Requirements for Major in Community Development
The core and distribution requirements for a major in community development are those listed for baccalaureate degrees, with the exception that a course in finance, psychology or sociology is required to fulfill the social science distribution requirement.
The department takes an interdisciplinary approach that combines training in the liberal arts, in development theory and practice, and in sector-specific development strategies. The faculty teaching in the major have expertise in Adult Education, Bible and Missions, Urban or Rural Development, Economics, History, Sociology, and in various sectors pertaining to development work (e.g. health, education, environment).
Requirements for Major in Community Development with a Concentration in Economic Development
Major and Supporting Course Requirements
One of the following:
BUS 250. Principles of Management or
BUS 330. Entrepreneurship, or
BUS 333. Small Business Management, or
ECO 301. Intermediate Macroeconomics or
ECO 443. U.S. Microeconomic Development Methods,* or
*Students in Domestic Economic Development may not take ECO 443. as one of these and students in International Economic Development may not take ECO 448. as one of these.
Economic Development Tracks
All students in the Economic Development concentration must choose either the domestic or international tracks below.
Domestic Economic Development Track
One of the following:
International Economic Development Track
HIS 322. History of Modern China and Japan, or
HIS 327. History of South Africa, or
HIS 332. Modern Middle East, or
HIS 372. Modern Africa, or
MIS 302. World Religion, or
Requirements for Major in Community Development with a Concentration in Child and Family Development
The core and distribution requirements for a major in community development are those listed for baccalaureate degrees, with the exception that a course in finance, psychology or sociology is required to fulfill the social science distribution requirement.
Major and Supporting Course Requirements
One of the following:
PSY 347/SOC 347. Relational Counseling, or
Child and Family Development Tracks
All students in the Child and Family concentration must choose either the domestic or international tracks below.
Domestic Child and Family Development TrackOne of the following:
HIS 398. North American Indians & American History, or
SOC 229. Cultural Anthropology, or
International Child and Family Development Track
One of the following:
HIS 322. History of Modern China and Japan, or
HIS 327. History of South Africa, or
HIS 332. Modern Middle East, or
HIS 372. Modern Africa, or
MIS 302. World Religion, or
Research Internships Process
All community development students are required to complete a research internship in the concentration they have chosen. This internship normally takes place after the student’s junior year, during the summer and/or the first semester of the senior year. Department faculty work with students and partner organizations in the field to design, support, and evaluate these research internships, some of which take place in cooperation with the Chalmers Center for Economic Development, a research and educational center housed at the College. Internships may be taken for 3-6 credits for a 12-week internship and 3-12 credits for a 24-week internship, but only three credits may be used towards meeting the requirements for the major, any additional credits serving as electives towards graduation.
CDV students are required to apply for and be accepted into the internship class (CDV 480-481) at least 12 months before the internship begins. This application will include recommendations from the Priesthill Center, Student Development, faculty, and pastor regarding students’ behavioral, emotional, spiritual, social, academic, and physical readiness for an intensive cross-cultural internship. Students will also be reassessed immediately prior to the internship. Additionally, the department can determine the student is not suitable for the internship at any time in this process. Students should be aware that some internship hosts require minimum institutional GPAs of 2.75.
Requirements for Minor in Community Development


