Graduate Programs

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.
  

Administration of the Program

The MSA in Community and International Development Program is housed in the Department of Behavioral Sciences, which is a part of the College of Arts and Sciences. The program director reports to the faculty and chair of the department and, as needed, to the faculty and deans of the College of Arts and Sciences. Informally, the on-campus MSA program enjoys a consultative and advisory relationship with the Interdisciplinary Master's Council, which administers the off-campus MSA in International Development, housed in the Office of Affiliation and Extension Programs.

Admission requirements

To be admitted to regular standing in this MSA program, students must:

• Qualify for general admission into graduate studies at Andrews University (see p. 44)
• Have a four-year baccalaureate degree or its equivalent
• Have completed an undergraduate course in statistics. Provisional acceptance is granted, with the undergraduate statistics course to be completed during the first semester into the program.
• Pass the GRE test. Provisional acceptance is granted, with the
  requirement of passing the GRE test during the first semester in
  the program.
  

MSA: Community & International Development
39-40 Credits

Social Science Foundations - 8
  SOCI520 or MSSN627; SOCI432; ANTH417 or MSSN615 or ANTH600; 
  SOCI550
Planning/Evaluation - 6
  SOCI530, 535, 545
Economics - 3
  ECON525 or ECON500
Management - 6
  BSAD515 and 530
Individual and Organizational Accountability - 5
  ACCT625 or ACCT500 or ACCT635 or MKTG540; IDSC640 
  (Ethics in Development) or SOCI580 or MSSN630* or CHMN638
Research and Practicum Requirements
(Capstone Activities) - 5-6
  IDSC680 (2 credits), IDSC697 (3 credits) or IDSC699 (4 credits)
Development Emphasis Area - 6

TOTAL credits required—39–40