Twin Cities campus

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).
  • Program Type: Master's
  • Requirements for this program are current for Spring 2023
  • Length of program in credits: 50
  • This program requires summer semesters for timely completion.
  • Degree: Master of Development Practice
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 Development Practice master’s degree (MDP), jointly administered by the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and the Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change, 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 provides training in policy analysis and management, health and education, natural sciences, social sciences, and interdisciplinary research methods. The Minnesota MDP program and degree are part of a global association of MDP programs.
Program Delivery
  • via classroom (the majority of instruction is face-to-face)
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:
A strong liberal education background, and sound quantitative and analytical skills are preferred. Previous coursework in mathematics, statistics, and economics is recommended. Applicants needing to strengthen this part of their skill set prior to admission may wish to take introductory microeconomics, college algebra, and/or introductory statistics courses. International professional experience and foreign language competency are strongly preferred.
Special Application Requirements:
A complete application will include a University of Minnesota application, personal statement, resume or C.V., transcripts, GRE scores, TOEFL scores, at least three letters of recommendation, and an optional diversity statement. For M.D.P. applicants applying for the Fall 2023 cohort, GRE scores are not required. We request that applicants not submit them as they will not be weighed as part of the admissions process.
Applicants must submit their test score(s) from the following:
  • GRE
International applicants must submit score(s) from one of the following tests:
  • TOEFL
    • Internet Based - Total Score: 100
    • Paper Based - Total Score: 600
  • IELTS
    • Total Score: 7.0
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: A team project (MDP 5200), conducted in consultation with the workshop advisor and an NGO or public-sector client, is completed during the second year of study.
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.
A team project (MDP 5004), conducted in consultation with a faculty advisor and an NGO or public-sector client, is completed during the summer following the first year of study. Projects are place-based, and typically occur in an international context over a 10-week period. Additional cost for the field experience project is the responsibility of the student. All courses must be taken in consultation with the advisor.
Core Courses (21 credits)
Take the following courses. Courses offered on both the A-F and S/N grade basis must be taken A-F.
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 5005 - Qualitative Methods for 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 credits)
Select 1 of the following courses in consultation with the advisor. Courses offered on both the A-F and S/N grade basis must be taken A-F.
PA 5031 - Statistics for Public Affairs (4.0 cr)
PA 5045 - Statistics for Public Affairs, Accelerated (4.0 cr)
Additional Methods Course (1 course)
Select at least 1 course (variable credit requirement) from the following in consultation with the advisor. Courses offered on both the A-F and S/N grade basis must be taken A-F.
EPSY 5243 - Principles and Methods of Evaluation (3.0 cr)
OLPD 5501 - Principles and Methods of Evaluation (3.0 cr)
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)
International Education Course (3 credits)
Select 1 of the following courses in consultation with the advisor. Courses offered on both the A-F and S/N grade basis must be taken A-F.
OLPD 5103 - Comparative Education (3.0 cr)
OLPD 5104 - Education and the Sustainable Development Goals (3.0 cr)
OLPD 5107 - Gender, Education, and International Development (3.0 cr)
Environmental Sciences Course (3 credits)
Select 1 of the following courses in consultation with the advisor. Courses offered on both the A-F and S/N grade basis must be taken A-F.
ESPM 5251 - Natural Resources in Sustainable International Development (3.0 cr)
GCC 5008 - Policy and Science of Global Environmental Change [ENV] (3.0 cr)
GCC 5031 - The Global Climate Challenge: Creating an Empowered Movement for Change [CIV] (3.0 cr)
GCC 5032 - Ecosystems Health: Leadership at the intersection of humans, animals and the environment [ENV] (3.0 cr)
GEOG 5401W - Geography of Environmental Systems and Global Change [ENV, WI] (3.0 cr)
PA 5242 - Environmental Planning, Policy, and Decision Making (3.0 cr)
PA 5724 - Climate Change Policy (3.0 cr)
PA 5751 - Addressing Climate and Energy Challenges at the Local Scale (3.0 cr)
Leadership and Management Course (3 credits)
Select 1 of the following courses in consultation with the advisor. Courses offered on both the A-F and S/N grade basis must be taken A-F.
ESPM 5202 - Environmental Conflict Management, Leadership, and Planning (3.0 cr)
PA 5101 - Management and Governance of Nonprofit Organizations (3.0 cr)
PA 5151 - Organizational Perspectives on Global Development & Humanitarian Assistance (3.0 cr)
PA 5771 - Change Leadership for Environmental, Social and Governance Action (3.0 cr)
Public Health Course (2-3 credits)
Select 1 of the following courses in consultation with the advisor. Courses offered on both the A-F and S/N grade basis must be taken A-F.
PUBH 6108 - Foundations of Global Health (2.0 cr)
PUBH 6320 - Fundamentals of Epidemiology (3.0 cr)
Practicum Experiences (7 credits)
Take the following courses. Courses offered on both the A-F and S/N grade basis must be taken A-F.
