MA in Development

Course details

Despite the recent global financial crisis international development remains a growing field, employing people both in Ireland and overseas and with annual budgets in excess of US$ 150 billion. In tandem with these developments, the field has become increasingly professionalised and a multi-faceted approach is now required which moves beyond traditional charity-based approaches to legally embedded rights-based frameworks which both interact with and challenge the international political economic context in which they are embedded.

The DCU MA programme in Development, delivered by leading specialists with research and practical expertise in the fields of development, politics, economics and law meet these requirements by offering world class training and education at graduate level. Courses are offered on both full-time and part-time bases and develop the knowledge, skills and capacities of development practitioners, people seeking a career change and recent graduates who wish to embark on a career in international development.

Aims and Objectives:

• Linking theory, policy and practice, to offer high quality academic training in international development
• To give participants a critical understanding of different theories of and frameworks for development
• To enhance the practical skills of participants in the areas of research, communication, policy analysis, programme and project management and research.

Programme Structure:

MA in Development

On the full-time programme, Semester 1 modules are all core while in Semester 2, students choose three options from a wide range on offer. Dissertations are submitted in early September.

The MA programme also features weekly seminars and presentations by guest speakers with relevant experience and expertise in the field of international development. The intention is to facilitate the exploration of key issues in an informal, interactive environment.

MA in Development

The part-time programme can be taken to Masters (90 credits), Diploma (60 credits) or Certificate (30 credits) levels. It has an innovative mode of delivery whereby students attend DCU for four weekends together with a five-day (Wednesday- Sunday) course in the summer in each academic year. In addition extensive use is made of online discussion fora through 'moodle', an electronic online platform which is also used to deliver work packages and resource material.

Modules taught on the MDEV Part-time programme:

Year One

• Politics of Development
• Political Economy of Development
• Research methods (workshop)

Year Two

• Development Policy
• Development Education
• Regional Issues in Development
• Dissertation

Why DCU:

What the programme gives you

Knowledge and understanding - a comprehensive understanding of contemporary development challenges. Core courses include:

• The politics of development
• The international political economy of development
• Development policy and practice

Programme participants on the full-time course also choose a selection of additional modules from the widest range of options offered in an Irish university.

Skills and capacities - a range of practical skills aimed at enhancing your capacity in the following areas:

• Qualitative and quantitative research methods
• Communication skills - individually and working with groups
• Policy analysis Problem solving
• Programme and project planning, management and evaluation
• Language skills (Spanish, French and Chinese are offered as options in collaboration with DCU's School of Language and Intercultural Studies)

Practical experience - the thesis component, conducted under the guidance and mentorship of a member of staff, provides an opportunity to undertake primary research in the field and to foster strategic relationships with development agencies.

International Students

Students who have successfully completed the Pre-Masters International Foundation Programme (IFP), are guaranteed a place on their target programme in DCU. Visit www.dcu.ie/ifp for further details.

External Speakers Programme

The MA Programme features seminars and presentations by guest speakers with particular experience and expertise, be it as politicians, officials, academics or diplomats, in international development. The intention is to facilitate the exploration of key issues in international relations in an informal, interactive environment. Amongst previous guest speakers in DCU have been:

• Pat Cox (former President of the European Parliament);
• Gareth Evans, (member of High Level Panel on UN Reform);
• Judge Maureen Clark (Judge of the International Criminal Court);
• Sandy Thurman (CEO International AIDS Trust and President Clinton's National AIDS Policy Director);
• John Bruton (former Taoiseach and now EU ambassador to the USA),
• Dr. Thandika Mkandawire (Director of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development);
• Peter Sutherland (former Director General of the WTO);
• Justin Kilcullen (Director, Trócaire);
• Conor Lenihan TD (Minister of State for Development cooperation);
• Dr Garret FitzGerald MRIA (former Taoiseach and Minister for Foreign Affairs) ·
• Tom Arnold (CEO Concern World wide);
• Lt. Gen. David Stapleton (Chief of Staff, Defence Forces)

Career Prospects:

Our graduates work as researchers, policy-analysts, managers, facilitators and educators in a wide range of agencies and institutions across the development spectrum. Employers of graduates in the past include the Department of Foreign Affairs, the European Union, the United Nations Volunteer Programme, Trócaire, Goal, Amnesty, Concern, Oxfam, together with a wide range of small local NGOs overseas as well as community development and development education organisations in Ireland.

Entry Requirements:

Full Time -

Applicants will normally have an honours primary degree or equivalent, but applicants with appropriate combinations of professional qualifications and experience may also, on the basis of the relevant University regulations and procedures, be offered places.

Part-Time -

Applicants will normally have an honours primary degree or equivalent, but applicants with appropriate combinations of professional qualifications and/or experience may also, on the basis of the relevant University regulations and procedures, be offered places.