Communities are a vital piece of the social life and growth of people. This discipline recognizes the relationship of social, economic, and demographic change on community viability and sustainability. Community developers have the tools to understand and integrate core concepts of the discipline in their own communities and communities that surround them.

The purpose of the minor is to prepare students to integrate community development concepts into their own occupations and academic majors and take a more active role in the affairs of their own communities. This minor will expose students to both academic and experiential aspects of community and economic development. The program includes a core of community development course work and elective course work in three areas related to community and economic development - economics, business administration and social science.