Master of Development Practice Degree Program
Announcing a New Master of Development Practice Degree Program
The Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change (ICGC), in partnership with the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, announces a new Master of Development Practice (MDP) in international development program at the University of Minnesota. Our MDP program is part of a global network that prepares graduate students for a career in
international development. The two-year degree provides rigorous interdisciplinary training, equipping students with the skills they need to address the problems of poverty and sustainable development surrounding livelihood practices in the global south. We are accepting applications now. Our first cohort of students will enter in August 2010.
The MDP program spans seven academic units across the University of Minnesota to provide interdisciplinary training in policy analysis and management; health and education; natural sciences; social sciences, and research methods. The program curriculum extends beyond the classroom to include an international field experience and a capstone workshop in development practice.
The MDP Program at ICGC
The Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change, where MDP students will take the core MDP courses, seeks to foster an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural community of faculty and graduate students committed to studying global change, especially as seen in the global south; addressing issues of peace, conflict, security, social and environmental change, justice, human rights, development and international cooperation. The study of these issues is also extended to the United States and other developed countries.
ICGC already provides intellectual and financial support for over one hundred graduate and professional students in several colleges of the University of Minnesota, and is delighted to co-sponsor this new initiative. ICGC organizes interdisciplinary faculty-student seminars and workshop series around major theoretical, comparative and methodological issues related to the global south; as well as formal public lectures and informal discussion series featuring scholars, policy makers and activists addressing issues related to its mission. The MDP program shares several key features with ICGC’s highly successful graduate education programs:
*commitment to the study of global change, especially as seen in the global south
*exploration of multiple perspectives and approaches through a genuinely interdisciplinary curriculum and faculty
* emphasis on sustainability in development and what development policy and practice mean for sustainable livelihoods and communities
* integration of practical and field-based experiences with classroom curriculum
* focus on the linkages among policy and practice at local, national and global levels
What You Can Do with an MDP Degree
This field of study is designed to serve people committed to public service and working on issues of poverty, social justice, and sustainable development in the global south. As analysts, managers, and leaders, MDP graduates will use their interdisciplinary tools and knowledge to develop, assess, and evaluate alternative approaches to the promotion of sustainable livelihoods. Career choices might span government, nongovernmental (NGOs) organizations, and the private sector. Your career possibilities in international development will be greatly enhanced by the interdisciplinary training the MDP provides.