325 Anthropology of the Environment and Development 3
ANP 410 Anthropology of Latin America 3
ANP 414 Anthropology of South Asia 3
ANP 415 China: Culture and Society 3
ANP 416 Anthropology of Southern Africa 3
ANP 431 Gender, Environment, and Development 3
COM 391 Topics in Verbal, Intercultural, or Gender Communication 4
COM 399 Special Topics in Communication 3
EC 310 Economics of Developing Countries 3
EC 412 Economic Analysis of Latin America (W) 3
EC 413 Economic Analysis of Asia (W) 3
EC 414 Economic Analysis of Sub-Saharan Africa (W) 3
GEO 335 Geography of Latin America 3
GEO 337 Geography of Asia-Pacific 3
GEO 338 Geography of Africa 3
ISS 315 Global Diversity and Interdependence (I) 4
ISS 330A Africa: Social Science Perspectives (I) 4
ISS 330B Asia: Social Science Perspectives (I) 4
ISS 330C Latin America: Social Science Perspectives (I) 4
MC 320 Politics, Society, and Economy in the Third World 4
SOC 362 Developing Societies 3
Students selecting Communication 391 or 399 to fulfill this requirement must enroll in a section on intercultural or international communication.
3. The following courses (6 credits):
MI 480 Information and Communication Technologies and Development 3
MI 488 Information and Communication Technology Development Project (W) 3
Students should meet with the advisor for the minor to determine which of the region-specific sections will most effectively prepare them for field work.