The International Community Development Master’s degree is designed to prepare men and women for context-sensitive, strategic leadership for advocacy and social change, both in the US and overseas. The degree highlights core issues of global-cultural awareness and social justice and places special emphasis on the needs of the poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed. Students will be equipped to identify, analyze, and understand cultural differences in contexts of need, and to develop holistic responses that are sensitive to the particular constraints and opportunities presented in those settings. Students will, in the course of study, explore career options in relief and development contexts, including leadership, sustainable funding, and social entrepreneurship, as well as project design and program evaluation.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the MAICD program, graduates will be able to:

1. Assess the particularities of culture contexts as they are relevant to the design and implementation of community development interventions;
2. Engage qualitative research methods to identify a community’s core challenges and inherent resources;
3. Collaborate with community stakeholders and external agencies to create contextualized responses to social challenges;
4. Define a personal theological/philosophical framework for a vocation of service;
5. Lead and empower communities to maximize environmental sustainability and resilience.
6. Develop lifelong, habitual practices of authentic self-assessment and personal transformation;
7. Strategize for effective program implementation and management;
8. Analyze relief and development outcomes to assess program impact.

Program Delivery Models and Curriculum

Applicants to the MA in International Community Development choose between on-campus and online global hybrid program delivery models. The online global hybrid MAICD begins with a week in Oxford, England, and ends with another international trip for integrative project presentations. The on-campus MAICD typicaly meets one evening per week. While every semester of the on-campus program features on-campus courses, certain courses are only offered online. Both versions of the MAICD are identical in terms of their programmatic requirements, learning outcomes, and course sequence. Students take 36 credits over a period of 20-24 months. Two-credit classes typically last 15 weeks, whereas three-credit classes may be either consecutive (lasting for eight weeks each) or concurrent (lasting a total of 16 weeks). Theoretical grounding, the development of practical skills, and experiential learning are critical values for the program. Fieldwork is designed by each student with input from ICD faculty members and consists of 80 hours of service which will provide a relevant context for research. Students are expected to complete their fieldwork by the end of summer semester. Prior to graduation, students complete an integrative project which they present at the end of the program. 

Transfer Credits

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Master’s students may transfer up to 6 credit hours of eligible graduate level coursework (subject to Program Director’s approval) from an accredited institution towards their degree requirements. This must done prior to beginning the program and students interested in transferring graduate credits should contact the MA Director of Student Services.

Courses may be taught in a different semester sequence.