Master of Development Practice (MDP)

The program information below was valid for the winter 2021 term (January 1, 2021 - April 30, 2021). This is the archived version; the most up-to-date program information is available through the current Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

The Graduate Studies Academic Calendar is updated 3 times per year, at the start of each academic term (January 1, May 1, September 1). Graduate Studies Academic Calendars from previous terms can be found in the archives.

• Admit term(s) 
  • Fall
• Delivery mode 
  • On-campus
• Program type 
  • Master's
  • Professional
• Registration option(s) 
  • Full-time
• Study option(s) 
  • Coursework

• Minimum requirements 
  • A four-year Honours Bachelor's degree (or its equivalent) from a recognized university in a humanities, social science, health, engineering, environmental science, or business discipline, and have a minimum of 75% overall standing in the last two years of study.
• Application materials 
  • Résumé/Curriculum vitae
  • Supplementary information form
  • Transcript(s)
• References 
  • Number of references:  2
  • Type of references: 

    1 academic and 1 professional, or 2 academic, or 2 professional. 1 of the letters must be from a referee who can attest to the leadership competencies of the applicant.

• English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

Coursework option:

Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)

Courses 

• Required courses:
  • Year 1 (Terms 1 – 3): core curriculum: 
    • INDEV 601 Foundations of Sustainable Development Practice (Global Classroom from Columbia University)
    • INDEV 602 International Development: theory and practice
    • INDEV 603 Global Health
    • INDEV 604 Sustainable Cities
    • INDEV 605 Economics for Sustainable Development
    • INDEV 606 Energy and Sustainability
    • INDEV 607 Methods of Sustainable Development Practice: A Systems Approach
    • INDEV 608 Water and Security
    • INDEV 609 Sustainability Concepts, Applications and Key Debates
    • INDEV 611 Field Placement Project
• Elective courses:
  • Year 2 (Term 4): students must complete 3 elective courses which may or may not be from one of the following areas of specialization/concentration:
    • Global Governance
      • HIST 606 International Development in Historical Perspective
      • GGOV 610/PSCI 688 Governance of the Global Economy
      • GGOV 611/PSCI 689 Emerging Economies in Global Governance
      • GGOV 614/PSCI 614 International Business & Development
      • GGOV 642/PSCI 639 Global Social Policy
      • GGOV 650/PSCI 657 International Organizations & Global Governance
      • GGOV 651/PSCI 617 Unconventional Diplomacy & Global Governance
      • GGOV 652/PSCI 618 Non‐State Actors in Global Governance
      • PSCI 634 Comparative Public Administration
      • PSCI 651 Democracy and Development
      • ENBUS 631 Stakeholder Engagement
      • ENBUS 632 Sustainability Reporting
      • ENBUS 642 Stakeholder Engagement, Collaborations and Partnership
    • Natural Resources and Sustainable Food Systems
      • INDEV 616 Urban Food Security
      • ENBUS 621 Carbon Management
      • ENBUS 622 Product Life Cycle Assessment
      • GEOG 665 Environmental Planning Theory and Practice
      • GEOG 668 Environmental Assessment
      • GEOG 673 International Perspectives on Resource and Environmental Management
      • ERS 606 Governing Global Food and Agriculture
      • GEOG 639 Food Systems and Sustainability
    • Peace and Conflict Studies
      • PSCI 659 Conflict and Conflict Resolution
      • PSCI 655 Ethnic Conflict and Conflict Resolution
      • GGOV 640/PSCI 658 Human Rights in a Globalized World
    • Sustainable Urban Futures
      • INDEV 616 Urban Food Security
      • PLAN 602 Land Development Planning
      • PLAN 614 Issues in Houses
      • PLAN 622 Contemporary Urban Planning and Government
      • PLAN 648 Urban Design Philosophy and Method
      • PLAN 678 Advances in Public Transportation Planning, Operation and Control
      • PLAN 684 Physical Infrastructure and Planning
      • PLAN 623 Social Concepts in Planning
      • PLAN 625 Methods of Social Investigation for Planners
      • PHS 614 Health Program Evaluation
    • Tourism and Local Economic Development
      • TOUR 601 Contemporary Perspectives on Tourism
      • TOUR 603 Consequences of Tourism
      • TOUR 604 Social Planning for Tourism
      • LED 615 Community Economic Development
      • LED 685 Theories of Local Economic Development
      • LED 686 Practice of Local Economic Development
    • Water Resources Management
      • INDEV 612 Introduction to Water Resources (online course in collaboration with UWC)
      • INDEV 613 Water, Human Security and Development (online course in collaboration with UWC)
      • INDEV 614 Integrated Water Management (online course in collaboration with UWC)
      • INDEV 615 Transboundary Water Governance
  • Normally students will complete all 3 elective courses during the Fall term (September‐December); some of the courses listed are not offered in the Fall term, but will be available in Winter or Spring (to cater for cases where students are unable to complete during the normal time period). Note: some courses may not be offered in a given year. Students may be able to take equivalent courses at MDP partner universities. Students must consult with their advisor to determine an appropriate suite of courses.

Link(s) to courses

• International Development (INDEV) courses

Graduate Studies Practicum

• The Practicum (INDEV 611 Field Placement) is to be completed in term 3.
• Students must complete 2 one‐day workshops from a choice of 3 workshops.