Global Poverty and Practice

University of California, Berkeley

This is an archived copy of the 2014-15 guide. To access the most recent version of the guide, please visit http://guide.berkeley.edu/.

Overview

The Global Poverty and Practice program is an undergraduate minor, administered by The Blum Center for Developing Economies. 

The Blum Center was established in March 2006 to improve the well-being of the three billion people in the world who live on less than two dollars a day.

Our mission is to improve the well-being of poor people in developing countries by designing, adapting and disseminating scalable and sustainable technologies and systems and by educating and inspiring a new generation of global citizens. The Blum Center addresses the needs of the poor in developing countries by leveraging UC and LBNL expertise and preparing students with the theoretical understanding, applied skills and experiential learning that enable them to become agents of change in the struggle against global poverty.

Undergraduate Program

Global Poverty and Practice : Minor

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Courses

Global Poverty and Practice

GPP 105 The Ethics, Methods, and Pragmatics of Global Practice 4 Units

This course is intended to provide students with the necessary background and knowledge to undertake projects and work experience of a global scope. Students will be exposed to a diversity of methodological frameworks, introduced to the basic skills needed to effectively participate in organizations, and to understand the ethics of global service and practice. Students will be required to complete a literature review and a major project proposal.

GPP 115 Global Poverty: Challenges and Hopes in the New Millennium 4 Units

This class seeks to provide a rigorous understanding of 20th century development and thus 21st century poverty alleviation. Students will take a look at popular ideas of poverty alleviation, the institutional framework of poverty ideas and practices, and the social and political mobilizations that seek to transform the structures of poverty.

GPP 150 Special Topics in Global Poverty and Practice 4 Units

Changing topics that explore issues and problems related to the goals of the Global Poverty and Practice Minor program. The topics often reflect the research interests of the instructor and supplement regular curricular offerings. Topics change each semester. Specific descriptions of current offerings are available through the department.

GPP 150AC Special Topics in Global Poverty and Practice (American Cultures) 4 Units

Changing topics that explore issues and problems related to the goals of the Global Poverty and Practice Minor program. The topics often reflect the research interests of the instructor and supplement regular curricular offerings. Topics change each semester. Specific descriptions of current offerings are available through the department.

GPP 196 Global Poverty and Practice Capstone Course 3 Units

This course is intended to provide students with a forum for reflection on the Practice Experience component of the Global Poverty and Practice minor. Lessons learned in the minor will be applied to the realm of public discourse through various forms of public scholarship. Issues of power and privilege, civic engagement, and tensions between tourism vs. travel and community service vs. engagement will be addressed. Students will also explore academic and professional post-graduation options.

Contact Information

Global Poverty and Practice Program

Phone: 510-643-5313

blumcenter@berkeley.edu

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Minor Director

Ananya Roy, MCP, PhD (Department of City and Regional Planning)

Phone: 510-642-5938

ananya@berkeley.edu

Minor Adviser

Chetan Chowdhry

Phone: 510-664-4423

cchowdhry@berkeley.edu

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