MA in International Policy and Development MA in International Policy and Development Learn More

The MPA in Social Change is a 42-credit program that can be completed in 12 months or 16 months.

Start Credits Practicum Second Language Program Chair
August or January 42 Required Optional Scott Pulizzi

Learning Goals

The MPA curriculum is based on distinct learning goals that provide students with transferable skills and knowledge that can help them pursue rewarding careers related to social change in a wide range of industries and fields. Review the MPA learning goals.

Requirements

Core Course Work (15 credits)

Language Studies and/or Intercultural Competence (4 credits)

Practicum (6 credits)

Electives (17 credits)

Core Course Work (15 credits)

Organizational Management (3 credits)

Quantitative Data Analysis (3 credits)

Program Evaluation (3 credits)

Finance and Administration (3 credits)

Power, Social Change, and Organizations (3 credits)

Language Studies and/or Intercultural Competence (4 credits)

You will take content courses in a second language and/or courses in intercultural competence.

Sample language studies courses:

  • Arab-African Relations (in Arabic)

  • Citizenship, Security, and Development in Latin America (in Spanish)

  • Challenges in Peacebuilding—Congo (in French)

Sample intercultural competence courses:

  • Intercultural Group Dynamics: explore why global and multicultural teams often struggle and conversely how you can manage diverse teams to outperform homogenous groups.

  • Communication in Multicultural Settings: gain the knowledge and tools needed for effective participation in multilingual and multicultural communication as you examine the related social, cultural, and linguistic factors.

You may use electives to take additional language studies and/or intercultural competence courses.

Practicum (6 credits)

Put theory into practice through a semester-long, hands-on course or practicum in the field:

International Professional Service Semester

An immersive learning experience, the International Professional Service Semester integrates academic work with professional opportunities. Students serve as staff members in their chosen local or international organization while producing specific deliverables for academic credit with faculty mentorship.

Independent Practicum

The independent practicum is self-directed and requires independent academic planning and responsibilities. You can choose to complete an internship or field-based research. Both require you to engage a faculty sponsor, develop a work plan with that sponsor, submit the specified deliverables to be evaluated at the conclusion of the project, and present the deliverables in a final colloquium.

Electives (17 credits)

You may use electives to take additional language studies and/or intercultural competence courses, career-related module courses, specialization courses, and/or courses from other degree programs (assuming prerequisites met).

Sample Course Schedule

Term Course Credits
Fall Organizational Management 3
Fall Quantitative Data Analysis 3
Fall Program Evaluation 3
Fall Elective Course 3
Fall Elective Course 3
January Elective Course 3
January Elective Course 3
Spring Finance and Administration 3
Spring Power, Social Change, and Organizations 3
Spring Language Studies/Intercultural Competence 4
Spring Elective Course 3
Spring Elective Course 2
Summer Practicum 6
TOTAL   42