International Development Minor

The undergraduate minor in International Development (IDEV) will provide students with the training and background needed to understand the challenges, dimensions, nuances, and processes of development. The minor aims to expose students to a broad, multidisciplinary range of courses and requisite analytical tools needed to identify and assess the determinants and effects of international development. Throughout the pursuit of the IDEV minor, students will learn to understand development as a principle of self-determination that supports the growth and autonomy of all communities, both domestic and abroad.

Students will acquire analytical tools and substantive expertise through a foundational course on international development, while specializing in various development topics through additional electives.

Electives can be drawn from courses within the School of Foreign Service and the university at large that cover a range of topics within the field of international development, from the changing landscape of foreign aid, to problems of fragile states and state-building, to the global challenges of infectious diseases and climate change. The multi-disciplinary tools and the substantive knowledge gained through the minor will serve students who pursue graduate work or careers in international development, whether in bilateral or multilateral aid organizations, global philanthropy, international or “frontline” NGOs, or the private sector.

Please note: The International Development minor is an undergraduate minor that can only be earned by undergraduate students enrolled at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.

Undergraduate students with questions about the International Development minor should reach out to the SFS Undergraduate Deans email address at bsfsdeans@georgetown.edu. 

Learning Goals

As the study of international development encompasses a number of sub-fields and disciplines, the certificate will prepare students to:

  • Assess and debate the world’s most critical developmental challenges
  • Recognize the economic, political, and social dimensions of global and domestic poverty and prosperity
  • Understand, interpret, and apply quantitative methodologies to the study of development
  • Analyze and critique development issues in clear written and oral presentations
  • Develop substantive and theoretical expertise necessary to understand, interpret, and explain the determinants and effects of developmental processes
  • Develop the substantive and analytical expertise necessary to anticipate new challenges and opportunities in international development
  • Apply key concepts and relevant methodologies in original research in international development

Curriculum

  • INAF 252: Introduction to Economic & Political Development
  • 5 (five) electives from the approved IDEV courses list that will support your International Development learning goals

At most 2 (two) courses can be double-counted between the University/School Core and the IDEV Minor. No courses may double-count between a major and the IDEV minor.

Seniors (Class of 2022) currently enrolled in the minor will be grandfathered in to the old minor requirements. Please reach out to bsfsdeans@georgetown.edu if you have any questions.

Please Note: Courses taken to fulfill an SFS Major requirement may not double count for a minor – i.e., if you are required to take INAF 320 in order to complete a requirement for your IPOL major, that course may not double-count towards your IDEV minor elective course requirement. Please be sure to review your Major course requirements carefully to determine what courses may or may not fit your needs. If you have any questions, please reach out to your curricular advising dean.

Elective Petitioning

If you are currently enrolled in the IDEV minor (i.e., have already successfully completed your application process and have been enrolled for at least 1 semester), and you would like to pursue an elective in support of your IDEV minor that is not included on the linked list of IDEV elective courses, you may petition to have a course count towards your minor.

To do so, please fill out and submit the IDEV Minor Elective Petition Form.

How to Apply to the IDEV Minor

Undergraduate students in the School of Foreign Service who are interested in pursuing the IDEV minor should fill out and submit the International Development Minor Declaration application form in order to enroll in the minor. Further instructions are included within the application form.

In order to finalize your participation in the IDEV Minor, all students are expected to meet with either Dean Hellman or Vice Dean Giordano to discuss the student’s interest in the minor, potential course enrollments to fulfill elective requirements, as well as areas of interest pertaining to international development. The IDEV minor administrator will reach out to the student to coordinate the meeting following application submission.

Once your application has been approved, you will be notified via email. At that time, the IDEV administrator will reach out to your curricular advising Dean to ensure that your Degree Audit is updated to reflect the IDEV minor.

Documents & Forms