Developing Leaders and Improving Lives in the World's Developing Countries
Participants may draw upon the broad range of courses throughout Cornell University (see the International Development Studies Directory [PDF]). A candidate for the Master of Professional Studies in International Development must complete a minimum of 2 semesters of coursework, in residence, including at least 24 hours of graduate courses or seminars, half encompassing a concentration (international nutrition, international planning, international population, science and technology policy, or development policy in some designated area), and half in the following areas of analysis: development administration and planning, development economics, development politics, development sociology, or international communications.
Students with sufficient prior training in some of these areas of analysis take courses in other areas to round out their analytical and action skills. Each student is also required to prepare a problem-solving project paper. The aim of the project is to give students supervised experience in dealing intellectually and analytically with a professional problem related to a substantive area of international development. The project can be based either on library or fieldwork. The subject must be approved in advance by the students advisors (Special Graduate Committee). Students receive 6 credit hours for acceptable projects, completing the requirement of 30 credit hours for the degree.
©2009 Cornell Unversity.