MDP 5004 - International Field Experience (3.0 cr)
MDP 5100 - Capstone Prep Workshop (1.0 cr)
MDP 5200 - Capstone Workshop in Development Practice (3.0 cr)
Electives
Select elective credits, in consultation with the advisor, to meet the 50-credit minimum. Other courses, including courses from the above lists not being used to satisfy degree requirements, may be applied with advisor approval.
ANTH 8120 - Problems in Culture Change and Applied Anthropology (3.0-6.0 cr)
ENTR 6025 - Introduction to Entrepreneurship (2.0 cr)
ESPM 5061 - Water Quality and Natural Resources (3.0 cr)
ESPM 5108 - Ecology of Managed Systems (4.0 cr)
ESPM 5604 - Environmental Management Systems and Strategy (3.0 cr)
GEOG 5385 - Globalization and Development: Political Economy (4.0 cr)
GEOG 5561 - Principles of Geographic Information Science (4.0 cr)
HORT 5071 - Ecological Restoration (4.0 cr)
OLPD 5011 - Leading Organizational Change: Theory and Practice (3.0 cr)
OLPD 5048 - Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Leadership (3.0 cr)
OLPD 5104 - Education and the Sustainable Development Goals (3.0 cr)
OLPD 5502 - Comparative evaluation theory for practice (3.0 cr)
OLPD 8101 - International Education and Development (3.0 cr)
OLPD 8596 - Evaluation Internship (1.0-9.0 cr)
PA 5105 - Integrative Leadership: Leading Across Sectors to Address Grand Challenges (3.0 cr)
PA 5136 - Group Process Facilitation for Organizational and Public/Community Engagement (1.0 cr)
PA 5137 - Project Management in the Public Arena (1.5 cr)
PA 5144 - Social Entrepreneurship (3.0 cr)
PA 5190 - Topics in Public and Nonprofit Leadership and Management (1.0-3.0 cr)
PA 5251 - Strategic Planning and Management (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 5405 - Public Policy Implementation (3.0 cr)
PA 5522 - International Development Policy, Families, and Health (3.0 cr)
PA 5561 - Gender and International Development (3.0 cr)
PA 5601 - Global Survey of Gender and Public Policy (3.0 cr)
PA 5622 - GAINS: Gender and Intersectional Network Series, Leadership Workshop I (0.5-1.0 cr)
PA 5623 - GAINS: Gender and Intersectional Network Series, Leadership Workshop II (0.5-1.0 cr)
PA 5721 -  Energy Systems and Policy (3.0 cr)
PA 5801 - Global Public Policy (3.0 cr)
PA 5825 - Crisis Management in Foreign Affairs (1.5 cr)
PA 5890 - Topics in Foreign Policy and International Affairs (0.5-5.0 cr)
PA 5910 - Developing Your Public Service Career (1.0 cr)
PA 5926 - Presentation Skills: How to Inspire Your Audience and Change the World (1.0 cr)
PA 5927 - Effective Grantwriting for Nonprofit Organizations (1.5 cr)
PA 5928 - Data Management and Visualization with R (1.5 cr)
PA 5929 - Data Visualization: Telling Stories with Numbers (2.0 cr)
PA 8302 - Applied Policy Analysis (4.0 cr)
PA 8991 - Independent Study (0.5-4.0 cr)
PUBH 6102 - Issues in Environmental Health (2.0 cr)
PUBH 6815 - Community-based Participatory Research (2.0 cr)
PUBH 6845 - Using Demographic Data for Policy Analysis (3.0 cr)
PUBH 6933 - Public Health Nutrition for Adults (2.0 cr)
 
More program views..
View college catalog(s):
· Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs

View future requirement(s):
· Fall 2023

View PDF Version:
Search.
Search Programs

Search University Catalogs
Related links.

Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs

Graduate Admissions

Graduate School Fellowships

Graduate Assistantships

Colleges and Schools

One Stop
for tuition, course registration, financial aid, academic calendars, and more
 
AGRO 5321 - Ecology of Agricultural Systems
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Agro/Ent 5321
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Ecological approach to problems in agricultural systems. Formal methodologies of systems inquiry are developed/applied. prereq: [3xxx or above] course in [Agro or AnSc or Ent or Hort or PlPa or Soil] or instr consent
MDP 5001 - Ways of Knowing for Sustainable Development
Credits: 2.0 [max 2.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
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. prereq: Grad MDP major or instr consent
MDP 5002 - Program Development Workshop
Credits: 3.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
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. prereq: MDP grad student or instr consent
MDP 5005 - Qualitative Methods for Development Practice
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
Course introduces students to qualitative inquiry and analysis in the field of international and/or sustainable development practice. It provides students with first hand experience in research design for development practice applications, including data collection and analysis. The course includes lectures, discussions, presentations, and project based learning. It is considered introductory as a single semester is insufficient to introduce, design, and conduct a comprehensive qualitative inquiry and analysis.
