SCHOOL of INTERNATIONAL SERVICE

American University · Washington, D.C.

MA, INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

MA Links

Degree Requirements (42 credits)

MA in International Development (MAID) provides a multidisciplinary overview of international development issues and policies that enable students to select and focus on a particular field of concentration. Students in the MAID program are given the opportunity to conduct original research to complete their program. They can do this in one of three ways – a Master's thesis; a substantial research paper and internship/cooperative education; or two substantial research papers.

Core Classes (12 to 15 Credit Hours)

ECON-603 Introduction to Economic Theory (3)
Note: May be waived. Will reduce program to 39 hours and the core course credit to 12 credit hours.
ECON-661 Survey of Economic Development (3)
SIS-636 Micropolitics of Development (3)
SIS-637 International Development (3)

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One of the following:

SIS-533 Population, Migration and Development (3)
SIS-616 International Economics (3)
SIS-650 Global Economy and Sustainable Development (3)
SIS-635 Social Policy and Development (3)
SIS-635 Community Development (3)
SIS-635 Rural Development (3)
SIS-635 Urban Development (3)

Concentration (15 Credit Hours)

Courses approved by the student's faculty advisor selected from one concentration. A maximum of 6 credit hours from SIS-638 Selected Topics in International Development Skills, and other SIS Skills Institutes may be included. Students may design their own concentration with the approval of the faculty advisor. Examples of concentrations include:

Community Development and Basic Needs
Development Finance and Banking
Development Economics (Note: this concentration operates in cooperation with the Dept of Economics and has some specific requirements of its own)
Development Education
Development Management
Development Policy
Economics and Finance and International Economic Policy
Entrepreneurship and Small Business
Environment and Development
Gender Studies and Development
Globalization and Development
NGOs and Development

Social Science Research Methodology (6 credit hours)

SIS-600 Quantitative Analysis in International Affairs (3) If a student has previously taken advanced courses in Quantitative Analysis he or she may request to take another more advanced research methods course. This may be substituted.
An approved methods course (3)

Research and Writing Requirement (6 credit hours)

SIS-797 Master's Thesis (6)

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Substantial research paper (3)

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One 3 credit hour internship or cooperative education field experience or one further 3 credit hour Substantial Research Paper.

Foreign Language Proficiency

Certification of written proficiency in a modern foreign language related to regional concentration.

Comprehensive Examination

The IDP Comprehensive Examination is combined with the capstone research and writing requirement, with an emphasis on the application of themes from the literature to the student’s research paper. For additional information, please click here.