Global Poverty & Practice Minor

The Global Poverty and Practice Minor trains students in the study and analysis of global poverty. Launched in 2007, the Minor explores the ethics of global citizenship and the role that UC Berkeley undergraduates play in understanding and addressing some of the most pressing issues of the 21st century. Students from all disciplines are encouraged to undertake the Minor and investigate the ways in which the requirements supplement their major field of study.

UCTV: Feature on the Global Poverty and Practice Minor

The Minor is organized around core and elective course requirements in addition to the practice which is comprised of a field experience and a reflection course:

Core Courses

Global Poverty: Challenges and Hopes in the New Millennium (IAS 115)
Students will participate in the key theoretical debates about global poverty and inequality. This course will teach students about different models of poverty alleviation and methods for evaluating such models and practices.

The Ethics, Methods and Pragmatics of Global Practice (IAS 105)
open to declared GPP Minor students only
This course will expose students to a diversity of methodological frameworks and techniques and will also allow students to discuss, reflect upon, and debate the ethics of global citizenship. Students will work on projects and assignments that support preparation for their Minor practice experience.

2 Directed Electives

Global and Area Studies
This directed elective prepares students for exploring poverty and poverty alleviation in a specific geographical or global context (in which poverty and poverty alleviation must be understood).

Sectors and Methods
This directed elective trains students on the specific issues and skills associated with the many domains of poverty analysis and alleviation.

*Students whose major field of study is in the College of Letters & Science (L&S) should note that L&S allows only one course to overlap between a Major and Minor. Students in other colleges (e.g. CED, CNR, Engineering, Chemistry, Haas) should check with their major advisor for course overlap restrictions.

Practice

(1 field experience + 1 reflection course)
An individualized global engagement practice experience is the signature element of the minor, providing an opportunity for students to connect the theory and practice of poverty and its alleviation. This experiential learning is expressed through an IAS 196 reflection course, which can be completed either in a seminar or independent study, or appropriate alternative such as a thesis or senior project in the major field of study.

View complete GPP Minor brochure.

See where minor students have completed their practice experiences:

View GPP Minor Practice in a larger map

Declaring and Completing the Minor

Students wishing to pursue the Global Poverty and Practice Minor must declare their interest by submitting a minor declaration form.

The declaration will allow the student to meet with advisors to discuss and plan for their practice option. It will also give priority for enrollment in Blum center sponsored courses and allow entry into the IAS 105 core course, which is open only to declared students.

Declaration Deadlines

November 2 for Spring admission (We will begin accepting forms August 24th.)
April 1 for Fall admission

Upon completion of the Minor, students must submit an L&S Minor completion form to the Academic Advisor. Without submission of a completion form, the Minor will not register on the official UC Berkeley transcript.

Contact Information and Office Hours

Advisors:
Alexis Bucknam, Director of Student Programs, 129 Stephens Hall
Eva Wong, Student Services Administrator, 132 Stephens Hall

Email: gppminor@berkeley.edu

Fall 2009 Drop-In Advising Office Hours:
129/132 Stephens Hall
Monday, Wednesday 10am - Noon, 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Tuesday, Thursday 1:30pm - 4:30pm