PA 5501 - Theories and Policies of Development
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall
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. prereq: Grad student or instr consent
PA 5503 - Economics of Development
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
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 5521 - Development Planning and Policy Analysis
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Typically offered: Every Spring
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
PA 5031 - Statistics for Public Affairs
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Basic statistical tools for empirical analysis of public policy alternatives. Frequency distributions, descriptive statistics, elementary probability/probability distributions, statistical inference. Estimation/hypothesis testing. Cross-tabulation/chi-square distribution. Analysis of variance, correlation. Simple/multiple regression analysis.
PA 5045 - Statistics for Public Affairs, Accelerated
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Introduces a range of quantitative tools that are commonly used to inform issues in public affairs. The course provides an introduction to descriptive statistics, probability, and statistical inference, with an emphasis on the ways in which quantitative tools are applied to a diverse range of practical policy questions. PA 5045 is an accelerated treatment of applied statistics for public affairs and serves as a more mathematically and conceptually rigorous alternative to PA 5031.
EPSY 5243 - Principles and Methods of Evaluation
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: OLPD 5501/EPsy 5243
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Introductory course in program evaluation; planning an evaluation study, collecting and analyzing information, reporting results; overview of the field of program evaluation.
OLPD 5501 - Principles and Methods of Evaluation
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: OLPD 5501/EPsy 5243
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Introduction to program evaluation. Planning an evaluation study, collecting and analyzing information, reporting results; evaluation strategies; overview of the field of program evaluation.
PA 5003 - Introduction to Financial Analysis and Management
Credits: 1.5 [max 1.5]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Finance/accounting concepts/tools in public/nonprofit organizations. Fund accounting. Balance sheet/income statement analysis. Cash flow analysis. Public/nonprofit sector budgeting processes. Lectures, discussions. Cases. prereq: Public policy major/minor or major in development practice, public affairs or liberal studies or grad nonprofit mgmt cert or instr consent
PA 5032 - Applied Regression
Credits: 2.0 [max 2.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Bivariate/multivariate models of regression analysis, assumptions behind them. Problems using these models when such assumptions are not met.
PA 5044 - Applied Regression, Accelerated
Credits: 2.0 [max 2.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
Bivariate/multivariate models used in regression analysis, including assumptions behind them/problems that arise when assumptions are not met. Course covers similar topics as PA 5032 but delves deeper into theory/application of methods. prereq: Students who register for PA 5044 must take PA 5044 and PA 5033 in the same semester. The same grade will be issued for PA 5044 and PA 5033 after PA 5033 is completed.
PA 5311 - Program Evaluation
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
This course covers the core principals, methods, and implementation of evaluation research. Students will learn through an applied partnership with a nonprofit or state/local government clients. The course is designed for both students interested in a potential career in evaluation and those that want to be better consumers of research. Past programmatic/policy areas included health and human services, education, environment science, economic development, transportation, and evidence-based policymaking.
OLPD 5103 - Comparative Education
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall
Examination of systems and philosophies of education globally with emphasis upon African, Asian, European, and North American nations. Foundations of comparative study with selected case studies.
OLPD 5104 - Education and the Sustainable Development Goals
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer
This course provides a critical analysis of strategies used to improve educational outcomes worldwide. This course examines contemporary trends in educational policy, development, and practice, focusing on how?s and why?s of educational change. Empirical studies, organizational reports, and student experiences all inform class discussion. prereq: Grad student
OLPD 5107 - Gender, Education, and International Development
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Role of gender/gender relations in international development/education. Interdisciplinary body of literature from development studies, political science, economics, anthropology, cultural studies, gender/women's studies.
ESPM 5251 - Natural Resources in Sustainable International Development
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: ESPM 3251/ESPM 5251/LAS 3251
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
International perspectives on resource use in developing countries. Integration of natural resource issues with social, economic, and policy considerations. Agriculture, forestry, agroforestry, non-timber forest products, water resources, certification, development issues. Latin American case studies. prereq: Grad student or instr consent
GCC 5008 - Policy and Science of Global Environmental Change (ENV)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: EEB 5146/FNRM 5146/GCC 5008/P
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Spring
Through readings, lectures, discussions, written assignments, and presentations this course introduces the critical issues underpinning global change and its environmental and social implications. The course examines current literature in exploring evidence for human-induced global change and its potential effects on a wide range of biological processes and examines the social and economic drivers, social and economic consequences, and political processes at local, national, and international scales related to global change. This is a Grand Challenge Curriculum course.
