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HNGR Certificate Program

HNGR Holcomb Women's Conference

HNGR Curriculum

Human Needs and Global Resources (HNGR) is an academic certificate program that integrates multidisciplinary coursework, a six-month internship, and whole-person formation through experiential learning. Students live, work, worship, and serve with local communities worldwide, while accompanying host partner organizations that confront poverty, challenge inequity, transform conflict, pursue justice, and seek fullness of life. The program cultivates a life-orienting commitment to justice, intercultural humility, compassion, hospitality, environmental health, and peacemaking, as actively reflected in lifestyle and vocation.

Preparatory Coursework

Certificate candidates are required to complete 16 hours of preparatory course work before the internship in courses such as

  • Poverty, Justice and Transformation
  • Field Research Methods and Intercultural Orientation
  • Culture and Difference

Internship and Independent Study

Students will also complete internship courses such as Global Christian Perspective and Internship in Development, as well as a 6-month internship overseas. Interns are placed through an intentional, discernment process that seeks to integrate the student’s particular interests and the resources and opportunities provided by host organizations.  The placement process begins during the fall semester of the junior year and concludes sometime around mid-late spring semester. 

Students will also pursue 2-4 credit hours in either the student's major field of study or under the HNGR Program

Post-Internship Coursework

Upon return to campus, HNGR students complete the HNGR Capstone Integration Seminar. 

See the Course Catalog for specific course requirements and descriptions.

HNGR Timeline

  • HNGR Info meeting with Partnership & Placement Manager
  • HNGR Coursework (e.g. HNGR 114)

HNGR internship Bovell and Muteyan working in office

Tuition and Funding

HNGR students are required to pay tuition for the credit and living expenses during the internship. Because of the reduced course load and lower cost of living in the Majority World, interns may find that their internship is less expensive than a typical Wheaton semester. See an estimate of the typical costs of a HNGR internship >

HNGR Camillone Quilotoaview
HNGR Fabric Shopping with Sheeba and Geeta

Internship Details and Planning

The HNGR Program has sent over 850 students to more than 70 countries with 330+ host organizations. HNGR's global partners include non-governmental organizations that are both internationally and domestically initiated. They are usually faith-based entities, and all are committed to holistic transformational development. Learn more about the process of internship planning >

How to Apply to HNGR

Application Processes and Deadlines

  • Written Applications: Approximately early September until late November each year.
  • Assessments: December and January.
  • Interviews with HNGR Faculty, Student Support Coordinator, Partnership & Placement Manager, and two supporting faculty: between January and March.
  • Notification of acceptance:  mid-April.

Admission Requirements

Second-year students at Wheaton College are eligible to apply by the November deadline. The program will consider four criteria when reviewing applications:

  1. Personal readiness: Resilience; Maturity; Flexibility; Teachability; Good student development standing
  2. Academic readiness: 2.8 GPA or higher; Proven ability to work independently; Completion of HNGR coursework before, during, and after the application.
  3. Cross-Cultural and service experience: Evidence of service and engaging diverse populations whether in the Wheaton area, greater United States, or internationally.
  4. Congruence: Demonstrated ability to articulate how HNGR fits into the applicant’s vocational trajectory and  personal, interpersonal, and spiritual growth.

Please note that if you are interested in applying, you should schedule an appointment for a general information meeting with the HNGR Partnership & Placement Manager.  Visit us in Schell Lower Level or email the HNGR Program to schedule a meeting. 

Forms, Documents, and Reading Lists

Current HNGR students can find links to important forms and documents here, as well as curated recommended reading lists from our faculty.

Forms and Documents

Reading Lists

Some of the books on our reading lists are read as part of the interns' HNGR coursework; others are included because of their relevance to the issues the students grapple with over the course of their internships. The lists are broken out into the following topics:

  • HNGR Director Recommends
  • Development Studies
  • Alumni Authors
  • Perspectives on Poverty and Transformation
  • Biblical/Theological Studies
  • Cross-Cultural Studies
  • Global Christianity
  • Literature and Fiction
  • Artistic Reflections
  • HNGR Alumni Favorites

See all HNGR reading lists >