School of Public and International Affairs introduces graduate certificate in Global Planning and International Development Studies
Building on its internationally recognized 30-year specialization in international development planning, Virginia Tech’s School of Public and International Affairs has created a new Graduate Certificate in Global Planning and International Development Studies.
The certificate is the result of collaboration between faculty from multiple disciplines and programs including Urban Affairs and Planning, the Master of Public Health Degree Program, the Department of Geography, and the Department of Building Construction.
“The enormous challenges facing the world in the next century call for professionals, researchers, and leaders with the knowledge and skills to operate at a global level. This interdisciplinary certificate enables Virginia Tech to mobilize existing resources and talents to deliver a graduate education that prepares our students for successful careers in various dimensions of global planning and international urban and regional development,” said John Browder, professor and associate dean for academic affairs for the College of Architecture and Urban Studies and coordinator for the new certificate.
The certificate builds on the International Development Planning Specialization within Urban Affairs and Planning’s Master of Urban and Regional Planning by linking interdisciplinary graduate courses to core courses in planning.
The certificate in Global Planning and International Development Studies can be taken in conjunction with most of Virginia Tech’s master’s and doctoral degree programs. Students must apply to participate and 12 credit hours are required for completion, comprising two required core courses and an additional six hours of electives within areas of specialization in sustainable infrastructure development, public and environmental health, and non-profit sector management and development.
