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 sustainable development. The degree provides a rigorous, interdisciplinary education and equips students with the competencies, skills, and knowledge needed to work toward poverty alleviation and sustainable development in developing regions of the 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 Minnesota MDP program and degree are part of a global association of MDP 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 required capstone project is an opportunity for second-year MDP students to apply their competencies, skills, and knowledge through a client-based team project. Each student team and the workshop advisor will work with a NGO or public sector client engaged in some dimension of sustainable development to identify a project, typically situated in a developing country. While the specifics of each project vary, all will include some degree of project design, in-depth research, analysis, and the creation of a final, professional report. Student teams will be expected to develop and deliver appropriate client and public presentations. 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 development, and community engagement.
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.
The required field experience is an opportunity at the end of the first academic year for MDP students to develop and apply new competencies, skills, and knowledge through a client-based team project in the field. Each student team will be matched with a NGO or public sector client engaged in some dimension of sustainable development, typically situated in a developing country. While the specifics of each project vary, all will include some degree of project design, in-depth research, analysis, and the creation of a final, professional report. Student teams will be expected to develop and deliver appropriate client presentations. 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 development, and community engagement. The field placement entails an additional program cost that is the responsibility of students.
Required coursework offered on both the A/F and S/N grade basis must be taken A/F, with a minimum grade of C-.
Core Courses (28 credits)
Take the following 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 Course (4 credts)
Select 1 of the following courses:
PA 5031 - Statistics for Public Affairs
(4.0 cr)
PA 5045 - Statistics for Public Affairs, Accelerated
(4.0 cr)
Additional Methods Course (4 credits)
Select 1 of the following courses:
PA 5003 - Introduction to Financial Analysis and Management
(1.5 cr)
PA 5032 - Applied Regression
(2.0 cr)
PA 5044 - Applied Regression, Accelerated
(2.0 cr)
PA 5311 - Program Evaluation
(3.0 cr)
EPSY 5243 - Principles and Methods of Evaluation
(3.0 cr)
OLPD 5501 - Principles and Methods of Evaluation
(3.0 cr)
International Education Course (3 credits)
Select 1 of the following courses:
OLPD 5104 - Education and the Sustainable Development Goals
(3.0 cr)
OLPD 5107 - Gender, Education, and International Development
(3.0 cr)
Environmental Science Course (3 credits)
Select 1 of the following courses:
GEOG 5401W - Geography of Environmental Systems and Global Change
[ENV, WI]
(3.0 cr)
GCC 5008 - Policy and Science of Global Environmental Change
[ENV]
(3.0 cr)
Leadership and Management Course (3 credits)
Take the following course:
PA 5151 - Organizational Perspectives on Global Development & Humanitarian Assistance
(3.0 cr)
Electives
Select elective credits, in consultation with the advisor, to meet the 50-credit minimum. Other courses may be applied with advisor approval.
ESPM 5061 - Water Quality and Natural Resources
(3.0 cr)
ESPM 5108 - Ecology of Managed Systems
(4.0 cr)
ESPM 5202 - Environmental Conflict Management, Leadership, and Planning
(3.0 cr)
ESPM 5251 - Natural Resources in Sustainable International Development
(3.0 cr)
ESPM 5604 - Environmental Management Systems and Strategy
(3.0 cr)
HORT 5071 - Ecological Restoration
(4.0 cr)
PA 5721 - Energy Systems and Policy
(3.0 cr)
OLPD 5104 - Education and the Sustainable Development Goals
(3.0 cr)
OLPD 8101 - International Education and Development
(3.0 cr)
PA 5414 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
PUBH 6102 - Issues in Environmental Health
(2.0 cr)
PUBH 6845 - Using Demographic Data for Policy Analysis
(3.0 cr)
PUBH 6933 - Public Health Nutrition for Adults
(2.0 cr)
PA 5101 - Management and Governance of Nonprofit Organizations
(3.0 cr)
PA 5111 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
PA 5271 - Geographic Information Systems: Applications in Planning and Policy Analysis
(3.0 cr)
PA 5301 - Population Methods & Issues for the United States & Global South
(3.0 cr)
PA 5522 - International Development Policy, Families, and Health
(3.0 cr)
OLPD 5011 - Leading Organizational Change: Theory and Practice
(3.0 cr)
OLPD 5048 - Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Leadership
(3.0 cr)
ANTH 5041 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
ANTH 8120 - Problems in Culture Change and Applied Anthropology
(3.0-6.0 cr)
APEC 5152 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
GEOG 5385 - Globalization and Development: Political Economy
(4.0 cr)
GEOG 5561 - Principles of Geographic Information Science
(4.0 cr)
PA 5801 - Global Public Policy
(3.0 cr)
|
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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 only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ESPM 3108/ESPM 5108 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ESPM 3202WESPM /5202 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ESPM 3251/ESPM 5251/LAS 3251 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ESPM 3603/ESPM 5603 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ESPM 5071/Hort 5071 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
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: | Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | PA 5301/Soc 5511 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 -6.0 [max 6.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Geog 3561/ Geog 5561 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |