M.S. or M.A. in Community Development
Equip yourself with the tools necessary to build communities for the 21st Century. The online M.S. or M.A. in Community Development is designed for community economic development officials, community leaders, practitioners, specialists nationwide who are already employed in the field, and for those who are committed to people and places. It provides the skills, information and networks needed to facilitate sustainable and prosperous community change. Graduates will be prepared to initiate social action processes and help to maintain balance to improve social economic cultural and environmental situations.
Community development training is essential because it:
- Initiates social action processes and helps to maintain balance to improve social economic cultural and environmental situations.
- Encourages people to see the whole picture.
- Engages citizens in democratic decision-making and action.
- Teaches critical thought, ethical consideration, careful planning and involvement of all stakeholders.
The program requires a total of 36 credit hours, including 16 credits (six courses) of core curriculum, 15 credits in two of the four track areas, and up to six credits of thesis. The four track areas include building economic capacity, natural resource management, working with native communities, and non-profit leadership.
The online M.S. or M.A. in Community Development is offered through the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (IDEA). For more information the Great Plains IDEA consortium go to: www.gpidea.org
Community Development Brochure.pdf
Community Development Student Handbook.pdf
Sample Plan of Study
Required Core Courses:
- CED 709 Community Development Orientation (1 CREDIT)
- CED 711 Community Development I: Principles and Strategies of Community Change (3 CREDITS)
- CED 713 Community Development II: Organizing for Community Change (3 CREDITS)
- CED 715 Community Analysis: Introduction to Methods (3 CREDITS)
- CED 717 Community and Regional Economic Analysis (3 CREDITS)
- CED 719 Community and Natural Resource Management (3 CREDITS)
Elective Tracks:
Choose 15 elective credits from at least two of the following Tracks.
Building Economic Capacity
- CED 731 Ecological Economics (3 CREDITS)
- CED 723 Building Native Community & Economic Capacity (3 CREDITS)
- CED 741 Economic Development Strategies & Programs (3 CREDITS)
- CED 745 Land Development Planning (3 CREDITS)
- CED 790 Graduate Seminar: Community & Regional Economic Analysis II (3 CREDITS)
- CED 790 Graduate Seminar: Housing & Development Programs (3 CREDITS)
Natural Resource Management
- CED 731 Ecological Economics (3 CREDITS)
- CED 790 Graduate Seminar: Indian Country Agriculture & Natural Resources (3 CREDITS)
- CED 733 Sustainable Communities (3 CREDITS)
- CED 745 Land Development Planning (3 CREDITS)
- CED 735 Policies & Politics of Coastal Areas (3 CREDITS)
- CED 790 Graduate Seminar: Environmental Law (3 CREDITS)
Working with Native Communities
- CED 721 Introduction to Native Community Development (3 CREDITS)
- CED 723 Building Native Community & Economic Capacity (3 CREDITS)
- CED 790 Graduate Seminar: Indian Country Agriculture & Natural Resources (3 CREDITS)
Non-profit Leadership
- CED 753 Not-for-profit Management (3 CREDITS)
- CED 755 Community Leadership & Capacity Building (3 CREDITS)
- CED 790 Graduate Seminar: Evaluation of Organizations & Programs (3 CREDITS)
- CED 790 Public & Non-Profit Budgeting (3 CREDITS)
- CED 790 Graduate Seminar: Community Developer as Community Educator (3 CREDITS)
- CED 790 Graduate Seminar: Participatory Action Research Methods (3 CREDITS)
- CED 790 Graduate Seminar: Grant Development & Management (3 CREDITS)
Elective Courses:
- CED 725 Wellness in Native Communities: Challenges & Opportunities (3 CREDITS)
- CED 742 Economic & Impact Analysis (3 CREDITS)
- CED 743 Cost-Benefit Analysis (3 CREDITS)
- CED 744 Local Economic Analysis (3 CREDITS)
- CED 728 Role of Tribal Colleges in Economic Development (3 CREDITS)
- CED 752 Grantwriting (3 CREDITS)
- CED 790 Graduate Seminar: Immigrants in Communities (3 CREDITS)
- CED 790 Graduate Seminar: Social Impact Assessment (3 CREDITS)
- CED 790 Graduate Seminar: Local Food Systems (3 CREDITS)
- CED 790 Graduate Seminar: Tourism in Community Development (3 CREDITS)
Additional Courses: (3 CREDITS)
- Thesis or Creative Component (up to 6 CREDITS)
Total Credits: 36
Graduate Faculty
For information about graduate faculty for this program as well as their current research interests, visit the online M.S. or M.A. in Community Development bulletin page.
Admission
Apply for admission
View Getting Started Guide
For current admission requirements, visit the online M.S. or M.A. in Community Development bulletin page.
TUITION AND FEES
View Great Plains IDEA tuition and fee information.
Contact Information
NDSU Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Phone: 701-231-8657
Email: Gary.Goreham@ndsu.edu
Web: http://www.ndsu.edu/socanth/
NDSU Distance & Continuing Education
Phone: 1-800-726-1724 or 701-231-7015
Email: ndsu.dce@ndsu.edu
NDSU Graduate School
Phone: 701-231-7033
Email: ndsu.grad.school@ndsu.edu
Web: http://www.ndsu.edu/gradschool/