Graduate Certificate in International Research

 

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/index.html
Under "Enrollment", click on "Application - Certificate" to open a pdf file. 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: Race and Slavery in Comparative Perspective
  • SOC 4514: Rural Sociology
  • SOC/GEOG 5654: The Global Division of Labor
  • SOC 5504: Population Processes and Policies
  • PSCI 5434: Politics of Developing Areas
  • AHRM 5304: Family Economics
  • AHRM 6214: International Production and Trade of Textiles and Apparel
  • HNFE 5634: Family Food Behavior
  • EDCI 6034: Education and Anthropology
  • *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  
  • PSCI/GEOG/UAP 5264: Global Change and Local Impacts  
    
    
• College of Science
  • ECON 4124: Growth and Development
  • ECON 6054: Development Economics
    
     
• College of Architecture & Urban Studies
  • UAP 4184: Community Involvement
  • UAP/SOC/GEOG 4764: International Development Policy and Planning
  • UAP/WS 4214: Women, Environment and Development in a Global Perspective
  • UAP 5274: Comparative Social Movements
  • UAP 5404: Strategies for Urban Development in the Third World
  • UAP 5394: Nature, Society, and the Global Economy: Interdisciplinary Perspectives
  • UAP/SOC 5524: International Development
  • UAP 5764: International Development Studio
  • UAP 5364: NGOs in International Development
  
   
• College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
   
  • AAEC 4304: Environment and Sustainable Development Economics
  • AAEC 5154: International Agricultural Development and Trade
  • AAEC 5244: Rural Development
  • CSES 4124: Soil Survey and Taxonomy
  • CSES 4544: Forage Crop Ecology
  • ENT/PPWS 4264: Pesticide Usage
  • ALS/GEOG/UAP 4404: Approaches to International Development
  
   
• College of Business
   
  • FIN 5184: Currencies and Global Finance
  • MGT 5784: International Management
  • MKTG 5704: International Marketing Strategy
  • BIT 5494: International Operation and Information Technology
    
     
• College of Engineering
   
  • ECE 4364: Alternative Energy Systems
  • BSE 4394: Water Supply and Sanitation in Developing Countries
  • ISE 4304: Global Issues in Industrial Management
    
     
• College of Natural Resources
   
  • FOR/CSES 4334: Principles and Practices of Agroforestry
  • NR 5114: Global Issues in Natural Resources
  • GEOG 4204: Geography of Resources
  • GEOG 5204: Geography of Third World Development  
  • GEOG 5424: Topics in Political Geography
     

*Topic must be relevant to international development and is subject to approval by the Certificate Advisory Committee.

 

Top 

• Diversity
• Contact OIRED

Office of International Research, Education & Development
The International Affaires Offices (IAO), 526, Prices Fork Road (0378)
Phone: (540) 231-6338 | Fax: (540) 231-2439