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An education that makes a difference

Whether you're looking to strengthen sustainable agricultural practices in rural areasÌýor combat the global HIV/AIDs epidemic, the MA in International Development offers degree options to tackle any of the world's toughest development challenges.

Students have the opportunity to custom-design a particular focus or professional track to fit their interests and are encouraged to gain real-world experience through practica, internships, and hands-on study abroad opportunities. All students will complete a capstone option of their choice: a substantial research paper, a practicum, or a master’s thesis.

Degree Options

In addition to the standard master's degree, you can earn a dual master's degree through our partnerships at Â鶹Æƽâ°æ.

The MA in International Development is designed for students whose professional interests require a broad, multidisciplinary approach to international development theories, issues, and programs. It is particularly useful preparation for careers in policy analysis, program management, and research. The program provides opportunities for students to critically examine past and present international development theories and policiesÌýand to gain firsthand experience by working and interning with prominent development organizations. Students also have the opportunity to choose a professional track from a range of optionsÌýor to individually design aÌýspecialization relevant to their needs and interests.

Students will complete a capstone that demonstrates critical thinking andÌýresearchÌýand writing skills through completion of either a master's thesis, a substantial research paper, or a practicum.

The School of International Service (SIS) offers a dual master’s degree program with , providing graduates with a powerful combination of peace, theology, and development studies. Applications are submitted to both SIS and Wesley. Students must be admitted separately to each program. Students will earn 42 credit hours toward their MST from WTS and 33 credit hours for their MA from SIS. Students may count up to 9 credit hours of relevant coursework from Wesley toward the professional track requirement and an additional 3 credit hours toward the capstone requirement for the MA in International Development.

The School of International Service (SIS) offers a dual master's degree program with Kogod School of Business, providing students with a unique business background that complements their international development studies. MA/MBA students can specialize in areas at SIS that include international development, security, global governance, conflict resolution, global environmental policy, regional studies, US foreign policy, public diplomacy, or a tailored concentration of their choice.

The full-time MBA is a cohorted two-year program that requires 31 credit hours of approved graduate coursework from Kogod in addition to 39–42 credit hours from SIS. All students are required to participate in the full-time MBA orientation prior to the start of the program. Dual degree students may count up to 9 credit hours from their Kogod degree requirements toward their SIS degree requirements with approval of the SIS program director.

Generally, dual degree students begin their academic programs at Kogod, but this is not required. Applications are submitted to both SIS and Kogod and students must be admitted separately to each program. While students are encouraged to apply for admission to both programs simultaneously, students can apply to the second program after admission and matriculation in the first program. Students must be admitted to the second program and begin their studies prior to conferral of the degree from the first program. Applicants to the MBA program must also have completed two undergraduate courses, one in micro and one in macro economics (or the graduate equivalent), prior to entering the program.

Concentrations

Graduate study in the International Development program is anchored in a required core curriculum and offers students the opportunity to custom-design a particular concentration to fit their interests. The following drop-down menus includeÌýeach concentration and sample suggested courses, although students may also customize a concentration or design their own.

  • SIS 619 Human Rights, Media, and Technology
  • SIS 619 Humanitarian Interventions: Laws, Ethics, Dilemmas, and Ways Forward
  • SIS 619 Innovation for Social Impact
  • SIS 635 Regional Cooperation and Sustainable Development
  • SIS 635 Community Development
  • SIS 739 Private Sector Engagement with Social Issues
  • SIS 635 Program Planning in Global Health
  • SIS 636 Power and Practice in Development
  • SIS 637 International DevelopmentÌý
  • SIS 648 Social Accountability
  • SIS 750 Project Design, Monitoring and Evaluation
  • PUAD 604 Public Program Evaluation
  • SIS 620 Global Climate Change
  • SIS 620 Activism and the Environment
  • SIS 660 Environment and Politics
  • SIS 635 Geopolitics of Energy
  • ANTH 654 Topics in Environmental Anthropology
  • ENVS 660 Climatology
  • ENVS 505 Energy
  • ENVS 654 Geographic Information Systems
  • ENVS 685 Remote Sensing: Environmental Measurement from Satellites and Drones
  • MGMT 644: Managing for Climate Change
  • SIS 616 International Economics
  • SIS 619 Economics of Violence and Peace
  • SIS 652 Introduction to Environmental Economics
  • SIS 673 Comparative Political Economy
  • SIS 750 Data Analysis
  • SIS 739 Private Sector Engagement with Social Issues
  • ACCT 607 Financial Accounting
  • ECON 600 Microeconomics
  • ECON 663 Development Macroeconomics
  • ENVS 654 Geographic Information Systems
  • IBUS 745 Global Supply Chain ManagementÌý
  • MGMT 678 Blockchain Applications
  • PUAD 633 Budgeting and Financial Management
  • SIS 619 Human Rights, Media, and Technology
  • SIS 620 Environmental Justice
  • SIS 620 Activism and the EnvironmentÌý
  • SIS 620 Global Climate Change Policy
  • SIS 620 China's Environmental Challenges
  • SIS 635 NGO Management
  • SIS 660 Environment and Politics
  • ENVS 610 Environmental Science
  • PUAD 685 Race, Policy, Administration
  • WGSS 600 Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality TheoryÌý

