Master's Degree in Applied Community Change

Supporting the Professional Growth of Community Leaders Worldwide

Purpose: This two-year master's degree program provides higher education for mid-career development professionals while allowing them to remain on the job and in their own countries. This program integrates:

• On-the-job skills development
• First-hand experience with a wide range of successful international development and conservation programs
• An applied practicum (thesis) project

Academic Year: For 22 months, students remain in their home countries and complete an applied practicum project to build new skills and focus on a core question of local relevance. Simultaneous online coursework and interaction with global peers helps students build a theoretical and cross-cultural perspective of core topics, including:

• Community Change
• Environmental Conservation
• Peacebuilding
• Program Design and Management
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Communications

Each term, students join peers and faculty for a one-month residential (Term I in India, Term II in Africa, Term III in Haiti, and Term IV plus graduation in the United States). Residentials help students deepen coursework lessons through first-hand experience with outstanding community-based development, peacebuilding, and conservation projects.