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A Guide to the Development Track

Preparing for "hands on" development work, careers with private volunteer organizations, disaster relief groups, and government development efforts, students in the development track invariably have a desire to directly assist those societies emerging from poverty. While some students concentrate heavily on economic strategies, others have created programs oriented toward public health, urbanization, or even the utility of the internet for specific development purposes.

Students in the IDS/IS development track normally seek to work, directly or indirectly, with economically poorer areas of the world. There are many ways to do that. Some of our graduates have gone directly into the Peace Corps, hoping to use that experience as a foundation for a life’s work with humanitarian or development organizations. Other people seek to know about the needs of developing societies so they might help people more indirectly through the private sector, government or international organizations. A few individuals in the development track have taken it upon themselves to focus on the benefits that new informational and communications technologies might yield for developing countries. Other foci are also possible. In the past, students have attacked development issues by building expertise on public health, women and development, small business creation and education strategies. We are open to different approaches within the development track.

The University of Arizona is a great place to prepare for a life in development work. Because we are a Land Grant institution, we have a many functional courses that bear directly on the needs of developing societies. To understand how to help people, it is necessary to understand their most fundamental needs: health, education, food, and employment. Several IDS/IS students have gone outside the University to enhance their skills by becoming certified as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). EMT certification is available through Pima Community College.

For the Development Course Modules Click Here(Coming Soon)
For the Development Track’s Recommended Courses Click Here

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If you have any additional questions please email:

Dr. Wayne Decker - wdecker@email.arizona.edu
or
Dr. Karna Walter. - karna@email.arizona.edu