Daniel Bromberg
Carsey School Program Faculty
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Courses: 12/Credit Hours: 36 | Program Length: 14 Months | Modality: 100% Online | No GRE Required
Application Deadlines: Dec. 15 (Spring term) & July 15 (Fall term)
Geared toward working professionals, our M.A. in Community Development (MCD) will equip you for a myriad of careers and jobs while preparing you through real-world training and connecting you to community-based partners and practitioners. You’ll learn the basis of community engagement and establish a foundation in sustainable and effective community development practices, all while learning to apply these skill sets across different sectors, including housing, health, finance, business development and more.
In our online community development degree program, you’ll learn from seasoned practitioners in economics, finance, organizational management, health and safety, and sustainable development. You’ll apply effective engagement and problem-solving techniques while working directly with a community on a four-term capstone project. You’ll also grow your professional network, connecting with respected experts across disciplines and continents. Designed for working professionals, this community development program enables you to earn your degree in just 14 months. No GRE is required for this program.
The MA in Community Development Policy and Practice program (MCD degree) prepares you for a career in community and economic development. While earning this community development degree, you will tackle real-world situations through a capstone 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 health.
Program Delivery & Location: Core academic courses for the MCD degree are offered online with choices for taking optional elective courses online or in person on UNH campuses. Students are free to carry out their capstone projects in their chosen community.
Accelerated Masters Eligible: No
SAMPLE DEGREE PLAN: Fall Start (Typical)
First Year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
E-Term 1 | ||
DPP 901 | Integrative Approaches to Development Policy and Practice | 3 |
DPP 980 | Introduction to Community Development Projects 1 | 3 |
E-Term 2 | ||
DPP 906 | Organizational Management and Leadership | 3 |
DPP 981 | Project Design and Planning 1 | 3 |
Credits | 12 | |
Spring | ||
E-Term 3 | ||
DPP 902 | Economic Analysis for Development | 3 |
DPP 982 | Project Implementation and Monitoring 1 | 3 |
E-Term 4 | ||
DPP 905 | Fiscal Management for Development Organizations | 3 |
DPP 983 | Project Evaluation 1 | 3 |
Credits | 12 | |
Summer | ||
E-Term 5 | ||
DPP 908 | Policy Seminar | 3 |
MCD Elective Course 2 | 3 | |
Credits | 6 | |
Second Year | ||
Fall | ||
E-Term 1 | ||
MCD Elective Course 2 | 3 | |
MCD Elective Course 2 | 3 | |
Credits | 6 | |
Total Credits | 36 |
First Year | ||
---|---|---|
Spring | Credits | |
E-Term 3 | ||
DPP 902 | Economic Analysis for Development | 3 |
MCD Elective Course 2 | 3 | |
E-Term 4 | ||
DPP 905 | Fiscal Management for Development Organizations | 3 |
MCD Elective Course 2 | 3 | |
Credits | 12 | |
Summer | ||
E-Term 5 | ||
DPP 908 | Policy Seminar | 3 |
MCD Elective Course 2 | 3 | |
Credits | 6 | |
Fall | ||
E-Term 1 | ||
DPP 901 | Integrative Approaches to Development Policy and Practice | 3 |
DPP 980 | Introduction to Community Development Projects 1 | 3 |
E-Term 2 | ||
DPP 906 | Organizational Management and Leadership | 3 |
DPP 981 | Project Design and Planning 1 | 3 |
Credits | 12 | |
Second Year | ||
Spring | ||
E-Term 3 | ||
DPP 982 | Project Implementation and Monitoring 1 | 3 |
E-Term 4 | ||
DPP 983 | Project Evaluation 1 | 3 |
Credits | 6 | |
Total Credits | 36 |
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.
A variety of MCD electives 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 MCD Academic Advisor for guidance and approval.
Students enrolled in the Carsey School's MA in Community Development Policy and Practice program (MCD degree) are required to complete a 36 credit program, consisting of 12 courses and a four-term capstone project:
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 901 | Integrative Approaches to Development Policy and Practice | 3 |
DPP 902 | Economic Analysis for Development | 3 |
DPP 905 | Fiscal Management for Development Organizations | 3 |
DPP 906 | Organizational Management and Leadership | 3 |
DPP 908 | Policy Seminar | 3 |
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING 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: Choose Three (3) 3-Credit Courses 2 | 9 | |
DPP #911 | Environmental Factors in Development Practice | |
DPP 951 | Nuts and Bolts of Microfinance | |
DPP 953 | Community Medicine and Epidemiology | |
DPP #954 | Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems | |
DPP 956 | Housing Development | |
DPP 960 | Social Enterprise | |
DPP 961 | Community Development Finance | |
DPP 962 | Public Safety and Community Development | |
DPP 990 | Independent Study | |
Total Credits | 36 |
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.
A variety of elective courses are offered throughout the program. This can also include DPP 990 Independent Study. Students wishing to pursue elective courses outside of the MCD program should consult with their MCD 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.
Applications must be completed by the following deadlines in order to be reviewed for admission:
Application fee: $65
Campus: Durham
New England Regional: Not Needed
Accelerated Masters Eligible: No
Students claiming in-state residency must also submit a Proof of Residence Form. This form is not required to complete your application, but you will need to submit it after you are offered admission or you will not be able to register for classes.
If you attended UNH after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester and UNH Non-Degree work.
If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must request one official transcript be sent directly to our office from the Registrar's Office of each college/university attended. International transcripts must be translated into English. We accept transcripts both electronically and in hard copy:
Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions must be submitted and applicants must disclose any previous academic or disciplinary sanctions that resulted in their temporary or permanent separation from a previous post-secondary institution. If it is found that previous academic or disciplinary separations were not disclosed, applicants may face denial and admitted students may face dismissal from their academic program.
Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted.
Letters should include academic and professional references.
Please note that when applying to the Public Policy and Analytics Dual Degree program you will need to provide a combined personal statement - one that addresses the Public Policy program and one that focuses on the Analytics program. This one is for Public Policy. This should be a clear, concise statement of the applicant’s relevant past experiences, including academics, research, and/or work experience. The statement should also include an expression of interests and an explanation of the student’s goals in pursuing a master's degree.
Statements must be included with your submitted application.
Resume is optional but recommended.
All applicants are encouraged to contact programs directly to discuss program-specific application questions.
This master's program is a hybrid of online and in person courses. Fall through spring terms are online and summer terms are in person.
Prospective international students are strongly encouraged to contact Carsey Admissions prior to starting their application and to apply as early as possible to insure visa’s and other necessary paperwork are received in a timely manner. All international applicants are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent examination scores. Please note that English Language Exams may be waived if English is your first language. If you wish to request a waiver, then please visit our Test Scores webpage for more information.
After acceptance of admission into the program, international students will receive an email from the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS). This email will ask you to complete a form online and upload necessary documents such as a passport, proof of financial support and other pertinent information. International students will also be required to purchase Travel Health Insurance if medical coverage for travel within the United States is not provided by your organization (must include: medical evacuation and repatriation). For information on additional international student requirements and documents that may be needed, please consult the UNH International Students website.
Note: international applicants are not required to complete a preapplication for this program.
Applicants can apply to start in the summer, fall, or spring terms, by the following deadlines:
» Summer Term Start: March 15th (for Carsey School Scholarship); April 15th (final)
» Fall Term Start: July 1st (preferred); July 15th (final)
» Spring Term Start: December 15th
International students are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible to ensure visas and other necessary paperwork are obtained in a timely manner. Please contact Sanjeev Sharma, Admissions and Academic Advising, with any questions or to discuss your academic plan.
All applications are submitted online through the University of New Hampshire Graduate School. Instructions, link to the online application, and list of required documents can be found on the Graduate School’s Application site. If you are unable to apply online, contact Sanjeev.Sharma@unh.edu or 603-862-1871.
All information about the application process for international students, including visas, is available on the UNH Graduate School International Student site. Because of the short duration of the on campus summer term, a pre-application is not required.
The Master of Community Development looks for applicants who have the proven academic ability to complete a rigorous course of study and ideally one or more years of relevant experience. We evaluate all candidates based on the following criteria: the personal statement, résumé/curriculum vitae, transcripts of prior college and/or graduate schoolwork, and letters of recommendation.
The personal statement is the single most important part of the application. In it you should clearly demonstrate your interest in the program and how it fits into your specific career goals. It should be a clear, concise statement of your relevant past experiences, including academics, research, and/or work experience. The statement should also include an expression of interests and an explanation of your goals in pursuing a master’s degree.
Individuals with very strong academic records who have also had significant internship and/or study abroad experience may be accepted.
The GRE is not required but can be submitted, if desired.
An international student must submit proof of competency in English. Applicants currently attending an English-speaking graduate school are not exempt. Competency in English can be demonstrated by the following methods:
Please view tuition costs on our Funding Your Education webpage. Students receiving sponsorship by government agencies, companies, or other third parties should forward notices, bill authorizations, or other evidence of the sponsorships on official letterhead to:
UNH Business Services
Attention: Third-Party Billing
11 Garrison Avenue
Durham, NH 03824
Full details and instructions can be found on the UNH Business Services Payment Methods webpage.
The Carsey School of Public Policy offers a limited number of needs-based partial tuition scholarships to students who have submitted the online application to the Master in Community Development Policy and Practice program. In order to be considered for a Carsey School Scholarship, please complete and submit your Online Scholarship Application Form by March 15. Applicants will be notified if they qualify for an award within two to three weeks after submitting a completed application. We also encourage students who are awarded a scholarship to leverage their award by seeking additional funding opportunities from other sources.
Carsey Scholarships based on financial need are considered and awarded to individuals for the program year of application. If an admitted student who has been awarded a Carsey Scholarship needs to defer his/her start date due to financial reasons, their scholarship application will also be deferred and given priority reconsideration for the new program start date.
We strongly encourage you to look into other outside scholarship opportunities from organizations such as the World Bank, Fulbright, the Ford Foundation, or the American Association of University Women (among others). Domestic students are eligible for both private and federal loans. More detailed information can be found on the UNH Grad School’s Financial Aid webpage or at Tuition Management Systems.
If you are unable to submit all of the documentation necessary to hold your space in the class, please contact Sanjeev.Sharma@unh.edu promptly to provide details of your situation so that he can advise you on the best way to proceed.
The Carsey School is proud to partner with public service organizations nationwide, enabling students to build upon their valued experiences by furthering their public service education and expanding their impact. These graduate school partners offer funding to employees, members, and alumni of their own credentialing programs. Education awards are also available for specific groups. Learn more
Electives are available in many substantive areas. Topics and courses are added on a continuing basis. In addition, independent studies with leading experts can be arranged to match specialized student interests.
Students may propose additional electives if those electives make sense in terms of the student’s interests and academic plan. Discussion with an academic advisor should inform this choice.
It’s an opportunity to learn from and alongside other professionals from all different backgrounds and walks of life. It’s a chance to build your network with a group of people you’ll work with throughout the course of the degree program. And along the way you’ll build friends and lifelong relationships.
Don’t believe us? Listen to what some of our Master in Community Development students and alum have to say about learning in a cohort!