Master's Degree in Applied Community Change and Conservation

Supporting the Professional Growth of Community Leaders Worldwide

Purpose: This two-year master's degree program provides higher education for mid-career development professionals while allowing them to remain on the job and in their own countries. This program integrates:

• On the job skills development
• First-hand experience with a wide range of successful international development and conservation programs
• An applied practicum (thesis) project

Academic Year: For 20 months, students remain in their home countries and complete an applied practicum project to build new skills and focus on a core question of local relevance. Simultaneous online coursework and interaction with global peers helps students build a theoretical and cross-cultural perspective of core topics, including:

• Primary health
• Nature conservation
• Peacebuilding
• Food and water security
• Leadership and management

Each term, students join peers and faculty for a one-month residential (Term I in India, Term II in the USA, Term III in Peru, and Term IV plus graduation in Nepal and China).   Residentials help students deepen coursework and lessons through firsthand experience with outstanding community-based development and conservation projects.