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Community Development
Undergraduate Programs
at
Covenant College
Covenant College offers an undergraduate major and a minor in community development, both of which prepare students to understand and address the issues facing poor regions, paying particular attention to working at the community level.
Recognizing the multifaceted and integrated nature of both God's creational design and the problems plaguing poor communities, this academic course of study takes an interdisciplinary approach that combines training in the liberal arts, in development theory and practice, in social science research methods, and in sector-specific development strategies. In addition to laying a biblical foundation for thinking about poor communities, students are equipped to support positive change in intercultural settings both domestically and internationally. Students pursuing these programs are well-prepared for graduate study or for employment in community-based organizations, churches, missions, relief and development agencies, and the public sector.
Internship
A highlight of the major is its three-to-six month research internship in which a student lives and works in a poor community under the auspices of a host church or ministry within the sectoral focus. This internship normally takes place during the summer after the student's junior year. An internship gives a student the opportunity to apply the theory, techniques, and research methods of their coursework by working in the context of low-income regions in the U.S. or abroad. The purpose of the internship is to reinforce, integrate, and strengthen the theory, techniques, and research methods learned in the classroom through practice.
“During my internship this summer, I saw first-hand the deep and sure impact for well-being that Christian community development ministries have on urban poor communities. No longer was my nose just in a book reading about community development theories and anecdotes. Now I was observing and being a part of life-change and empowerment. I became a part of the stories I had read in classes at Covenant College.”
– Tyson Turner, Class of 2006 |
Locations - During the summer of 2008, students are taking their internships in Chattanooga TN, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Morocco, Philippines, Rwanda, South Africa, Senegal, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, and Washington, D.C. Past students have taken their internships in Atlanta, Belize, Brazil, Citrus County (Florida), Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Mongolia, Philippines, Senegal, and Uganda.
Hosting an Intern - If you would like to know more about hosting an internship, email Dr. Russell Mask, department chairperson.
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