GCC 5031 - The Global Climate Challenge: Creating an Empowered Movement for Change (CIV)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: GCC 3031/GCC 5031
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Spring
Students will explore ecological and human health consequences of climate change, the psychology of climate inaction, and will be invited to join us in the radical work of discovering not only their own leadership potential but that of others. We will unpack the old story of domination and hierarchy and invite the class to become part of a vibrant new story of human partnership that will not only help humanity deal with the physical threat of climate change but will help us create a world where we have the necessary skills and attitudes to engage the many other grand challenges facing us. Using a strategy of grassroots empowerment, the course will be organized to help us connect to the heart of what we really value; to understand the threat of climate change; to examine how we feel in the light of that threat; and to take powerful action together. Students will work in groups throughout the course to assess the global ecological threat posed by climate change, and they will be part of designing and executing an activity where they empower a community to take action. This is a Grand Challenge Curriculum course. For: so, jr, sr, grad
GCC 5032 - Ecosystems Health: Leadership at the intersection of humans, animals and the environment (ENV)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: GCC 3032/GCC 5032
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Spring
What are the effects of climate change, disease emergence, food and water security, gender, conflict and poverty, and sustainability of ecosystem services on health? Unfortunately, these large-scale problems often become overwhelming, making single solution-based progress seem daunting and difficult to implement in policy. Fortunately, the emerging discipline of ecosystem health provides an approach to these problems grounded in trans-disciplinary science. Ecosystem health recognizes the interdependence of human, animal and environmental health, and merges theories and methods of ecological, health and political sciences. It poses that health threats can be prevented, monitored and controlled via a variety of approaches and technologies that guide management action as well as policy. Thus, balancing human and animal health with management of our ecosystems. In this class, we will focus on the emerging discipline of ecosystem health, and how these theories, methods and computational technologies set the stage for solutions to grand challenges of health at the interface of humans, animals and the environment. We will focus not only on the creation and evaluation of solutions, but on their feasibility and implementation in the real world through policy and real time decision making. This will be taught in the active learning style classroom, requiring pre class readings to support didactic theory and case-based learning in class. Participation and both individual and group projects (written and oral presentation) will comprise most of the student evaluation. These projects may reflect innovative solutions, discoveries about unknowns, or development of methods useful for ecosystem health challenges. We envision that some of them will lead to peer-review publications, technical reports or other forms of publication. This is a Grand Challenge Curriculum course.
GEOG 5401W - Geography of Environmental Systems and Global Change (ENV, WI)
Credits: 3.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Geog 3401W/5401W
Typically offered: Periodic Fall
Geographic patterns, dynamics, and interactions of atmospheric, hydrospheric, geomorphic, pedologic, and biologic systems as context for human population, development, and resource use patterns. prereq: grad student or instr consent
PA 5242 - Environmental Planning, Policy, and Decision Making
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall
Theory and practice. Ethical, legal, and institutional frameworks relative to a range of environmental issues. Innovative environmental decision making informed by collaboration, conflict resolution, adaptive management, and resilience thinking. prereq: Grad or instr consent
PA 5724 - Climate Change Policy
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall
Existing and proposed approaches to mitigate and adapt to climate change through policies that cross scales of governance (from local to global) and impact a wide range of sectors. Exploration of climate change policy from a variety of disciplinary approaches and perspectives, emphasizing economic logic, ethical principles, and institutional feasibility. How policy can be shaped in the face of a variety of competing interests to achieve commonly desired outcomes. Students develop a deep knowledge of climate change in particular countries through a team final project. prereq: Intro microecon (such as Econ 1101 or equiv)
PA 5751 - Addressing Climate and Energy Challenges at the Local Scale
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Examine energy and climate innovations at local and community scales. Understand how to implement local policies, projects, and programs with a diverse set of perspectives on energy issues. Develop professional and analytical skills that support solutions to energy and climate challenges.
ESPM 5202 - Environmental Conflict Management, Leadership, and Planning
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: ESPM 3202WESPM /5202
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Negotiation of natural resource management issues. Use of collaborative planning. Case study approach to conflict management, strategic planning, and building leadership qualities. Emphasizes analytical concepts, techniques, and skills.
PA 5101 - Management and Governance of Nonprofit Organizations
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall
Theories, concepts, and real world examples of managerial challenges. Governance systems, strategic management practices, effect of funding environments, management of multiple constituencies. Types of nonprofits using economic/behavioral approaches. prereq: Grad student or instr consent
PA 5151 - Organizational Perspectives on Global Development & Humanitarian Assistance
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Organizational analysis of international development and humanitarian assistance, including perspectives from sociology, political science, psychology, public administration, and management. Examines efforts of multiple organizational players, including NGOs, governments, bi-lateral and multi-lateral organizations, corporations, foundations, and international organizations. Critical analysis of aid organizations, especially regarding ways in which they reflect and create power and privilege, the manner in which individuals’ needs and desires interact with, support, or challenge the needs of the organization, and how all of this is influenced by forces outside the boundary of the organization. Students practice developing actionable recommendations to improve the effectiveness of international aid organizations in the context of multiple (and often contested) understandings of global development needs and conflicting stakeholder demands. Readings, class discussions, mini-lectures, simulations, case analyses, group projects, oral presentations, memo writing, opinion writing.
