Cornell University Registrar

Program Description

The Global Development Minor equips students with a broad understanding of global development issues, ethical considerations, and sustainable solutions. The curriculum is designed to provide a complementary layer of training across a range of university majors (from engineering and information science to arts and music) and prepares students for impactful careers in global development, policy making, non-profit sectors, and more, enhancing their global perspective and ability to contribute to equitable solutions. Global Development majors cannot minor in Global Development. No more than 2 courses (minimum 6 credits) can count towards the major and minor for all students.

Program Information

• All coursework for this major is in person, in Ithaca, unless otherwise noted.​
• Total Credits Required: 18 minimum.

Minor Requirements

Students must take all courses for a letter grade and achieve a final grade of “C” or better.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Courses
GDEV 1102	Introduction to Global Development	3
GDEV 2202	Ethics of Technology and Development	3
One Natural Systems & Development Course (choose one focus)		3
Agriculture focus:
GDEV 2300	Food Systems and Sustainable Development
or GDEV 1300	Just Food: Exploring the Modern Food System
Environment focus:
GDEV 3240	Environmental Sociology
or GDEV 2065	Environment and Development
Community-Engaged Learning (CEL) Course		3
One course with CU-CEL
Elective Courses		6
Two additional GDEV prefixed courses (minimum 6 credits) at the 2000 level or higher 1

¹

Allows specialization in areas such as development practice, economic development, gender and development, environment & development, agriculture & food systems, etc.  Special Studies courses do not count toward this requirement (GDEV 4970, GDEV 4980, GDEV 4990).