Community Development Policy and Practice: Executive (M.A.)
https://www.unh.edu/program/master-arts/community-development-policy-practice-executive
What the Program Covers
The online Executive Master in Community Development (MCD) program prepares students to lead community development initiatives in the public and nonprofit sectors. The Executive MCD is taught by practitioners with expertise in development finance, economic and policy analysis, organizational development, and project management. Students apply what they learn through a community-based capstone project addressing real-world challenges.
The curriculum emphasizes applied, participatory approaches that build skills in program design, financial and project management, and sustainable development. Professionals with five or more years of relevant experience may qualify for this reduced-credit Executive MCD program and those with less experience can enroll in the 36-credit MCD program. Note that the GRE is not required for admission to this program.
Program Highlights
- 10 courses, fully online and flexible to the needs of working professionals
- Start in the fall, spring, or summer
- Gain effective community development skills and tools through an applied four-term capstone project in your community
- Connect with respected field experts across disciplines
Program Delivery and Options
All courses are delivered online. Students may take optional electives in person on UNH campuses. An optional Washington, DC Colloquium brings students to Washington, DC for a week of meetings with policymakers and practitioners.
Students enrolled in the Carsey School's Executive Master in Community Development Policy and Practice program (MCD) are required to complete a 30-credit program, consisting of 10 courses including a four-term capstone project:
- 5 CORE Curriculum Courses
- 4 EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING Courses
- 1 ELECTIVE Course
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 Required 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 Required 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 |
| Electives (1 Course) | ||
| MCD-Approved Elective Course 2 | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 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. 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.
Executive MCD Sample Degree Plan (30 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 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Executive MCD Sample Degree Plan (30 Credits): Spring Start
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Credits | |
| Term 3 | ||
| DPP 802 | Economic Analysis for Development | 3 |
| Term 4 | ||
| DPP 805 | Fiscal Management for Development Organizations | 3 |
| MCD-Approved Elective Course 2 | 3 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| Term 5 | ||
| DPP 808 | Policy Seminar | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| 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 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
With full faculty support, students carry out a four-term capstone project in their communities by completing actionable assignments throughout the series of 4 applied project courses.
- 2
A variety of MCD Elective courses and other Carsey graduate courses are offered each term. 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.