PA 5771 - Change Leadership for Environmental, Social and Governance Action
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: OPT No Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Sustainability is increasingly being defined broadly to include the environmental, social and governance (ESG) actions, and effects of organizations. ESG concepts integrate environmental sustainability with diversity, equity, and inclusion. Individuals working within organizations or seeking to join those organizations have expressed desires to affect the actions of an organization. This course aims to give students hands-on experience with a project investigating, designing, advocating for and implementing an ESG improvement in an existing or new organization. We imagine students in this course as future intrapreneurs (an employee of an organization who creates new opportunities or products in the style of an entrepreneur) transforming practices in existing organizations or as entrepreneurs seeking to create new sustainable organizations, or both. Non-degree-seeking students possessing a bachelor's degree are encouraged to contact the instructor for permission to register.
PUBH 6108 - Foundations of Global Health
Credits: 2.0 [max 2.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
This course provides an introduction to key principles and topics in global health including measures of global burden of disease, identification of key health problems around the world and the main determinants, health systems and international public health organizations. In addition, we will discuss cross-cutting and timely issues in health promotion, disease control programs, and operational research in international settings. Class exercises and discussions will focus on challenging global health problems, and strategies to address them. This course is required for those students enrolled in the School of Public Health Global Health Certificate program, and is also open to other qualified students (see Course Prerequisites). Examples of diseases and illustrations of global health problems in this class will include both infectious and non-infectious diseases and should be of interest to students in various programs.
PUBH 6320 - Fundamentals of Epidemiology
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
This course provides an understanding of basic methods and tools used by epidemiologists to study the health of populations.
MDP 5004 - International Field Experience
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: S-N or Aud
Typically offered: Every Summer
International field experience. prereq: MDP grad student or instr consent
MDP 5100 - Capstone Prep Workshop
Credits: 1.0 [max 1.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
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.
MDP 5200 - Capstone Workshop in Development Practice
Credits: 3.0 [max 6.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
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. prereq: MDP grad student or instr consent
ANTH 8120 - Problems in Culture Change and Applied Anthropology
Credits: 3.0 -6.0 [max 6.0]
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Comparative studies of change in cultural systems. Impact of global processes on local cultures. Roles of anthropology and anthropologists in policy, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
ENTR 6025 - Introduction to Entrepreneurship
Credits: 2.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring & Summer
The course helps students develop insights on starting and sustaining a successful venture. The course focus is on opportunity identification and evaluation: Where do new venture ideas come from? How do you recognize a good business idea? How can a so-so idea be improved to be a good opportunity? Students will focus on five characteristics of a good entrepreneurial opportunity: Creating significant customer value, profit potential, profit durability, founder and team fit, and amenability to financing. prereq: MBA or Mgmt Sci MBA student
ESPM 5061 - Water Quality and Natural Resources
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Recent literature in field. Complements 4061. Ecology of aquatic ecosystems, how they are valuable to society and changed by landscape management. Case studies, impaired waters, TMDL process, student engagement in simulating water quality decision making.
ESPM 5108 - Ecology of Managed Systems
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: ESPM 3108/ESPM 5108
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Analysis of functioning of ecosystems primarily structured by managed plant communities. Managed forests, field-crop agroecosystems, rangelands, aquatic systems. Structure-function relations. Roles of biodiversity in productivity, resource-use efficiency, nutrient cycling, resilience. Emerging principles for design of sustainable managed ecosystems, provision of ecological services. prereq: Sr or grad student
ESPM 5604 - Environmental Management Systems and Strategy
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: ESPM 3603/ESPM 5603
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Environmental problems such as climate change, ozone depletion, and loss of biodiversity.
GEOG 5385 - Globalization and Development: Political Economy
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Nature/scope of modern world system (capitalism), its impact on regional development processes. Roles of state and of international financial institutions. prereq: Sr or grad or instr consent
GEOG 5561 - Principles of Geographic Information Science
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Geog 3561/ Geog 5561
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Introduction to the study of geographic information systems (GIS) for geography and non-geography students. Topics include GIS application domains, data models and sources, analysis methods and output techniques. Lectures, reading, and hands-on experience with GIS software. prereq: grad
HORT 5071 - Ecological Restoration
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: ESPM 5071/Hort 5071
Typically offered: Every Fall
Each ecosystem restoration is the product of a myriad of decisions made in response to existing site conditions (biotic and abiotic), anticipated effects from the surrounding landscape, predictions about future events, logistical realities, and, of course, desired conditions. During this course, you will learn about the ecological and social factors that affect ecosystem recovery and how people intervene to reverse ecosystem degradation. The course includes examples from ecosystems around the world, with emphasis on those found in the Midwestern US. Field trips. PREREQUISITES: This course presumes previous courses in basic ecology and plant science.
OLPD 5011 - Leading Organizational Change: Theory and Practice
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall
How theory is incorporated, affects the change process, and can improve schools/institutions of higher education. Characteristics that impact change processes/outcomes. Leadership/policy effects.
