MCD Needs Assessment
Overview
Currently, Community Development Initiatives is developing a master's degree in Community Development (MCD). The MCD will be a unique interdisciplinary degree with a collaborating faculty rooted in sociology, social work, nursing and allied health, philosophy, and political science. The MCD curriculum will be strongly applied and experiential in focus, giving students opportunities to take interesting and challenging courses, while gaining hands-on experience through a range of faculty-supervised projects. The 36-semester credit hour program will develop skills for leadership and innovative action to improve local communities
Why the MCD?
- The MCD program will be unique in addressing community development issues comprehensively. Other degree programs often concentrate on abstract or narrow aspects of community development. MCD’s integrated program will emphasize a comprehensive approach through experience in the local community framework.
- The MCD program will be innovative in its design to support the career needs of a broad range of individuals working in the community development field.
- The MCD program’s integrated interdisciplinary curriculum will expose students to projects and experiences that address the sociological, political, economic, and health dimensions of community development.
- Graduates of the MCD program will become leaders and innovators in municipal and county government, health and social service agencies, community, and faith based organizations, and other institutions and settings that promote community development.
The MCD Curriculum
The MCD degree will require completion of 10 core courses (30 semester hours) and a Project in Applied Community Development (6 semester hours). Two of the 10 core courses will orient students to the emerging national and local field of community development, and the principles of ethical leadership and action in the field. The remaining eight core courses will provide rigorous education in the key strategies and techniques of community analysis that provide the fuel and foundation for effective community development projects and programs. The Project in Applied Community Development will be an opportunity to demonstrate skillful use of key community analysis strategies and techniques under faculty direction in a real community development venture.
