Community Development Policy and Practice (M.A.)

https://carsey.unh.edu/program/ma/master-community-development-policy-practice

The online MA in Community Development Policy and Practice program (MCD) prepares you for a career in community and economic development. While earning this online, cohort-based community development degree, you will tackle real-world situations through a capstone community project and engage with leading experts and academics in a program designed for working professionals just like you. Through coursework and experiential opportunities, you will learn from seasoned practitioners in subjects ranging from economics and community financing to community organizing and public safety.

  • The MCD program is fully online and is ideal for working professionals
  • Gain effective community development skills and tools through an applied four-term capstone project in your community
  • Connect with respected field experts across disciplines, including faculty and peers
  • Start in the fall or spring and graduate in 14 to 24 months
  • The GRE is not required to apply to this degree program

Program Delivery & Location:  Core academic courses for the MCD degree are offered online with choices for taking elective courses online or in person on UNH campuses. Students are free to carry out their capstone projects in their chosen community.

Students enrolled in the Carsey School's MA in Community Development Policy and Practice program (MCD) are required to complete a 36-credit program, consisting of 12 courses including a four-term capstone project:

  • Five (5) CORE Curriculum Courses
  • Four (4) EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING Courses
  • Three (3) ELECTIVE Courses

These provide the applied foundational community and economic development skills in strategy, practice, and analysis for a successful career in community development. In this program, students will examine each of the core interdisciplinary areas within the cross-cutting lenses of public policy, data collection, and analysis as students directly apply what they learn in the classroom through a capstone project centered on community engagement for sustainable development. Further opportunities for depth and specialization are provided through a variety of elective courses which vary each year as well as the opportunity to conduct independent studies to delve deeper into a specific aspect of a student's community or capstone project.

CORE Required Courses (5 Courses)
DPP 901Integrative Approaches to Development Policy and Practice3
DPP 902Economic Analysis for Development3
DPP 905Fiscal Management for Development Organizations3
DPP 906Organizational Management and Leadership3
DPP 908Policy Seminar3
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING Required Courses (4 Courses) 1
DPP 980Introduction to Community Development Projects3
DPP 981Project Design and Planning3
DPP 982Project Implementation and Monitoring3
DPP 983Project Evaluation3
Electives
Three MCD-Approved elective Courses 29
Total Credits36
1

With full faculty support, students carry out a four-term capstone project in their communities by completing actionable assignments throughout the series of four (4) applied project courses. 

2

A variety of MCD elective courses and other Carsey graduate courses are offered each term (ELECTIVES). This includes the MCD Independent Study course (DPP 990) taken under the guidance of an MCD faculty member. Students wishing to pursue elective courses outside of the MCD program should consult with their Graduate Academic Advisor for guidance and approval.

SAMPLE DEGREE PLAN: Fall Start (Typical)

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
Term 1  
DPP 901 Integrative Approaches to Development Policy and Practice 3
DPP 980 Introduction to Community Development Projects 1 3
Term 2  
DPP 906 Organizational Management and Leadership 3
DPP 981 Project Design and Planning 1 3
 Credits12
Spring
Term 3  
DPP 902 Economic Analysis for Development 3
DPP 982 Project Implementation and Monitoring 1 3
Term 4  
DPP 905 Fiscal Management for Development Organizations 3
DPP 983 Project Evaluation 1 3
 Credits12
Summer
Term 5  
MCD-Approved Elective Course 2 3
MCD-Approved Elective Course 2 3
 Credits6
Second Year
Fall
Term 1  
DPP 908 Policy Seminar 3
MCD-Approved Elective Course 2 3
 Credits6
 Total Credits36

MCD SAMPLE DEGREE PLAN: Spring Start

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
SpringCredits
Term 3  
DPP 902 Economic Analysis for Development 3
MCD-Approved Elective Course 2 3
Term 4  
DPP 905 Fiscal Management for Development Organizations 3
MCD-Approved Elective Course 2 3
 Credits12
Summer
Term 5  
 Credits0
Fall
Term 1  
DPP 901 Integrative Approaches to Development Policy and Practice 3
DPP 980 Introduction to Community Development Projects 1 3
Term 2  
DPP 906 Organizational Management and Leadership 3
DPP 981 Project Design and Planning 1 3
 Credits12
Second Year
Spring
Term 3  
DPP 982 Project Implementation and Monitoring 1 3
Term 4  
DPP 983 Project Evaluation 1 3
 Credits6
Summer
MCD-Approved Elective Course 2 3
 Credits3
Fall
DPP 908 Policy Seminar 3
 Credits3
 Total Credits36

NOTES:

1

With full faculty support, students carry out a four-term capstone project in their communities by completing actionable assignments throughout the series of four (4) applied project courses. 

2

A variety of MCD elective courses and other Carsey graduate courses are offered each term (ELECTIVES). This includes the MCD Independent Study course (DPP 990) taken under the guidance of an MCD faculty member. Students wishing to pursue elective courses outside of the MCD program should consult with their Graduate Academic Advisor for guidance and approval.

  • Develop interdisciplinary knowledge and skills to integrate theory, policy, data collection, and analysis.
  • Acquire an understanding of complex development issues and problems.
  • Apply learning to real-world situations.
  • Effectively communicate findings to various audiences both verbally and in writing.