Graduate School Info

Graduate School Information for International Development Studies Majors

If you are considering continuing your study of international development after obtaining your Bachelor of Arts degree, then graduate school might be a good option for you. Graduate programs that provide a theoretical foundation in one or more areas for policy development and analysis (e.g., economic development, environmental conservation, gender studies, public health, education) can also aid you in acquiring significant preparation and specific skills for careers in both public and private sectors, especially with non-profit, non-governmental (NGOs), and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs).

Fields of Study

The International Development Studies major is designed to introduce students to the broad array of disciplines that study the developing world. Pursuing an advanced degree specifically in development studies is certainly one option for IDS graduates, however, most IDS students will find that their career interests will be better served by attaining an Master of Arts (M.A.) or doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in a related field, such as political science, economics, public health, geography, urban/regional planning, education, sociology, anthropology, or public policy, while focusing their own research on specific development issues within that field.

Many governmental, non-governmental, and inter-governmental development agencies that interest IDS graduates look to hire individuals with advanced degrees in fields directly related to the programs the agencies are undertaking. For this reason, IDS graduates should consider carefully the qualifications required for the types of jobs that interest them most, then pursue a graduate degree in accordance with these requirements. At present, it is rare to see a job announcement requiring candidates to have an advanced degree specifically in international development studies. On the other hand, a M.A. in urban planning, public health, political science, economics, public policy, etc., presents a wide range of career options, among these are careers in international development.
 

Below are some examples of development careers that interest many IDS students, and the educational qualifications required for these positions:

Agency	Position	Required Qualifications
United Nations Development Program	Junior Professional Officer	Master's degree (or equivalent) in a development-related discipline
United Nations Development Program	Coordinator / Planner in Management Development	Advanced degree in Public Administration, Urban/Regional Planning or equivalent
Oxfam Great Britain	Education Program Manager	Advanced degree in education, with a strong focus on planning and management or teacher development
Oxfam Washington D.C.	Deputy Director of Policy and Advocacy	Advanced degree in relevant social sciences (e.g. political science, law)
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development	Economic Affairs Officer	Advanced degree in Economics / International Relations / Political Science / Law
International Fund for Agriculture Development	Country Portfolio Manager, Africa Division	Advanced degree in Rural Development / Economics / Finance
Los Angeles County Community Development Commission	Development Specialist, Housing Development & Preservation Division	Master's degree in real estate development, urban planning, business administration, architecture, or economics

This is not to say that you won't be able to work in the field of international development without obtaining an M.A. or Ph.D., in fact, many entry-level jobs do not require an advanced degree at all. However, if you are seeking a career position in the area of development, an advanced degree may be required.

Because a background specifically in development studies is not a common requirement for career positions at present, IDS students may want to consider pursuing graduate degrees in related fields instead, such as geography, urban/regional planning, public health, education, sociology, anthropology, economics, public policy and administration, political science, geography, etc.

One way for you to narrow your interests to a particular field of study is to peruse job descriptions at institutions where you might like to work in the future. Take note of which jobs interest you and what their academics qualifications are. For example, if you are considering working on a micro-finance project in Africa, you may want to pursue graduate study in the field of economics, focusing on finance or applied economics. If you want to work as a policy advocate in Washington D.C., a graduate degree in political science or law may be necessary.

Here are some websites that focus on job listings for non-profit organizations. See for yourself what academic qualifications employers are seeking:

• Idealist.org
• Opportunity Knocks.org
• Community Career Center
• Non-profit Career Network

Graduate Programs in International Development Studies

If you would like to pursue an interdisciplinary graduate degree in Development Studies, there are a number of programs offered, some of which are listed below. Note that some programs even offer joint degrees, such as M.A./ J.D. and M.A./M.B.A.

