Graduate Certificate in Economic Community Development

This course addresses the impact of the current macroeconomy on limited-resource and underdeveloped countries with a view to informing community development practices. It addresses in particular the plight of isolated people groups in marginalized cultural economies.

This course presents major theoretical concepts that identify sustainable ecological, economical, and sociological system resources toward the end of setting them in balance with real human needs. It equips the Christian developer to approach development projects biblically, theoretically, and in a way that sustains long-term viability.

This course introduces development leaders to concepts and approaches to microfinance, as well as to dynamics of customer expectations. It facilitates approaches to designing new, culturally appropriate, and relevant products, along with methods of distribution suitable to the context. Students explore ways to develop seed lending and financial resources, regulate assets and expenses, and assess sustainability.

This course addresses theories and practices of community development in contemporary societies, including issues of poverty, grass-roots economics, education, and primary health care. It emphasizes the role of the faith community in impacting infrastructures, institutions, conventions, and initiatives of community development. The course includes methods for evaluating, motivating change, and using assets available to the community, both locally and globally.