Master's in Community Development | Office | Website

The Master's of Community Development is a 36-credit-hour program. Full-time and part-time students are welcome to apply. The core curriculum will be taught in an evening, weekend or intensive format geared toward working adults.

The MCD program prepares graduates for a variety of leadership roles in community development, including municipal government, non-profit organizations, social service agencies, and real estate development.

Concentration electives offered in UDM Schools and Colleges provide an opportunity for students to attend full time. Part-time students can expect to graduate after two to three years.

Why Choose UDM’s MCD Program?
The Master's of Community Development is a one-of-a-kind program not found anywhere else in the United States. While other degree programs concentrate on just one aspect of community development, UDM's integrated program emphasizes a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach.

The MCD program offers the following distinctive features:

An innovative educational model designed to support the career needs of a broad range of individuals working in the community development field.

Integrated human, economic, physical and organizational aspects of community development for a holistic approach to developing viable communities.

A program that combines theory with practical application through partnerships with professionals in community development.

Faculty expertise from across academic units to provide a broad, interdisciplinary foundation for creating livable communities.

The MCD program, located in Detroit, focuses on the development of marginalized communities within an urban context, while providing local activists an easily accessible program to address Detroit’s social and physical condition. The program prepares others to work in communities facing similar issues.

Admissions criteria and process
Applicants to the Master's of Community Development program should have a minimum GPA of 3.0* in a bachelor’s or master’s degree program from an accredited institution. To be considered for admission, a candidate must complete the graduate application for evaluation by MCD faculty. The application consists of:

• Transcripts from a bachelor's or master's program at an accredited institution.
• Letter of interest, which includes ranking order of interest in the MCD concentrations
• Current resume, illustrating excellence and accomplishment in academic, extra curricular, service and/or professional endeavors
• Two letters of recommendation from employers and/or faculty
• Test scores (GRE, GMAT, TOFEL etc.) are not mandatory, but will be considered.

Additional requirements may include:

• An interview, facilitated with two MCD faculty/administration members, to determine the applicant’s contribution to a unique learning environment
• An essay exam will determine English language and writing skills

*Professional accomplishments in a related field will be considered in addition to GPA.

For more information
Contact the Admissions Office at (313) 993-3289 for more information.

Curriculum
The MCD curriculum has five elements: an intensive introduction, a core curriculum including seminar classes and skills workshops, a program of concentrations, and a capstone project. "Introduction to Community Development" provides an overview of the four concentrations, while the remaining core curriculum explores more complex issues in contemporary community development, including diversity, social justice, regional and global issues and trends. MCD workshops are designed to develop skill sets in areas such as community needs assessment, grant-writing, Geographic Information System (GIS), and presentation. The total credit hour requirement is 36 credit hours.

Concentrations, 9 credit hours

Human Development
This area of study emphasizes the relationship between people and their social and physical environment. Students study human interactions by people of all ages that take place in community settings such as the home, the school and the neighborhood. Social and human services needs assessment is included in this concentration. Suggested courses include:

Economic Development
This area of study emphasizes the complex role of economics in community development. Students study an array of issues including job creation, business development and entrepreneurship and their impact on communities. Suggested courses include:

Physical Development
This area of study emphasizes the man-made environment and its importance to the creation of community. Students study planning and design issues, ecological criteria of design, real estate development and the physical elements that help create a sense of place and identity in the community. Suggested courses include:

Organizational Development
This area of study emphasizes how communities can organize to address their human, economic and physical conditions. Students study organizational funding and financing, transformational leadership, organizing volunteer services and working with governmental agencies to create community change. Suggested courses include:

Capstone Project - 6 Credits

Capstone Preparation

Capstone

All accepted MCD students receive a 40% tuition reduction from the graduate tuition rate.

Students are also encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The UDM federal school code is 002323. It is highly recommended that students apply for financial aid at the beginning of the admissions process.

The MCD program is also approved for the State of Michigan No Worker Left Behind and Michigan Works programs.

For more information on applying for financial aid, visit the UDM financial aid web site.