United States of America

School	Sample of Degrees offered
American University: School of International Service	M.A., International Development M.A., International Peace and Conflict Resolution M.A., Global Environmental Policy Ph.D., International Relations
Boston University: Global Development	M.A., Global Development Policy M.A., Global Development Economics
Clark University: Department of International Development, Community, and Environment	M.A., International Development and Social Change M.A., Geographic Information Sciences for Development and Environment M.A., Community Development and Planning M.A., Environmental Science and Policy
Columbia University: School of International and Public Affairs	Master of International Affairs Master of Public Administration Ph.D. in Sustainable Development
Fordham University	M.A., International Political Economy and Development
George Washington University: Elliott School of International Affairs	M.A., International Development Studies M.A., International Affairs
Georgetown University: Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service	Master of Science in Foreign Service
Harvard University: Kennedy School of Government	Master in Public Administration/International Development
Johns Hopkins University: Nitze School of Advanced International Studies	M.A., International Relations
Rutgers University: Division of Global Affairs	M.A., Global Affairs Ph.D., Global Affairs
Monterey Institute of International Studies: Graduate School of International Policy Studies	M.A., International Policy Studies M.A., International Environmental Policy M.A., International Trade Policy Master of Public Administration in International Management
School for International Training	M.A., Sustainable Development M.A., Social Justice in Intercultural Relations
Tufts University: The Fletcher School	Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy (MALD)
Tulane University: Payson Center for International Development	M.S., International Development PhD, International Development
University of California, San Diego: School of International Relations and Pacific Studies	Master of Pacific International Affairs (MPIA)
University of Denver: Josef Korbel School of International Studies	M.A., International Development
University of Wisconsin, Madison	Ph.D., Development Studies

 

Europe

Institute of Development Studies, United Kingdom	MA Development Studies MA Poverty and Development MA Gender and Development MA Governance and Development MA Globalisation and Development MA Participation, Power and Social Change MA Science, Society and Development MSc Climate Change and Development PhD by Research
Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva	Masters in Development Studies Masters in International Affairs
University of Warwick: Department of Politics and International Studies	M.A., International Political Economy M.A., Globalisation and Development
Institute of Social Studies in the Hague	M.A., Development Studies Ph.D., Development Studies

 

You may also want to conduct a search by using Peterson's Online Guide. This website allows you to search graduate schools by department and provides detailed information about many of the graduate program and the research interests of faculty. Also, be sure to check out Grad Schools.com.

As this list is a work-in-progress, your feedback is most welcome. Please e-mail us at undergraduate@international.ucla.edu with your comments and/or additions.

Graduate Programs in Related Fields

Note that the above list may be extensive, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. Be sure to do an Internet search for other universities which might yield much more in your particular area of interest, especially for programs hidden within larger departments. For example, while UCLA does not offer a graduate program specifically in International Development Studies, you might want to inquire with related programs such as the UCLA School of Public Affairs, the UCLA Political Science Department, or the UCLA Geography Department to see what kind of research is being done on international development issues.

Below are listed some of the keywords / specializations that you might want to search for in a department or its faculty, for a number of different fields:

Anthropology	Socio-cultural, Nutritional, International Development, Sustainable Agriculture, Globalization
Economics	International Economics, Finance, Development / Transitional Economies
Environment/Geography	Environmental policy, Third World development, Land use, Environmental quality and sustainable use of natural resources, Tourism policy, Economic / Human / Urban, Agrarian Development, Industrial
Political Science	Comparative / International Politics, International Development, Political Economy, Democratic Transitions, Area Studies
Public Health	International / Global Health, Health Policy and Management (international focus), Socio-medical Sciences
Public Policy & Administration	Comparative and International Policy and Administration, Modernization and Political Development
Urban/Regional Planning	International and Comparative Planning, Housing in Developing Countries, Sustainable Development, Community and Economic Development, Environmental Planning / Land use, Infrastructure Development
Sociology	Economic Sociology, Comparative Ethnicity, Nationalism, International Migration, Political Sociology

 

Please also refer to the Applying to Graduate School page for general information on The Application Process, Making Yourself a Competitive Candidate, Statement of Purpose, and Funding Graduate School.

Published: Tuesday, July 10, 2007

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