OLPD 5048 - Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Leadership
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall & Summer
Introduction to cultural variables of leadership that influence functioning of cross-cultural groups. Lectures, case studies, discussion, problem-solving, simulations. Intensive workshop.
OLPD 5104 - Education and the Sustainable Development Goals
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer
This course provides a critical analysis of strategies used to improve educational outcomes worldwide. This course examines contemporary trends in educational policy, development, and practice, focusing on how?s and why?s of educational change. Empirical studies, organizational reports, and student experiences all inform class discussion. prereq: Grad student
OLPD 5502 - Comparative evaluation theory for practice
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall & Summer
This class will give students the foundation in evaluation theory necessary for high-quality and ethical practice in evaluation, consulting, or other forms of organizational change Recommend 5501 or equivalent (can be taken concurrently)
OLPD 8101 - International Education and Development
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer
This seminar explores theories, debates, discourses, and practices that have historically linked international development (or simply ?development?) and education (both formal?schooling?and non-formal education). We will consider this linkage from different disciplinary perspectives, including anthropology, economics, history, political science, and sociology as well as interdisciplinary research that seeks to transcend these boundaries. We will examine the intertwined histories of colonialism, development, and education; efforts to promote national development through the expansion of schooling; the role of development institutions in shaping education policy and practice; and several current issues in the field of IED today. Throughout, we will consider different perspectives on how, and whether, education can foster better lives for people around the world.
OLPD 8596 - Evaluation Internship
Credits: 1.0 -9.0 [max 24.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Hands-on experience in conducting program evaluation in real-world setting under supervision of evaluation professional. prereq: [5501 or EDPA 5501 or EPSY 5243], instr consent
PA 5105 - Integrative Leadership: Leading Across Sectors to Address Grand Challenges
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Law 6623/Mgmt 6402/OLPD 6402/P
Grading Basis: OPT No Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Are you interested in working across government, business, and the non-profit sector for public good? Are you wondering how you can create sustainable shared leadership on challenges that can best be addressed together? This course explores multi-sector leadership and related governance and management challenges from a variety of perspectives and provides an opportunity for students to work together to apply what they are learning individually and in teams through in-class exercises and a final team project. The course is taught by a team of interdisciplinary faculty and considers different contexts, forms, and specific examples of multisector leadership that can enable transformative action to tackle a significant societal issue and achieve lasting change. Credit will be not be granted if credit has been received for GCC 5023, OLPD 6402, PUBH 6702, MGMT 6402, PA 5130, LAW 6623.
PA 5136 - Group Process Facilitation for Organizational and Public/Community Engagement
Credits: 1.0 [max 1.0]
Grading Basis: OPT No Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Spring & Summer
Group process facilitation components, theories, tools, techniques. Facilitator’s role in group goals and processes. Facilitation in public policy. Cross-cultural challenges. Topics may include meeting management, group decision-making, conflict, participatory leadership, and other tools.
PA 5137 - Project Management in the Public Arena
Credits: 1.5 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: OPT No Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Project management and leadership strategies for implementing public policy, including new or revised government programs, public works, and regulations. Use of project management concepts, principles, and tools, including project definition, scoping, planning, scheduling (using the critical path method), budgeting, monitoring, staffing, and managing project teams. Application of "agile" and "extreme" project management in situations of complexity and uncertainty, including those due to the scrutiny and expectations of elected officials, the media, citizens, and other stakeholders.
PA 5144 - Social Entrepreneurship
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Introduction to field of social entrepreneurship. Prepares current/future managers/leaders to create, develop, lead socially entrepreneurial organizations/initiatives. prereq: Grad student or instr consent
PA 5190 - Topics in Public and Nonprofit Leadership and Management
Credits: 1.0 -3.0 [max 9.0]
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Selected topics.
PA 5251 - Strategic Planning and Management
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: OPT No Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall
Theory and practice of strategic planning and management for public and nonprofit organizations and networks. Strategic planning process, management systems; stakeholder analyses. Tools and techniques such as purpose expansions, SWOT analyses, oval mapping, portfolio analyses, and logic models.
PA 5271 - Geographic Information Systems: Applications in Planning and Policy Analysis
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Introduction to GIS. Applications in public planning and policy analysis. Operational skills in GIS software. Mapping analysis of U.S. Census material. Local/state government management/planning. Spatial statistical analysis for policy/planning. prereq: Major in urban/regional planning or instr consent
PA 5301 - Population Methods & Issues for the United States & Global South
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: PA 5301/Soc 5511
Typically offered: Every Fall
Basic demographic measures/methodology. Demographic transition, mortality, fertility. Perspectives on nonmarital fertility, marriage, divorce, cohabitation. Cultural differences in family structure, aging, migration, refugee movements, population policies. Discussion of readings. prereq: Grad student or instr consent
PA 5405 - Public Policy Implementation
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Theory, tools, and practice of the implementation of public policy, particularly in areas involving public, private, and nonprofit organizations. Analytical approach focuses on multiple levels in policy fields to pinpoint and assess implementation challenges and levers for improvement.
