This 18-month master's is for those who have a qualification in the same area, or a combination of professional experience and a degree – see Program Details. You will learn about the dilemmas of social, political and economic development. Complete five core courses that cover a range of topics. This includes community development, planning, sociology, anthropology, and politics. This will provide you with a strong multidisciplinary foundation for your remaining studies. Choose from four areas of specialization: Community Development, Development Planning, Politics of Global Development or Social and Cultural Dynamics of Development. Benefit from a program taught and supervised by scholars engaged in the field through research and practice. Your studies will be inspired and informed by these connections. Fields of study Community Development Community Development is a field of study that aims to understand how people can work together to define, understand and solve different problems and issues. It's a field explicitly committed to social change and rejects value neutrality. As a student in the Community Development field of study, you'll develop your abilities to work face-to-face with communities. You'll learn about key elements of professional community development practice and develop a thorough understanding of how communities can be positively changed and sustained. Development Planning The Development Planning field of study is designed for planning professionals, but welcomes anyone who wants to learn more about the concepts, theories and strategies that inform planning in developing countries. Courses focus on areas of urban, regional and environmental planning, and examine specific topics like sustainable communities, urban management and governance in developing countries, and the complexities of designing, delivering and evaluating development projects. Our Development Planning academics have extensive experience in developing countries. Politics of Global Development The Politics of Global Development field of study examines the relationship between governance and development. Decades of rapid globalization have emphasized the challenges of development and have also highlighted the need for a comprehensive understanding of the historical, social and political complexities of global development. The courses offered in this field will teach you how to analyze, understand and address the various challenges posed by development. Courses include: Culture, Conflict and Reconciliation; Gender and the Global Politics of Development; Conflict Resolution; and Globalization, International Political Economy and Development. Social and Cultural Dynamics of Development The Social and Cultural Dynamics of Development field of study is for anyone who wants to work in social planning and development. Courses are guided by the logic of a project cycle and will teach you how to plan, design and appraise projects; conduct needs assessments; develop project proposals; assess social impacts; and engage in public consultations. You'll also learn about participatory rural appraisal (PRA) techniques; how to design and conduct social surveys; how to compile community profiles; and how to monitor and evaluate social programs and development projects.