Undergraduate Minor

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.