Ìý

  • SIS 619 Humanitarian Interventions: Laws, Ethics, Dilemmas, and Ways Forward
  • SIS 635 Intro to Global Health
  • SIS 635 Progam Planning in Global Health
  • SIS 635 Migration, Equity, and Health
  • HLTH 535 Global Nutrition
  • HLTH 575 Global Health
  • HLTH 585 Global Health Policy
  • HLTH 683 Data Analysis in the Health Sciences
  • PUAD 685 Healthcare Policy
  • SIS 619 Humanitarian Interventions: Laws, Ethics, Dilemmas, and Ways Forward
  • SIS 619 Humanitarian Intervention and Peacekeeping
  • SIS 619 Human Rights, Media, and Technology
  • SIS 619 Gender, Peace, and Security
  • SIS 619 Comparative Peace Processes
  • SIS 619 Genocide and International Law
  • SIS 622 Human Rights
  • SIS 628 Race in International Relations
  • SIS 635 Migration, Equity, and Health
  • LAW 620 International Humanitarian Law
  • ANTH 544 Urban Struggle(s)/Social MovementsÌý
  • SIS 619 Innovation for Social Impact
  • SIS 619 Leadership: Power, Influence, and Driving Change
  • SIS 619 Consulting for Social Impact
  • SIS 635 NGO Management
  • SIS 635 Private Sector Engagement with Social Issues
  • SIS 726 Development Management
  • SIS 750 Organization Effectiveness for International Service
  • ACCT 607 Financial AccountingÌý
  • ACCT 611 Cost Accounting for Strategic ManagementÌý
  • ANTH 544 Urban Struggle(s)/Social Movements
  • IBUS 641 Social Sustainability Strategy
  • MGMT 611 Leading and Managing Change
  • MGMT 617 Sustainability System/Innovation
  • MGMT 685 Sustainable Entrepreneurship
  • PUAD 617 Project ManagementÌý
  • PUAD 633 Budgeting and Financial ManagementÌý
  • SIS-619 Genocide and International Law
  • SIS 620 Policy Analysis for Global Environmental Policy
  • SIS 647 Governance and Development
  • SIS 712 International Law and the Global Order
  • SIS 750 Policy Analysis for International Affairs
  • SIS 750 Project Design, Monitoring, and Evaluation
  • SIS 750 Political Risk AnalysisÌý
  • LAW 619 International Environmental Law
  • PUAD 604 Public Program Evaluation
  • PUAD 606 Foundations of Policy Analysis
  • PUAD 681 Managing Nonprofit Organizations
  • PUAD 682 Nonprofit Resource Development
  • PUAD 685 Environmental Sustainability and Public Policy
  • PUAD 685 Development Governance & ManagementÌý
  • WGSS 600 Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Theory
  • SIS 620 Water Governance
  • SIS 620 Political Ecology of Food and Agriculture
  • SIS 635 Environment and DevelopmentÌý
  • ENVS 610 Environmental Science
  • ENVS 652 Sustainable Seafood: Science and Management
  • ENVS 670: Water Resources
  • HLTH 535 Global Nutrition
  • LAW 721 Law of the Sea
  • MGMT 643 Water, Energy, Sustainable Enterprise
  • MGMT 685 Sustainable Food SystemsÌý

  • SIS 620 Sustainable Design and LEED Training

  • SIS 635 Regional Cooperation and Sustainable DevelopmentÌý

  • SIS 635 Community DevelopmentÌý

  • ANTH 544 Urban Struggle(s)/Social Movements

  • REAL 736 Urban Planning and Sustainability

  • MGMT 685 Sustainable Entrepreneurship

Experiential Learning

Students are encouraged to take Skills Institutes and participate in the Practicum Program, both of which provide extensive real world skills and experience in international development.

The practicum is a a one-semester, pre-professional experience, which can serve as a capstone for the MAID degree. Student teams complete projects for external client organizations, producing deliverables that address challenges identified by clients in a statement of work. Students work under a site supervisor and a faculty advisor. Each practicum offers real-world experience with project management, client relations, oral presentations, and writing skills. Practicum options change every year, and students can apply to one that best suits their academic and career interests. Some practica also have international immersion components.

Skills Institutes are intensive workshops designed to introduce students to professional skills relevant to careers in international affairs. Taught by experienced practitioners, these rigorous and experiential workshops allow students to translate theory into practice and gain the competencies sought by today's employers. Over 2-3 full days, students will have the opportunity to focus on tangible skills that are applicable to the development field.

Application At a Glance

View a detailed admission and degree requirements listing for your degree of interest.

Entrance Semester
Fall and Spring
Application Deadline
January 15 for the fall semester
October 1 for the spring semester
Additional Requirements
Undergraduate degree
Two letters of recommendation
Resume
Statement of Purpose
TOEFL/IELTS score if international applicant
Application
Completion of online application