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 practitioner-focused and community-centered approaches and strategies in development finance, policy analysis, organizational development and project management for participatory and impactful change. Professionals with five or more years of relevant work experience can enroll in the 12-month Executive MCD program with reduced degree requirements (30 credits vs. 36 credits for the MCD program) and lower tuition cost.
- 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 which can be done with your organization as part of your work
- Connect with respected field experts across disciplines, including faculty and peers
- Start in the fall, spring, or summer and graduate in as little as 12 months (Executive MCD) or 14 months (MCD)
- The MCD program consists of 12 courses (36 credits)
- 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 who choose to participate in the Washington DC Colloquium experience will join students from other Carsey programs for a week in Washington, DC. And, 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 Curriculum 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.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CORE Curriculum Courses (5 Courses) | ||
| DPP 801 | Integrative Approaches to Development Policy and Practice | 3 |
| DPP 802 | Economic Analysis for Development | 3 |
| DPP 805 | Fiscal Management for Development Organizations | 3 |
| DPP 806 | Organizational Management and Leadership | 3 |
| DPP 808 | Policy Seminar | 3 |
| EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING Curriculum Courses (4 Courses) 1 | ||
| DPP 980 | Introduction to Community Development Projects | 3 |
| DPP 981 | Project Design and Planning | 3 |
| DPP 982 | Project Implementation and Monitoring | 3 |
| DPP 983 | Project Evaluation | 3 |
| ELECTIVE Courses (3 Courses) 2 | ||
| Three (3) MCD-Approved ELECTIVE Courses | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
- 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.
MCD Sample Degree Plan (36 Credits): Fall Start
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| Term 1 | ||
| DPP 801 | Integrative Approaches to Development Policy and Practice | 3 |
| DPP 980 | Introduction to Community Development Projects 1 | 3 |
| Term 2 | ||
| DPP 806 | Organizational Management and Leadership | 3 |
| DPP 981 | Project Design and Planning 1 | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| Term 3 | ||
| DPP 802 | Economic Analysis for Development | 3 |
| DPP 982 | Project Implementation and Monitoring 1 | 3 |
| Term 4 | ||
| DPP 805 | Fiscal Management for Development Organizations | 3 |
| DPP 983 | Project Evaluation 1 | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Summer | ||
| Term 5 | ||
| DPP 808 | Policy Seminar | 3 |
| MCD-Approved Elective Course 2 | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Term 1 | ||
| MCD-Approved Elective Course 2 | 3 | |
| MCD-Approved Elective Course 2 | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
MCD Sample Degree Plan: Spring Start
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Credits | |
| Term 3 | ||
| DPP 802 | Economic Analysis for Development | 3 |
| MCD-Approved Elective Course 2 | 3 | |
| Term 4 | ||
| DPP 805 | Fiscal Management for Development Organizations | 3 |
| MCD-Approved Elective Course 2 | 3 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Fall | ||
| Term 1 | ||
| DPP 801 | Integrative Approaches to Development Policy and Practice | 3 |
| DPP 980 | Introduction to Community Development Projects 1 | 3 |
| Term 2 | ||
| DPP 806 | Organizational Management and Leadership | 3 |
| DPP 981 | Project Design and Planning 1 | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Spring | ||
| Term 3 | ||
| DPP 982 | Project Implementation and Monitoring 1 | 3 |
| Term 4 | ||
| DPP 983 | Project Evaluation 1 | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| Term 5 | ||
| DPP 808 | Policy Seminar | 3 |
| MCD-Approved Elective Course 2 | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
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.
This graduate program is approved to be taken on an accelerated basis in articulation with certain undergraduate degree programs.
General Accelerated Master's policy, note that some programs have additional requirements (e.g. higher grade expectations) compared to the policy.
Please see the Graduate School website and contact the department directly for more information.
Accelerated Master's Progam Eligible: Yes-MCD Only (not applicable for the Executive MCD program)
The 36-credit Community Development Policy and Practice (M.A.) program (MCD) allows eligible undergraduate seniors to enroll in graduate level courses which can fulfill requirements for both their undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Students can apply to the Accelerated Master's MCD program during their junior or senior year. Please review details on eligibility requirements for admission.
Eligible students who are admitted to the Accelerated Master's MCD program may complete up to 12 credits (four 3-credit courses) at the 800-level during their undergraduate senior year (unless otherwise indicated below), Credit earned counts toward both the undergraduate program and graduate degree.
The 36-credit Community Development Policy and Practice (M.A.) program (MCD) is approved to be taken on an accelerated basis in articulation with the below undergraduate programs.
The graduate 800-level courses listed below have been approved to be completed in the undergraduate senior year and earn credit toward both the undergraduate programs listed below and the Community Development Policy and Practice (M.A.) degree program.
Accelerated Master's students should always consult with their Graduate Academic Advisor for course selection guidance.
