Research & Development
Economic Benefits
What it is
The Graduate Certificate in
International Research allows graduate
students already working towards a
graduate degree to attain special
recognition for work in international
development. The specialization provides
guidance in the choice of electives,
course alternatives within the
discipline, and thesis topics. It is
designed to broaden students' academic
experience so as to enable them to
better face international challenges.
Areas of Specialization
International Development is a process
of improving the lives of people in
developing countries. It has three
components: education and training,
collaborative research, and technical
assistance. Development work is
multidisciplinary in nature, often
involving members of several disciplines
working together to define a common
goal. No single discipline can provide a
thorough understanding of the
development process. The Graduate
Certificate in International Research
encourages a multidisciplinary approach
on the part of the student.
Admission Requirements
You must register no later than the last day to add courses of your last
semester. Additionally, you must:
- be accepted as a graduate student in an established academic department
- have at least one faculty member with experience in international development on your graduate committee
- have your application signed by your major professor
- submit your program of study
Application Process
1. Fill out the Graduate Certificate
application form from the Graduate School:
http://www.grads.vt.edu/forms/certificate_application_form.pdf
Print this out, fill it out, then turn it in to the Graduate School in Sandy
Hall (campus mailstop 0325).
2. Fill out the OIRED form as well (click
here for the form).
Print this out, fill it out, and send it to Miriam Rich at OIRED (campus
mailstop 0334).
Certificate Requirements
The student must choose at least three electives from the approved list, one
course outside the student's college and another outside the student's
department to ensure broader training. Other courses not in the approved list or
independent study courses may be accepted, subject to the approval of the
Advisory Committee. A total of nine credit hours is needed to complete the
coursework requirements. The
student’s
thesis, dissertation, or major paper must be on a topic related to international
development. The student must produce evidence of completion of his or her
degree program before the Certificate can be issued.
Those wishing to pursue this certificate must register with the Office of
International Research, Education, and Development (OIRED) and meet the
Director. Upon successful completion of the program, the Graduate School issues
a certificate. The certificate also appears on your transcript.
Expand your career options
The Graduate Certificate in International Research is helpful not only in
introducing you to the world of international development, but also in expanding
your career opportunities. Often, international research provides that extra
edge that employers seek.
Advisory Committee
- S. K. De Datta, Associate Provost for International Affairs, Director, Office of International Research, Education, & Development, and Chairperson of the Advisory Committee
- John Browder, College of Architecture and Urban Studies
- Karen DePauw, Graduate School
- Antonio Fernandez, Foreign Languages, College of Arts & Sciences
- Larry Grossman, Geography, College of Arts & Sciences
- A.L. (Tom) Hammett, Wood Science & Forest Products, College of Natural Resources
- Brian Kleiner, Industrial & Systems Engineering, College of Engineering
- George Norton, Agricultural & Applied Economics, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
- Nammalwar Sriranganathan, Biomedical Sciences & Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
- Mary Marchant, Academic Programs, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
- Rodney Thompson, Finance, Insurance & Business Law, College of Business
- Josiah Tlou, Department of Teaching & Learning, College of Human Resources & Education
- Dennis Yang, College of Science
Approved Courses
- College of Liberal Arts & Human Sciences
- HIST 5534: Imperialism, Nationalism, and Decolonization
- HIST 5914: Comparative Race and Slavery: Post-Emancipation Societies
- HIST 5924: World Systems Theory and History
- HIST/FLL 5984:Methods of Area Studies
- SOC 4514: Rural Sociology
- SOC/GEOG 5654: The Global Division of Labor
- SOC 5504: Population Processes and Policies
- PSCI 5434: Politics of Developing Areas
- NERM 5304: Family Economics
- HNFE 5634: Family Food Behavior
- EDCI 6034: Education and Anthropology
- EDCI 6534: Ethnographic Methods in Education Research
- EDAE 5604: Seminar - Comperative Education: International School Reform
- EDAE 6914: Problems in Education Seminar: International Adult Education
- EDCT 5414: Contemporary Problems and Issues in Technology Education
- EDCT 6694: Vocational and Technical Education for Developing Countries
- *EDCT 5984: Special Study
- SPAN 5234: Spanish - American Institutions and Concepts
- *FR 5974: Independent Study
- *FR 5984: Special Study
- *SPAN 5974: Independent Study
- *SPAN 5984: Special Study
- *SPAN 4334: Special Topics in Hispanic Life, Literature, and Language
- STS 6664: Advanced Topics in Science & Technology Policy
- College of Science
- ECON 4124: Growth and Development
- ECON 6054: Economic Development
- College of Architecture & Urban Studies
- BC 5044: International Construction Practices
- UAP 4184: Community Involvement
- UAP 4624: Comparative Urban Policy
- UAP/SOC/GEOG 4764: International Development Policy and Planning
- UAP 4214/5984: Women, Environment and Development in a Global Perspective
- UAP 5274: Comparative Social Movements
- UAP 5404: Alternative Development Strategies for Urban and Regional Systems in the Third World
- UAP 5394: Nature, Society, and the Global Economy: Interdisciplinary Perspectives
- UAP/SOC 5524: Critical Theories and Controversies about Globalization
- UAP 5764: International Development Project Studio
- UAP 5974: Independent Study
- UAP 5364: NGOs in International Development
- GIA/GEOG/UAP 5264: Global Change and Local Impacts
- NECT 6614: INternational Production and Trade of Textiles and Apparel
- College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
- BSE 4394: Water Supply and Sanitation in Developing Countries
- AAEC 4304: Environment and Sustainable Development Economics
- AAEC 5154: International Agricultural Development and Trade
- AAEC 5244: Rural Development
- *AAEC 5974: Independent Study
- CSES 4124: Soil Survey/Taxonomy
- CSES 4544: Forage Crop Ecology
- ENT (PPWS) 4264: Pesticide Usage
- ALS/NR/UAP 4404: Approaches to International Development
- *ALS 5974: Independent Study
- College of Business
- FIN 5184: International Finance
- MGT 5784: International Management
- MKTG 5704: International Marketing Strategies
- MSCI 5494: Global Operations and Information Technology
- FIN 5984: Study Abroad
- MKT 5954: Study Abroad
- MGT 5954: Study Abroad
- MSCI 5954: Study Abroad
- College of Engineering
- ECE 4364: Alternative Energy Systems
- ISE 4304: Global Issues in Industrial Management
- CEE 4114: Fundamentals of Public Health Engineering
- College of Natural Resources
- FOR/CSES 4334: Principles and Practices of Agroforestry Systems
- FOR/WOOD 5974: Independent Study (World Forestry)
- NR/ALS 4404: Approaches to International Development
- NR 5114: Global Issues in Natural Resources
- CSES/NR 4964 and NR 5964: Global Seminar
- GEOG 4204: Geography of Resources
- GEOG 5204: Geography of Third World Development
- GEOG 5424: Topics in Political Geography