The Minor in International Development and Conflict Management (MIDCM) still has open spots and will continue to accept and make decisions about applications on a rolling basis through September 3. The program website has information about applying. In advance of applying, we recommend that students check out the pages about coursework and frequently asked questions.
Undergraduate students in all majors are encouraged to consider MIDCM. The combination of programs can be a great fit for multiple reasons:
- MIDCM focuses on important contemporary issues with wide relevance. The program is geared around the major challenges of underdevelopment and instability observed around the world – and their intersections and interactions. These challenges are frequently central to what occurs at a domestic level in individual countries and throughout the international community. The program emphasizes understanding of these challenges and activities to identify, design, and implement measures that are effective and responsible in bringing about positive, lasting changes.
- The issues on which MIDCM focuses require interdisciplinary attention. The challenges are not just matters of economics and politics. Instead, they involve a wide assortment of topics, including regional contexts, demography, culture, religion, race and ethnicity, history, social relations, communication, media, language, philosophies, ethics, mindsets, trauma, law, crime, climate, land use, agriculture, trade, finance, education, health, science, technology, and data. Professionals with complementary expertise on different topics often partner to tackle the complex demands of these challenges.
- MIDCM draws students from across campus. The program regularly enrols students from every college and school at UMD. The new MIDCM cohort already has representation of students from 17 majors (and 11 other minors). This diversity is purposeful, because of the subject matter and approach of the program.
- The content and style of education in MIDCM gives students rich experience and builds capabilities that complement the traditional academic training of majors. MIDCM is problem-oriented, practical, and pre-professional in orientation. The coursework emphasizes real-world applications linked to foundations of knowledge and theory. Learning is accomplished by progressing incrementally through assignments that are cumulative, incorporating feedback. Students collaborate in teams on projects, consulting with external clients, mentors, and stakeholders. Course activities are tailored with workplaces and jobs in mind, cultivating marketable, versatile skills. MIDCM thereby provides a distinctive specialization that blends well with the broad-based preparation acquired in majors.
- Multiple courses can fulfill both requirements of MIDCM and requirements of majors. UMD policies enable students to double-count six credits of coursework for core requirements of programs. A substantial portion of the 16 credits of MIDCM coursework can also meet requirements within many majors that students take several elective courses concentrated in an area outside the program (supporting sequence, cognate, upper-level division, etc.). Therefore, completing MIDCM does not necessarily entail much additional coursework beyond what simultaneously satisfies needs of a major. These overlaps facilitate students obtaining two significant credentials in an efficient manner.
Please feel free to contact MIDCM (midcminfo@umd.edu) with any questions about the program. Major advisors can assist you in exploring options to combine with MIDCM.
