A Closer Look at
The Community Development and Applied Economics Majors
Offered by: CALS Department of Community Development and Applied Economics
Overview
Communities-rural and urban, local and global-are CDAE's laboratory. Regardless of which of CDAE's two majors you select, you will develop a solid foundation in applied economics and policy analysis. You'll discover what it means to be an entrepreneur, and be introduced to the methods used to develop communities that are economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable.
Program Options:
- Agricultural and Resource Entrepreneurship Major
- Community and International Development Major
- Consumer and Advertising Minor
- Applied Design Minor
- Consumer Affairs Minor
- Community and International Development Minor
- Agricultural and Resource Entrepreneurship Minor
Community and International Development (CID)
Clean water. Bike paths. Farmers markets. Retail space. Recreational facilities. Youth centers. Locally grown food in schools. A well stocked library. There are many parts to a strong, sustainable community. How are policies developed to make a community a great place to live? Why do some rural communities succeed while others struggle?
The major in Community and International Development addresses all aspects of community life -- the culture, the economic base, the environment, the social structures and more. The program begins with a strong foundation in applied economics, communication skills, and public policy. Initial classes such as World Food, Population and Development introduce a broad base of theory. Advanced courses, such as Community Leadership, Organization and International Development are more applied. Current computer applications and research methods are important tools students use to model, evaluate and problem solve local and global community issues. Special topics courses explore current issues that impact our communities, and include real world case studies and projects.
Agricultural and Resource Entrepreneurship (ARE)
Organic coffee shops. Custom woodworking. Bed and breakfast inns. Landscape services. Specialty foods or clothing. Llama farms. How do entrepreneurs get a micro enterprise started so it will be a success in a community?
The major in Agricultural and Resource Entrepreneurship focuses on the unique challenges and dynamics of creating and maintaining a small business in a rural community setting. The program begins with a solid foundation in applied economics, communication skills, and public policy. In advanced courses, with the world as the laboratory, students acquire knowledge in applied economics and skills in management, strategic planning, marketing, and public policy related to planning, starting or operating a natural resource-based micro enterprise.
Exciting Opportunities Outside the Classroom
All CDAE students gain experience outside the classroom in either course-based service-learning activities or internships. Service-learning activities have ranged from planning microfinancing projects to connecting schools and farms in an effort to address both farm profitability and childhood nutrition. Interns have worked at a number of area businesses, including top advertising agencies and innovative manufacturing companies, including Burton Snowboards. In many cases internships have led to offers of permanent jobs upon graduation from UVM.
CDAE offers students unique international opportunities in Costa Rica, Honduras and St. Lucia. Unlike most international programs, students in CDAE's international program spend a semester studying the history, economy and culture of the country and developing projects to be completed during their trip abroad. They spend approximately two weeks in-country, working with local partners to complete their projects. The goal of CDAE's international programs is to provide students with an academic and professional experience that helps them both define their interest and understand how the skills they learn in the classroom relate to real-world problems, while at the same time helping our international partners improve the quality of life of their citizens.
Selected Undergraduate Courses
- World Food, Population, and Development
- Globalization and the Nation-State
- Economics of Sustainability
- Principles of Agricultural, Resource and Community Development
- Sustainable Community Development
- Consumers, Markets, and Public Policy
- Rural Communities in Modern Society
- Agricultural Policy and Ethics
- Community Leadership, Organization and Institutional Development
- Contemporary Policy Issues in Community Development
- Macroeconomics for Applied Economics
- Applied Consumption Economics
- Consumer Policy: Issues and Analysis
- Risk Analysis and Forecasting Procedures
- Decision Making for A&R Entrepreneurs
- Strategic Planning for A&R Entrepreneurs
- International Economic Development
- People Power in Emerging Democracies
- The Consumer and Advertising
- Consumer Law and Policy
- Consumer Assistance Program
- Introduction to A&R Entrepreneurship
- Financial Management for A&R Entrepreneurs
- Marketing for A&R Entrepreneurs
- Drafting and Design Drawing
- Design Strategies
- Sketching and Illustration
- Computer-Aided Drafting and Design (CADD)
- Applied Computer Graphics
- Energy Alternatives
- Solar Strategies for Building Construction
- Community and International Economic Transformation
- Farm Credit Fellowship Practicum/Seminar
- Special Topics in Community Development and Applied Economics
- Field Experience/Practicum
- Applied Research Methods
- Project Planning and Development
- International Community Development field course/prep class
- Undergraduate Research in CDAE
Faculty and Area of Expertise
| Jane M. Kolodinsky, chair, Ph.D. | CORNELL UNIVERSITY Public Policy & Consumer Economics |
| Jay I. Ashman, B.A. | AMHERST COLLEGE Public Policy, Law, & International Development |
| Daniel Baker, M.S. | UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT International Development |
| Ken Becker, M.S. | CORNELL UNIVERSITY Public Policy, Administration & International Development, Agricultural Entrepreneurship |
| Joshua Farley, Ph.D. | CORNELL UNIVERSITY Ecological Economics |
| Charles Ferreira, Ph.D. | BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY Drafting & Design |
| Christopher J. Koliba, Ph.D. | SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY Public Administration |
| Jonathan Leonard, Ph.D. | UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT Information Technology & Communications |
| Chyi-lyi (Kathleen) Liang, Ph.D. | PURDUE UNIVERSITY Agricultural Economics & Entrepreneurship |
| Edward McMahon, M.A. | BOSTON UNIVERSITY International Government |
| Bob Parsons, Ph.D. | VIRGINIA POLYTECHNICAL INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY Agricultural Economics |
| Thomas F. Patterson, Jr., Ph.D. | INDIANA UNIVERSITY Organization Development & Communications |
| Jane Petrillo, M.F.A | VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY Communication Design & Applied Design |
| Hector Saez, Ph.D. | UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS International Environmental Economics |
| Fred Schmidt, Ph.D. | CORNELL UNIVERSITY Sustainable Community Development |
| Richard Schramm, Ph.D. | CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY Sustainable Community Development |
| Helen Wagner, B.A. | BROWN UNIVERSITY Consumer Law |
| Qingbin Wang, Ph.D. | IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY Applied Economics |
Last modified September 10 2007 04:11 PM