College of Health and Human Services
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Recreation Management & Policy: Outdoor Leadership and Management Option (B.S.) | ||
| Recreation Management & Policy: Program and Event Management Option (B.S.) | ||
| Recreation Management & Policy: Therapeutic Recreation Option (B.S.) | ||
| Students may select up to four (4) 800-level courses (12 credits total) from the following: | ||
Community Development Policy and Practice (M.A.) courses: | ||
| Integrative Approaches to Development Policy and Practice | ||
| Economic Analysis for Development | ||
| Fiscal Management for Development Organizations | ||
| Organizational Management and Leadership | ||
Global Conflict & Human Security (M.S.) courses: | ||
| Conflict & Human Security | ||
| Global Governance | ||
| International Development & Human Security | ||
| Sustainable Development: Gender-Environment Nexus | ||
| Peace and Human Security in the Post-Atrocity State | ||
Public Administration (M.P.A.) courses: | ||
| Foundations and Theories of Public Administration | ||
| Grant-writing for Public and Non-profit Sectors | ||
| Organization and Management in Public and Non-profit Sectors | ||
| Leadership Theory and Practice | ||
| Non-Profit Management | ||
| Managing Conflict and Change in Nonprofit and Public Organizations | ||
| Strategic Communications for Public and Non-profit Sectors | ||
| Effective Change Management in Nonprofit and Public Organizations | ||
Public Policy (M.P.P.) courses: | ||
| Fundamentals of Policy Analysis | ||
| Policy Across Borders | ||
| Strategies for Policy Impact | ||
| Media Strategy and Skills | ||
| Advanced Special Topics | ||
Recreation Management and Policy (M.S.) courses: | ||
| Recreation Resource Management | ||
| Adaptive Sport Facilitation for Recreation Therapy and Related Professions | ||
| Research, Evaluation, and Data-Driven Decisions | ||
| Therapeutic Recreation Service Delivery in Community Settings | ||
| Theories and Philosophies of Youth Development | ||
| Law and Public Policy in Leisure Services | ||
| Human Dimensions of Natural Environments | ||
College of Professional Studies - Online
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Business and Technology | ||
Accounting and Finance (B.S.) | ||
Applied Studies: Management (B.S.) | ||
Business Management: Accounting Option (B.S.) | ||
Business Management: Economic Science Option (B.S.) | ||
Business Management: Emergency Management Strategy and Planning Option (B.S.) | ||
Business Management: Finance Option (B.S.) | ||
Business Management: Leadership, Change, and Social Responsibility Option (B.S.) | ||
Business Management: Management Option (B.S.) | ||
Business Management: Nonprofit Management Option (B.S.) | ||
Business Management: Organization and Business Administration Option (B.S.) | ||
Business Management: Project Management Option (B.S.) | ||
Fire Service Administration (B.S.) | ||
Human Resource Management (B.S.) | ||
Operations, Supply Chain, and Logistics Management (B.S.) | ||
Public Administration (B.S.) | ||
Technology Management (B.S.) | ||
| Health Care, Human Services, and Behavioral Science | ||
Applied Psychology: Emergency Management Strategy and Planning Option (B.S.) | ||
Criminal Justice (B.S.) | ||
| Liberal Arts, Communications, and General Education | ||
Individualized Studies: Management (B.S.) | ||
Professional Communication: Business and Strategic Communication Option (B.S.) | ||
Professional Communication: Interpersonal and Organizational Communication Option (B.S.) | ||
Professional Communication: Visual Communication and Social Media Option (B.S.) | ||
| The approved 800-level courses below will count as electives in the undergraduate program. | ||
| Students may select up to four (4) 800-level courses (12 credits total) from the following: | ||
Community Development Policy and Practice (M.A.) courses: | ||
| Integrative Approaches to Development Policy and Practice | ||
| Economic Analysis for Development | ||
| Fiscal Management for Development Organizations | ||
| Organizational Management and Leadership | ||
Global Conflict & Human Security (M.S.) courses: | ||
| Conflict & Human Security | ||
| Global Governance | ||
| International Development & Human Security | ||
| Sustainable Development: Gender-Environment Nexus | ||
| Peace and Human Security in the Post-Atrocity State | ||
Public Administration (M.P.A.) courses: | ||
| Foundations and Theories of Public Administration | ||
| Grant-writing for Public and Non-profit Sectors | ||
| Organization and Management in Public and Non-profit Sectors | ||
| Leadership Theory and Practice | ||
| Non-Profit Management | ||
| Managing Conflict and Change in Nonprofit and Public Organizations | ||
| Strategic Communications for Public and Non-profit Sectors | ||
| Effective Change Management in Nonprofit and Public Organizations | ||
Public Policy (M.P.P.) courses: | ||
| Fundamentals of Policy Analysis | ||
| Policy Across Borders | ||
| Strategies for Policy Impact | ||
| Media Strategy and Skills | ||
| Advanced Special Topics | ||
Program Learning Outcomes
- 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.