PA 5522 - International Development Policy, Families, and Health
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Periodic Fall
Implications of paid/unpaid labor for development policy, using household as prism. Legal/cultural use of property rights. Financial effects of ill health. Caregiving. Work-family conflict, policies that alleviate it. Role of gender. Qualitativequantitative methods. Readings, lectures, discussions. prereq: Grad student or instr consent
PA 5561 - Gender and International Development
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Periodic Spring
Women and men are affected differently by development and participate differently in policy formulation and implementation. Gender-sensitive perspective. Historical, political context. Global South. Policy, practice, and experience (theory and measurement; international, national, local stakeholders; effects of policy and practice on development). prereq: Grad or instr consent
PA 5601 - Global Survey of Gender and Public Policy
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Periodic Fall
Introduction to the key concepts and tools necessary for gender policy analysis. Survey of the major findings in the field of gender and public policy in policy areas such as poverty alleviation, health, international security, environment and work-family reconciliation. Scope includes local, national, and global policy arenas as well as exploration of gender and the politics of policy formulation.
PA 5622 - GAINS: Gender and Intersectional Network Series, Leadership Workshop I
Credits: 0.5 -1.0 [max 1.0]
Grading Basis: S-N only
Typically offered: Fall Odd Year
GAINS: Gender and Intersectional Network Series, Leadership Workshop prepares students with the skills to lead effectively and challenge institutional norms and practices that perpetuate disparities based on gender, race and other structural inequalities. Women, racially marginalized individuals, and LGBTI-identified individuals are still disproportionately underrepresented in leadership roles in public, private, and nonprofit institutions in spite of high rates of educational attainment and equal opportunity legislation. Women of color and indigenous women face even greater obstacles to advancement compared to white women. Barriers to diverse leadership today stem less from overt discrimination and more from “second generation” forms of bias – often invisible but still powerful cultural beliefs as well as workplace structures and practices. Achieving leadership parity thus entails individual, collective and institutional change. Course pedagogy includes case studies, group discussions, self-reflection and simulations that have been proven to have a lasting impact on individual leaders in developing their own leadership capacity. Guest speakers offer potential role models and share their leadership perspectives. The workshop and two-semester format of the course allows students to benefit from a cohort model of learning and develop their own network of practice. Moreover, GAINS focuses not just on individual leadership development, but also organizational and systems level change. Students of all genders interested in addressing personal and institutional barriers to advancement that are rooted in gender inequalities and their intersections with race and other forms of inequality are welcome to enroll. To get the most out of the network and cohort development aspects of this course, students are encouraged to participate for two semesters.
PA 5623 - GAINS: Gender and Intersectional Network Series, Leadership Workshop II
Credits: 0.5 -1.0 [max 1.0]
Grading Basis: S-N only
Typically offered: Spring Odd Year
GAINS: Gender and Intersectional Network Series, Leadership Workshop prepares students with the skills to lead effectively and challenge institutional norms and practices that perpetuate disparities based on gender, race and other structural inequalities. Women, racially marginalized individuals, and LGBTI-identified individuals are still disproportionately underrepresented in leadership roles in public, private, and nonprofit institutions in spite of high rates of educational attainment and equal opportunity legislation. Women of color and indigenous women face even greater obstacles to advancement compared to white women. Barriers to diverse leadership today stem less from overt discrimination and more from ?second generation? forms of bias ? often invisible but still powerful cultural beliefs as well as workplace structures and practices. Achieving leadership parity thus entails individual, collective and institutional change. Course pedagogy includes case studies, group discussions, self-reflection and simulations that have been proven to have a lasting impact on individual leaders in developing their own leadership capacity. Guest speakers offer potential role models and share their leadership perspectives. The workshop and two-semester format of the course allows students to benefit from a cohort model of learning and develop their own network of practice. Moreover, GAINS focuses not just on individual leadership development, but also organizational and systems level change. Students of all genders interested in addressing personal and institutional barriers to advancement that are rooted in gender inequalities and their intersections with race and other forms of inequality are welcome to enroll. To get the most out of the network and cohort development aspects of this course, students are encouraged to participate for two semesters.
PA 5721 - Energy Systems and Policy
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall
Impact of energy production/consumption choices on environmental quality, sustainable development, and other economic/social goals. Emphasizes public policy choices for energy/environment, linkages between them.
PA 5801 - Global Public Policy
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Spring
This course explores the emergence and evolution of rules, norms, and institutions that constitute international relations. It will focus, in particular, on those related to questions of war, peace, and governance. For students with an interest in international security, foreign military intervention, democracy and governance promotion, and the political economy of aid.
PA 5825 - Crisis Management in Foreign Affairs
Credits: 1.5 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Spring
Crisis decision making in foreign policy. Examination of the organization and structure of crisis decision-making within U.S. national security apparatus. Analysis of in-depth four foreign policy crises (Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam – Tet, Iraq, and a current crisis). Crisis simulation with students in the role of national security leaders.
