The International Development minor is for undergraduate students interested in deepening their knowledge on sustainable development topics such as coastal, marine, and terrestrial systems, economic development, human well-being, public health, education, gender, energy, biodiversity, climate change and resilience, and justice from local to global perspectives. This minor is part of the Marine Affairs department, and thus ocean and coastal issues are important components of the program. However, students from all majors are welcome to participate in the URI minor in International Development or take individual courses.
Students interested in pursuing careers in and outside the US in the broad field of international development including governmental and non-governmental organizations, international agencies, or further their studies of international affairs and global problems are especially encouraged to pursue this minor.
Courses
Students choosing this minor must complete 18 credits, with a maximum of six credits at the 100 or 200 level. Students must complete the following:
MAF 350 / NRS 300 Introduction to Global Issues in Sustainable Development (three credits): Role of the United States in development assistance to foreign nations. Topics include: foreign aid, sustainable development, transfer of technology, international career opportunities and requirements.
MAF 450 (NRS 487) International Development in Practice (three to six credits): Supervised work, research experience or study abroad related to international development. (Practicum). Pre: MAF 350 or NRS 300 and permission of instructor. Not for Graduate credit. S/U only.
Language or culture (6 to 9 credits), to be met by the completion of at least six language credits through the intermediate level (103 or 104) or placement in the conversation and composition level (205 or 206) and completion of at least six credits in the same language or culture cluster (placement for course work is determined by the Educational Testing Service exam as administered by the University’s Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literature in the following languages: French, Spanish, German, and Russian; the University also offers Portuguese and selected other languages that, with permission, could satisfy the requirement; six credits are allowed in the general education requirements for language and culture). This can be waived for a student who has grown up in a multilingual household, or who has lived and studied at least three years or more in a foreign country including grades 1-12 (or equivalent). For those students, these six credits can be replaced with electives;
3-6 credits of electives approved by the International Development Minor program.
MAF496 International Development Seminar (3 credits): Seminar in sustainable international development for advanced-level students interested in international development. (Seminar).
For more information, contact Dr. Lisa Hiwasaki at (401) 874-2854 or hiwasaki@uri.edu.