The Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Emergency Management in cooperation with the Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics offer a master's degree in Community Development. The degree is a multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary, online program in conjunction with the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (IDEA). Other institutions participating in this program include Iowa State University, Kansas State University, the University of Nebraska -Lincoln, and South Dakota State University.
The primary audience for this program is community economic development officials and specialists already employed in the field.
The program requires a total of 36 credit hours, including 16 credits (six courses) of Core, 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.
Program Objectives
The objectives of the Community Development graduate degree program are to:
- Increase the skills, knowledge, and competencies of community economic development officials who are currently employed and have limited opportunity to participate in an on-campus degree program.
- Provide graduate training for individuals entering the community economic development career field who require training/degrees for career advancement.
- Enhance the community economic development skills, knowledge, and competencies of individuals working with Native American communities, natural resource-based communities, non-profit organizations, and/or state and local government.
Program Requirements
A total of 36 credits are required for the master's degree program. Students will write a thesis or complete a creative component (Plan B) to capstone the degree program, which will be worth six credit hours. The student's schedule of courses must be approved by the Faculty Advisor and the Campus Coordinator. Students may select either a Masters of Science (MS) or Masters of Arts (MA) option. The MA option requirement “normally includes two (2) years of a foreign language. This requirement can be satisfied with undergraduate courses and/or a proficiency examination” ( www.ndsu.edu/gradschool/bulletin/maspol.html ).
Students will be required to take all of the six Core courses and an additional 15 credits selected from at least two tracks. The Core courses are:
Community Development Orientation (1credit)
Community Development I: Principles and Strategies of Community Change (3 credits)
Community Development II: Organizing for Community Change (3 credits)
Community Analysis: Introduction to Methods (3 credits)
Community and Regional Economics and Analysis (3 credits)
Community and Natural Resource Management (3 credits)
There are presently four Tracks that have been developed from which students may choose. These include:
Building Economic Capacity
Natural Resource Management
Working with Native Communities
Non-profit Leadership
A sample schedule for a student in the Building Economic Capacity track may look as follows:
| Year One |
Fall Term
Community Development Orientation (1 cr.)
Community Development I (3 cr.)
Community Analysis: Introduction to Methods (3 cr.)
|
Spring Term
Community Development II (3 cr.)
Community and Regional Economics and Analysis (3 cr.)
|
Summer Term
Community and Natural Resources Management (3 cr.) |
| Year Two |
Fall Term
Economic Development and Strategies and Programs (3 cr.)
Impact Analysis (3 cr.)
Cost Benefit Analysis (3 cr.) |
Spring Term
Cluster and Regional Economic Development Workshop (3 cr.)
Thesis (2 cr.) |
Summer Term
Real Estate (3 cr.)
Thesis (3 cr.) |
|
|
CED 709 Community Development Orientation. 1 cr - Introduces students in the on-line masters degree program in community
development to the on-line classroom environment and to the science, practice, and profession
of community development.
CED 711 Community Development I: Principles &
Strategies of Community Change 3 cr - Analyzes theories, principles, strategies and practices of community
change and development from a multidisciplinary perspective in order to construct a personal
framework for the practice of community economic development.
CED 713 Community Development II: Organizing for Community
Change 3 cr - An examination of the role of civil society in community planning
efforts, the connection between social relationships and economic activity, the structure
and implications of power, conflict management, inclusiveness, and equitable change.
CED 715 Community Analysis: Introduction to Methods
3 cr - An introduction to the research methods relevant to community
development, strategies for reporting and applying findings in community action, and
issues of research ethics and inclusiveness.
CED 717 Community & Regional Economic Policy &
Analysis 3 cr - Explores theories of economic growth, community economic and
industrial base, sources of economic growth or decline, and strategies for local and
regional economic development.
CED 719 Community Natural Resource Management 3 cr - Theoretical frameworks, methodological investigation, and
applied practices of natural resource development as a component of community
economic development.
Admission Requirements
- Complete the application to the NDSU Graduate School (including references and a statement of purposes).
- Provide official transcripts from each college or university you have attended or at which you are currently enrolled, including all undergraduate and graduate work.
- Have achieved a 3.00 GPA in previous academic work.
For additional information, contact:
BULLETIN