PA 5890 - Topics in Foreign Policy and International Affairs
Credits: 0.5 -5.0 [max 15.0]
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Selected topics.
PA 5910 - Developing Your Public Service Career
Credits: 1.0 [max 1.0]
Grading Basis: S-N or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Students investigate/analyze interests, skills, and abilities and combine them in a career plan. Develop tools to demonstrate abilities, document experiences/knowledge, and explore public service career options.
PA 5926 - Presentation Skills: How to Inspire Your Audience and Change the World
Credits: 1.0 [max 2.0]
Grading Basis: OPT No Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Learn techniques for making effective, persuasive presentations to different kinds of audiences. Practice is essential to improve speaking skills and reduce anxiety. Students practice by recording brief weekly presentations and making class presentations in a supportive environment. Techniques for using Powerpoint to create effective slides are practiced. Course components include presentation assignments; peer reviews; readings/videos and reflections; and class participation. May be repeated once.
PA 5927 - Effective Grantwriting for Nonprofit Organizations
Credits: 1.5 [max 1.5]
Grading Basis: OPT No Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Grantwriting skills, processes, problem,s and resources for nonprofit organizations. Researching and seeking grants. Communication with potential funders and generating financial support. Collaborating effectively with the organization and clients to create substantive, fundable proposals.
PA 5928 - Data Management and Visualization with R
Credits: 1.5 [max 1.5]
Typically offered: Every Fall
Introduction to R Studio software. Use of R Studio to carry out R file and related database management functions. Tools and techniques for data analysis and statistical programming in quantitative research or related applied areas. Topics include data selection, data manipulation, and data and spatial visualization (including charts, plots, histograms, maps, and other graphs). Prerequisite knowledge: Introductory statistics; ability to create bar graphs, line graphs, and scatter plots in MS Excel; and familiarity with principles of data visualization.
PA 5929 - Data Visualization: Telling Stories with Numbers
Credits: 2.0 [max 2.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Tools for communicating quantitative information in an intelligent, effective and persuasive way. Topics covered include 1) writing and speaking about data; 2) data management in Excel in order to prepare data for charting; 3) understanding and ability to deploy core concepts in of design, layout, typography and color to maximize the impact of their data visualizations 4) determining which types of statistical measures are most effective for each type of data and message; 5) determining which types of design to use for communicating quantitative information; and 6) designing graphs and tables that are intelligent and compelling for communicating quantitative information.
PA 8302 - Applied Policy Analysis
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Design/evaluation of public policies. Emphasizes market/non-market contexts. Microeconomics and welfare economics of policy analysis. Econometric tools for measurement of policy outcomes. Applications to policy problems. prereq: Intermediate microeconomics, introduction to econometrics
PA 8991 - Independent Study
Credits: 0.5 -4.0 [max 6.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Independent study. Limit of 6 credits applied toward a Humphrey School of Public Affairs degree or post-baccalaureate certificate program.
PUBH 6102 - Issues in Environmental Health
Credits: 2.0 [max 2.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Current issues, principles, and methods of environmental/occupational health practice. prereq: Public health [MPH or MHA or certificate] student or health journalism MA major or nursing MS student or instr consent
PUBH 6815 - Community-based Participatory Research
Credits: 2.0 [max 2.0]
Grading Basis: OPT No Aud
Typically offered: Periodic Spring
This introductory course is intended for junior faculty, post-docs, graduate students and community practitioners interested in adding CBPR to their repertoire of effective approaches to understanding and addressing social and health disparities. Topics will explore the purpose and applications of CBPR; partnership formation and maintenance; issues of power, trust, race, class, and social justice; conflict resolution; ethical issues; CBPR's relationship to cultural knowledge systems, and funding CBPR projects. This is NOT a methodology course. CBPR is an approach to conducting research that is amenable to a variety of research designs and methodologies and will NOT cover topics such as survey design, quantitative methods, qualitative methods, focus groups, community needs assessment procedures, etc.
PUBH 6845 - Using Demographic Data for Policy Analysis
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
How to pose researchable policy questions, locate existing data, turn data into a usable format, understand data documentation, analyze data, communicate findings according to standards of the professional policy community. Quantitative issues. prereq: [Grad level research methods course, basic statistics course] or instr consent
PUBH 6933 - Public Health Nutrition for Adults
Credits: 2.0 [max 2.0]
Typically offered: Every Spring
Explores nutrition through a public health lens and emphasize how nutrition research is translated into recommendations for wellness and chronic disease prevention. We will focus on adult nutrition relating to health and chronic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, coronary heart disease, hypertension, cancer, and select additional health outcomes of public health significance. The process of effectively and efficiently identifying, reading, and synthesizing existing sources of reliable information on diet-disease associations will be covered, as will applying this knowledge in a public health context.