Program Overview

The MSA in Community and International Development is an 18-24 month graduate program. On a basic level, students will explore the social science foundations especially in regard to probing the meaning of people-centered development. Students will develop skills related to program planning, implementation, and evaluation and will gain knowledge in principles of organizational behavior, leadership, and management as they relate to non-profit organizations. Further, ethical principles and financial analysis for assuring individual and organizational accountability will be covered. Social research methods and techniques of communicating with stakeholders about their community development plans will be mastered. Students will obtain competency in at least one concentration emphasis to meet the career goals of the student. The Field Practicum will require the student to undertake a 300 hour internship.

Our program places a strong emphasis on project management and there are six equally important components in the practice of project cycle management.

• Programming. Explore the situation at the national and sectarian level, including review of initiatives and lessons learned by international, national, and local-level programs and organizations.

• Identification. Screen potential project ideas in consultation with intended beneficiaries and stakeholders regarding the feasibility of various concept proposals as the basis for decision making.

• Formulation. Develop a project proposal that is both feasible and sustainable with the participation of the beneficiaries and stakeholders.

• Financing. Identify potential donors and how best to approach them, including preparing grant proposals with detailed budgets which sets out how the project will be funded and implemented.

• Implementation. Recruitment and training of staff, team building, and monitoring progress toward pre-determined objectives with input from beneficiaries and stakeholders.

• Evaluation. Discover what has been achieved, including measurement of outcomes, financial analysis, and identification of lessons learned.

Detail course descriptions and a course planner are available in the CIDP Student Handbook on the Resources page of this website.