Humanitarian Action Minor
The minor in Humanitarian Action prepares the graduate for beginning grassroots involvement in agencies responding to disasters around the world. It is designed to complement any major. This 21 SH interdisciplinary minor requires that a student participate in an on the ground practicum of at least one month.
To learn more email hal@emu.edu or call 540-432-4192.
Minor Requirements
Each student declaring Humanitarian Action as a minor will take three required courses. The additional 12 SH of the 21 SH minor will be chosen from the list below in consultation with the HAL and major advisors for the best preparation for a beginning humanitarian worker. Six of the additional 12 SH may be satisfied by courses required for the student’s major or by core requirements.
Humanitarian Action Courses
Crisis, Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Recovery (3 SH)
Crises threaten global human security today as never before. These crises are caused
by a complex mix of natural hazards (i.e. floods, earthquakes, or drought) and human
action or inaction. This course will explore how humanitarian assistance and disaster
recovery efforts can best promote resilience by reducing vulnerability and risk. The
history and values of the humanitarian enterprise will be addressed along with the
developing Sphere Standards of response with attention to HAP standards. Community and organizational responses to humanitarian crises will be examined,
emphasizing efforts to improve aide quality and accountability, often in contexts
of conflict. This is a synchronous online course taught at Canadian Mennonite University
for CMU and EMU students. This course is offered every other year during spring semester.
Leadership Skills and Traits for the Common Good (3 SH)
Humanitarian workers throughout the world are faced with the need to collaborate,
to quickly assess and to plan and manage projects. Personal traits and basic leadership
skills are essential for successful engagement. This course will start with personal
formation including a focus on interpersonal and intercultural relationships along
with leadership self-assessment and a plan for development. Moving to the group, organization
and community level, the course will encompass a survey of and engagement in requisite
skills for humanitarians including leading meetings, creating collaborative coalitions
and partnerships, community assessments/ action research and project planning and
monitoring. Significant attention will be given to trauma and resilience at personal
and community levels. This course is offered every other year during fall semester.
Practicum in Disaster response (3 SH)
A required practicum provides HAL minor students with direct experience in a humanitarian situation either domestically
or internationally. This will typically be during a summer and should be for at least
4 weeks. Internships will be arranged through the HAL center director and with relevant agencies such as Mennonite Disaster Service, Mennonite
Central Committee, or other relief and development agencies.
Humanitarian Action Electives
(12 SH required, up to 6 SH may be accepted from courses required for core or major.)
Applied Social Sciences
PXD 225 Theories of Social Change
PXD 321 Group Dynamics and Facilitation
PXD 335 Understanding Violent Conflict
PXD 345 Peacebuilding Theory and Action
PXD 381 Program and Project Management
PXD 485 Theories of International Development
PXD 451 Program Evaluation
Bible and Religion
REL 223 World Religions
REL 334 Cultural Anthropology: Christianity and Social Change
CHST 234 Mission in a Changing World
THEO 323 Biblical Theology of Peace and Justice
Biology
BIOL 161 Food and Population
BIOL 202 Microbiology
BIOL 242 Nutrition Fundamentals
BIOL 318 Sustainable Agriculture
ENVS 205 Applied Ecology – GIS
ENVS 328 Conservation Biology
Business and Accounting
ACTG 221 Financial Accounting
ACTG 222 Managerial Accounting
BUAD 221 Principles of Management
BUAD 321 Human Resource Management
BUAD 331 Organizational Behavior
Economics
ECON 201 Survey of Economics
ECON 401 Economic Development
ECON 411 International Economics
Nursing
NURS 426 Family in Community
NURS 431 Community Health
CCUS 310 Global Trends in Health
Political Science / Geography
HIST 182 Global Past II
GEOG 231 Cultural Geography
POL 311 International Relations
POL 401 Human Rights and Dignity
Psychology
PSYC 301 Interpersonal Relationship Skills
