The Development Practice Minor

The Master of Development Practice (MDP) is a jointly offered program in international and sustainable development of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and the Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change (ICGC) at the University of Minnesota. Our MDP program is part of a global network that prepares graduate students for careers in international and sustainable development. The two-year degree provides rigorous interdisciplinary training, equipping students with the skills they need to address the problems of poverty and sustainable development surrounding livelihood practices in the global south. The MDP program spans seven academic units across the University of Minnesota to provide interdisciplinary training in policy analysis and management; health and education; natural sciences; social sciences, and research methods. The program curriculum extends beyond the classroom to include a summer development field experience and a capstone workshop in development practice. Graduate minor students may elect to participate in one of the practice components of the program.

The graduate minor in Development Practice enables students in other University of Minnesota graduate programs to enroll for a limited number of credits and earn a credential in international/sustainable development practice. The graduate minor program has two tracks at the master’s and doctoral levels. The practice track incorporates one of the two experiential program components (either the summer field experience or the capstone course) plus coursework. The coursework track focuses on relevant coursework without requiring the experiential component for students who seek academic preparation in the field but prefer not to or are unable to participate in the experiential components of the program.

• MDP 5001 (2 cr) | Ways of Knowing for Sustainable Development  [Wilsey]

Complexities of interdisciplinary study of development and a range of ways of knowing the field of development studies and sustainability. Approaches practiced by physical, biological, social science, and humanities scholars. "Ways of knowing" in different cultures/groups and from a variety of situated perspectives. Key issues and concepts and key methodological challenges facing us as we engage in interdisciplinary and international development study and practice. Sustainable livelihoods. Team taught when possible by faculty from biological, social sciences, and humanities, or at minimum will include guest lecturers who can offer a range of disciplinary perspectives on questions of development.

• MDP 5002 (3 cr) | Program Development Workshop [Wilsey]

Research/writing skills to support work in international development. Discussion of basic qualitative research methods/data analysis. Qualitative/quantitative data, collaborative research/analysis. Relationship between research/policy.

• MDP 5004 (3 cr) | Summer Field Experience

For more on the field experience please click here. 

• MDP  5100 (1 cr) | Capstone Prep Workshop [Note: this course meets once in early November and then is self-directed for balance of semester]

This project-focused seminar meets once at the beginning of the fall semester to collect observations, reflections and insights from the summer field placements. Then, throughout the fall semester, the seminar will meet periodically to stage the spring capstone course. Staging includes a capstone overview session, presentation of projects, team selection process and initial client engagements, the latter being particularly important for teams aspiring to travel during the winter or spring breaks. 

• PA 5503 (3 cr) | Economics of Development [Assaad]

Economic growth, inequality, poverty, rural/urban labor markets, risk/insurance. Investments in human capital, credit markets, gender/household economics, governance/institutional issues. Microfinance, conditional cash transfers, labor/education policies. prereq: PA 5501 or concurrent registration is required (or allowed) in PA 5501

• PA 5501 (3 cr) | Theories & Policies of Development [Voller]

What makes some countries wealthier than others, one group of people healthier and more educated than another? How does the behavior of rich nations affect poor nations? Origins of development thought, contemporary frameworks and policy debates. Economic, human, and sustainable development.

• PA 5521 (4 cr) | Development Planning & Policy Analysis [Assaad]

Techniques of development planning/policy analysis at national, regional, and project levels. Effects of external shocks and government interventions on national/regional economies. Macroeconomic modeling, input-output analysis, social accounting matrices/multipliers, project evaluation. prereq: 5031 or equiv recommended or instr consent

• MDP  5100 (1 cr) | Capstone Prep Workshop [Note: this course meets once in early November and then is self-directed for balance of semester]

This project-focused seminar meets once at the beginning of the fall semester to collect observations, reflections and insights from the summer field placements. Then, throughout the fall semester, the seminar will meet periodically to stage the spring capstone course. Staging includes a capstone overview session, presentation of projects, team selection process and initial client engagements, the latter being particularly important for teams aspiring to travel during the winter or spring breaks.

• PA 5503 (3 cr) | Economics of Development [Assaad]

Economic growth, inequality, poverty, rural/urban labor markets, risk/insurance. Investments in human capital, credit markets, gender/household economics, governance/institutional issues. Microfinance, conditional cash transfers, labor/education policies.

• MDP 5200 (3 cr) | Capstone Workshop in Development Practice [Var.]

Learning from field experiences. Analytical/practical skills developed in academic training. Apply skill/experiences to "real world" problem provided by local or international development-focused organization. Reflective practice.