Community Development Minor
Community Development is an interdisciplinary minor based in the Economics department that prepares students to engage actively in the revitalization, empowerment, and sustainable transformation of communities. The program equips students with theoretical and analytical knowledge to work with diverse populations to address systemic issues such as poverty, housing inequality, and education disparities. Students are encouraged to see economic development not merely as a technical endeavor, but as a moral and civic responsibility.
Learning Aims
- Apply foundational economic principles to analyze urban and community development challenges.
- Evaluate the role of real estate and housing policy in shaping equitable and sustainable communities.
- Critically examine social and racial inequities in economic systems and urban environments.
- Design and assess development initiatives that promote accessibility, sustainability, and community well-being.
Who is eligible for this minor?
The minor provides Loyola students with access to economic reasoning and civic application regardless of their major. This minor will expose students in any major to the intersectionality of economics, education, philosophy, and real estate/finance, building bridges between the liberal arts and business. This interdisciplinary program is designed to prepare students to address economic disparities, promote sustainable development, and engage in ethical leadership in diverse community settings. The curriculum emphasizes academic rigor and integrative learning, while also fostering empathy, reflection, and commitment to justice.
Who cannot pursue this minor?
Students majoring in the Business Economics BBA or the Economics B.A.
Requirements of the Minor
Community Development is a 6 course (18 credit hours) minor.
Five required Foundation Courses:
- EC 102 Microeconomic Principles
- EC 340 Urban Economics
- EC 349 Community Development
- REE 225 Real Estate Development
- REE 365 Accessible Housing Environment
One Elective Course from the following options:
- EC 347 Economics of Race and Inequality
- EC 348 Development Economics
- EC 360 Environmental Economics
- ED 311 Schooling in Baltimore
- ED 466 Language, Culture, & Literacy
- HS 227 Introduction to Modern Latin America
- IS 301 Location Analytics
- ML 392 Introduction to Latin American and Latino Studies
- PL 306 Ethics of Race and Gender
- PL 330 Social and Political Philosophy
Contacts
Ms. Lynne Elkes
Teaching Professor
Department of Economics
Email: lelkes@loyola.edu
Phone: 410-617-5495
Dr. Kerry Tan
Professor
Department of Economics
Email: kmtan@loyola.edu
Phone: 410-617-2460