Overview

The International Development Concentration seeks to equip students to work for holistic community development across cultures.

Courses Available

*MD 524 Advocacy for Social Justice. This course explores what it means for every Christian to observe God’s call to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.’ Participants will explore various biblical, theological and historical traditions of social justice.  We will investigate detailed examples of injustice and models of advocacy, both in the U.S.A. and internationally. Myers, Finkler, Taylor

*MD 525 Poverty and Transformational Development.This course explores the challenges of empowering the poor in a world marked by marginalization, disempowerment, abuse and injustice.  Topics to be covered include worldview issues that influence our understanding of social development; a biblical framework for transformational development; understanding poverty biblically; overview of contemporary development theory; Catholic social thinking of development; rights-based development and livelihood/food security; the development practitioner; and Christian witness through transformational development. Poverty and responses to it are explored from a number of perspectives, including the goals of transformational development. Myers

**MD528 Development Tools and Practice.  This course introduces students to the tools and practices used in doing transformational development programming.  Built around an emphasis on program design, monitoring and evaluation, the course introduces students to the two main tools of participatory action research used by development practitioners: Participatory Learning and Action and Appreciative Inquiry.  In addition, the course will include basic introductions to critical technical sectors such as micro-enterprise development and sustainable agriculture.  The class will also address the characteristics, character and competencies of holistic development practitioners. Myers

**MD540, Poverty, Development and Theology. This course integrates the theory and practice of development among the poor with theological reflection on the presence and activity of God in culture and society. Special focus on justice and human rights, human and social transformation, globalization, advocacy and public policy and human flourishing in the arts and culture.

**MD 542 Globalization and Mission. Examines the globalization phenomenon and its wide-ranging implications for the contemporary church.  GLBL. Hanciles

**MD 546 Refugees, Conflicts, and Humanitarian Responses. This course explores the plight of refugees and internally displaced people fleeing the results of conflict and natural disasters. The changing and highly complex nature of the humanitarian response is explored, seeking to identify the role and contributions of Christian agencies and churches. Myers*

*MD 547 Globalization and the Poor. This course explores globalization as a deeply rooted historical change process that has significant impact for good and ill on the poor. The course will focus on macro development issues and strategies for poverty eradication and topics like the Millennium Development Goals, making markets work for the poor, food security and genetically modified foods, and health and pharmaceuticals for the diseases of the poor. GLBL. Myers

*MN 520 Introduction to Urban Mission.   This course explores the history of the church’s relationship to the city, the role of reflection in urban mission, the importance of narrative in evangelism, relations with the poor, and community based approaches to ministry. Audit only with permission of instructor.  MIN8, GLBL. Tiersma Watson

*MN 576 Incarnation and Mission Among the World’s Urban Poor.  Studies the principles of self denial, sacrifice, and service in order to bring the Kingdom of God and justice to the poor, and to gain intimacy with the Lord.  Participants will engage in practical experience projects and interviews among the poor.  M.Div. core:  MIN8.  Brewster

* Normally offered once per year
** Normally offered every other year
º Offered on an irregular basis

Other Recommended Courses for this Concentration

MD 591  Christian Community Dev. Assoc. Conf.
MD 543   Children at Risk
ML  500   Teamwork and Leadership
ML  560   Change Dynamics
MN 520   Introduction to Urban Mission
MN 526   Urban Ministry/Mission Models
MN 576   Incarnation&Mission/the World’s Urban Poor
MN 591   Urban Youth Workers Institute Conference
ET 529     Human Rights and Religious Freedom
ET 531     Creative Solutions to Urban Problems
ET 548     Love, Justice, Community and Postmodern Ethics
Other MD courses may also fulfill concentration. See advisor for details.

Development Courses Available from Hope International University

DEV6101  Enterprise Development
DEV6201  Food & Agriculture
DEV6301  Water Development Programs
DEV6401  Primary Health Care