Campuses:
This is archival data. This system was retired as of August 21, 2023 and the information on this page has not been updated since then. For current information, visit catalogs.umn.edu.
Twin Cities Campus
Development Practice M.D.P.HHH Administration
Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Link to a list of faculty for this program.
Contact Information
Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, 301 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612-624-3800; fax: 612-626-0002).
Email:
hhhadmit@umn.edu
Website: http://www.hhh.umn.edu
Along with the program-specific requirements listed below, please read the
General Information section of
this
website for requirements that apply to all major fields.
The master of development practice (MDP) prepares students for careers in international development. The degree provides rigorous interdisciplinary training and equips students with the skills needed to address the problems of poverty and sustainable development in the developing world.
The MDP program is jointly administered by the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and the Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change (ICGC) and spans several academic units across the University of Minnesota. The degree provides training in policy analysis and management, health and education, natural sciences, social sciences, and interdisciplinary research methods. An international field experience and capstone workshop in development practice also are required.
The MDP degree is part of a global consortium of international development programs.
Program Delivery
Prerequisites for Admission
The preferred undergraduate GPA for admittance to the program
is 3.00.
A four-year bachelor's degree from an accredited US university or foreign equivalent at time of enrollment.
Other requirements to be completed before admission:
While no specific experience or academic pathway is required, students with a strong liberal education background and sound quantitative and analytical skills will be best prepared for academic success at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
Previous coursework in mathematics, statistics, and economics is recommended. Past applicants needing to strengthen this part of their skill set have found courses in introductory microeconomics, college algebra, and introductory statistics to be helpful preparation. Prior to admission students may find such courses available online; many are also available at the University of Minnesota.
International professional experience and foreign language competency are strongly preferred.
Special Application Requirements:
A complete application will include a University of Minnesota graduate application, personal statement, resume or C.V., transcripts, GRE scores, TOEFL scores, at least three letters of recommendation, and an optional diversity statement.
Applicants must submit their test score(s) from the following:
International applicants must submit score(s) from one of the following tests:
The preferred English language test is Test of English as Foreign Language.
Key to test
abbreviations
(GRE, TOEFL, IELTS).
For an online application or for more information about graduate education admissions, see the
General Information section of this
website.
Program Requirements
Plan C: Plan C requires
50
major credits and
up to
credits outside the
major.
There is no final exam.
A capstone project is required.
Capstone Project: The capstone project is an opportunity for MDP students in their second year to apply their knowledge through a client-based team project. Each student team and the workshop instructor will work with an NGO or public sector client engaged in some dimension of international development, preferably situated in a developing country, to identify a suitable project. While the specifics of each project will vary, all will include in-depth research, analysis, and the creation of a professional written report. Student teams will be expected to develop an appropriate presentation of this product to the relevant stakeholders. The projects will be done by small groups and can have multiple dimensions. Students will have the opportunity to integrate various aspects of development such as economic development, public health, environmental sustainability, education and skills development, and citizen participation.
This program may be completed with a minor.
Use of 4xxx courses towards program requirements is not permitted.
A minimum GPA of 2.80
is required for students to remain in good standing.
At least 1 semesters must be completed
before filing a Degree Program Form.
Core Courses
AGRO 5321 - Ecology of Agricultural Systems
(3.0 cr)
MDP 5001 - Ways of Knowing for Sustainable Development
(2.0 cr)
MDP 5002 - Program Development Workshop
(3.0 cr)
MDP 5004 - International Field Experience
(3.0 cr)
MDP 5005 - Qualitative Methods for Development Practice
(3.0 cr)
MDP 5100 - Capstone Prep Workshop
(1.0 cr)
MDP 5200 - Capstone Workshop in Development Practice
(3.0 cr)
PA 5501 - Theories and Policies of Development
(3.0 cr)
PA 5503 - Economics of Development
(3.0 cr)
PA 5521 - Development Planning and Policy Analysis
(4.0 cr)
Statistics
PA 5031 - Statistics for Public Affairs
(4.0 cr)
or
PA 5045 - Statistics for Public Affairs, Accelerated
(4.0 cr)
Additional Methods
PA 5003 - Introduction to Financial Analysis and Management
(1.5 cr)
or
PA 5032 - Applied Regression
(2.0 cr)
or
PA 5044 - Applied Regression, Accelerated
(2.0 cr)
or
PA 5311 - Program Evaluation
(3.0 cr)
or
EPSY 5243 - Principles and Methods of Evaluation
(3.0 cr)
or
OLPD 5501 - Principles and Methods of Evaluation
(3.0 cr)
International Education
OLPD 5104 - Education and the Sustainable Development Goals
(3.0 cr)
or
OLPD 5107 - Gender, Education, and International Development
(3.0 cr)
Environmental Science
GEOG 5401W - Geography of Environmental Systems and Global Change
[ENV, WI]
(3.0 cr)
or
GCC 5008 - Policy and Science of Global Environmental Change
[ENV]
(3.0 cr)
Electives
Electives to bring total degree credits to at least 50. See www.hhh.umn.edu/degrees/mdp/ for further information.
|
|
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Agro/Ent 5321 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 1.5 [max 1.5] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | OLPD 5501/EPsy 5243 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | OLPD 5501/EPsy 5243 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Geog 3401W/5401W |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EEB 5146/FNRM 5146/GCC 5008/P |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Periodic Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |