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The Curriculum
of the Masters Degree seeks to create workers that can go out into the
World Field and be competitive; not just by chance is it available through
various schools around the world including: Africa-Kenya (at the University
of Eastern Africa, Baraton), America Latina-Bolivia (at the Adventist
University of Bolivia), Europa dell'Est-Ucraina (at the Ukrainian College
of Arts and Science) e Europe-Italy (at the Italian Adventist
College in Florence).
The Masters Degree runs on a 4-year cycle. The student
must follow the entire 4-year cycle in order to earn the degree. Between
one cycle and the other, the student should work on field research (The
Concentration). Annual intensive sessions last three weeks, giving the
opportunity for those that already work in the field the opportunity to
also participate.
The presence of students from all over the globe creates
a unique environment where ideas and programs can be shared and discussed.
Students of the Masters Program can also request for room and board while
they are here.
The professors that teach for the Masters in International
Development are highly qualified and have vast experience in the World
Field.
Sequence and structure of Annual Coursework:
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| NGO Management and Leadership 2007 |
| Arrival and Registration |
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June 4, 2007 |
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New Students: Orientation
Research Colloquium |
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June 5, 2007 |
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| Communication in Development Practice |
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June 6-12, 2007 |
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| Management of Non-for-Profit Organization |
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June 13-19, 2007 |
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| Organizational Behavior for Managers |
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June 21-27, 2007 |
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| Departure |
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June 28, 2007 |
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| Comprehensive Exam |
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June 29, 2007 |
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| NB no lessons
will ever be taught on the Sabbath |
Accountability 2008
New Students: Orientation
Financial Analysis and Reporting
Ethics in Development
Public Policy
Social Science Foundation 2009
New Students: Orientation
Develpment Anthropology
Applied Statistics
Development Research
Concepts of Community Development
Planning and Evaluation 2010
New Students: Orientation
Needs Assessment/ Capacity Mapping
Program Planning/ Grantwriting
Program Impementation and Evaluation
| Concentration |
Portfolio
Professional Training
Field Practicum
Independent Study
Research Experience
Masters Thesis |
These requirments will be supervised
on an individual basis throughout the student's time in the
program. |
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Course Descriptions
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| NGO Management and Leadership (6 SC) |
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Organizational Behavior BSAD525 (3) |
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Explores basic and applied concepts as well as research findings in the
management and organizational behavior areas to aid managers to effectively
perform their duties. Topics include management functions (planning, organizing,
leading, and controlling), learning, perception, personality, motivation,
attitudes, performance, groups, teamwork, leadership, communication, diversity,
decision making, and organizational change. Not available for MBA program. |
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Management of NGOs BSAD530 (3)) |
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Issues facing managers in third-sector organizations. Studies of the mission
and objectives pursued, strategic leadership and board composition, organizational
structure and operation, marketing and fundraising, financial management,
training and motivation of volunteers, assessment of stakeholder satisfaction
and overall operating effectiveness. A major field project is required. |
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Communication in Development Practice COMM590 (2) |
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Students examine the relationship between culture and communication. Apply
analytic and communication skills which enable effective communication
in various communities. Develop skills in persuasion and explore sensitivity
to diversity issues.. |
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| Accountability (5 SC) |
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Financial Analysis and Reporting ACCT625 (3) |
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Develops business leaders' financial-statement literacy. Topics include:
understanding the nature of business transactions; identification of relevant
economic events for reporting; determination of appropriate financial
measures for those events; analysis of the effects of those events in
the organization's performance and financial condition. |
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Ethics in Development IDSC640 (2) SOCI530 (2) |
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An ethical framework for the understanding of social transformation. Ethical
paradigms are explored, as well as historical examples of how development
interventions have generated social change. Focus on contemporary approaches
to development, revolution and liberation. |
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Public Policy POSC525 (3) |
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Governments are pressed to address issues of individual and collective
concern. Resolving matters may demand the creation of programs and governmental
policies, modification of existing ones or termination of current policy.
Utilizing a case study approach, this course considers the essential phases
of policymaking on behalf of civil society. |
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| Social Science Foundation (7 SC) |
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| Development Anthropology ANTH417 (2) |
| An introduction to cultural anthropology with special emphasis on principles and
techniques of research applicable to community and international development |
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| Seminar: Applied Statistics IDSC689 (1) |
| Concepts and applications of basic statistics as it relates to community and
international development. Topics include level of measurement, frequency
distribution, central tendency, measures of variation, correlation, logic of
hypothesis testing, and the use and applications of chi-square, t-tests,
analysis of variance and regression analysis. |
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| Development Research EDPC622 (2 |
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Introduction to social science research methods as applied to problem solving in
the fields of community and international development. A unit on best practice
bench marking is also included.
Concepts of Community Development SOCI520 (2)
Community development refers to the practice of planning and implementing
projects to improve the quality of life for people living in poverty, both
locally and internationally. Development will be presented as the building of
social capital in our communities that enables them to function at a higher and
more efficient level. Building on the core Christian principles that emphasize
development, this course will provide students with a better understanding of
community, while applying basic development concepts to local and international
realities. |
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| Planning and Evaluation (6 SC |
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| Seminar: Applied Statistics IDSC689 (1) |
| Although sometimes taught with the Planning and Evaluation courses, the Applied
Statistics course is part of the Social Science Foundation. |
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| Needs Assessment/Capacity Mapping SOCI530 (2) |
| Introduction to various methods for assessing community needs and mapping
community capacity to address those needs. |
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| Program Planning/Grantwriting SOCI535 (2) |
Building on assessment and capacity mapping, the related topics of program
planning, budgeting and grant writing are presented. Hands-on experience is
sought, linking classroom instruction and real community situations.
Program Implementation and Evaluation SOCI545 (2)
Strategies for implementation. Review of various methods of evaluation with
emphasis on measuring outcomes and assessing quality in community program
development. |
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| CONCENTRATION |
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| Students are required to
demonstrate competency in a selected field of learning and praxis
such as, for example, AIDS education and prevention, conflict resolution,
disaster response, food security, infant and maternal health, international
agriculture, micro-enterpise, urban poverty mitigation, or women in
development. Topics are selected in consultation with the academic
adviser during the first two years of study. Once a topic has been
decided upon, a concentration mentor is assigned who, together with
the academic advisor, shepherds the student through the following
experiential learning activities: |
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| Field Practicum Experience (2 SC) |
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• Baseline Study of a
project to ascertain weakest links in project cycle.
• Benchmarking Visit to a similar project to learn how to remedy
weakest links.
• Training Workshop to disseminate best practices.
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| Portfolio Learning Experience (6 SC) |
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• Concentration Workshop
orienting to portfolio learning and networking.
• Portfolio Learning and Networking by attending concentration-related
workshops/courses.
• Specialist Paper providing an overview of concentration-related
resources and issues.
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| Research Experience (2-4 SC) |
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• Capstone Project (2
credits, min 7,500 words). Must include data collection and analysis
component.
OR
• Thesis (4 credits, min 15,000 words). Normally involves testing
of one or more hypotheses.
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| Concentration Courses (10-12 SC) |
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| Portfolio IDSC597 (1) |
| An organized collection of educational and professional accomplishments
to date is produced. This will include basic personal and background information,
a profile of the student's organization, outstanding academic work, and
other products acquired during his/her time in the program. |
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| Professional Training IDSC640 (3) |
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Students are required to participate in a minimum of 45 contact hours
of Professional Training related to their area of Concentration. In addition,
the student in the final year of the program will design and implement
a Colloquium to present best practices in his/her area of Concentration. |
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| Field Practicum IDSC680 (2) |
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The Field Practicum integrates International Development theory into practice.
Students will complete (a) a baseline study that describes the current
level of the agency where the practicum is pursued; (b) a benchmarking
of best practices in the field [area of concentration]; and (c) an oral
presentation of their findings to their peers. |
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| Independent Study: Area of Concentration IDSC690
(1) |
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Students are required to broaden their knowledge in their area of Concentration
through independent study of books, scholarly journal articles, professional
association publications and newsletters, local government publications,
publications of multi-government organizations such as the United Nations
or the World Bank, publications by various international non-government
organizations, or internet resources. The outcome of this research should
be a "Specialist Paper." |
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| Research Project IDSC697 (3) |
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A research project typically carried out by a master's degree candidate
in which the student's mastery of the research process is demonstrated. |
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| Master’s Thesis IDSC699 (4) |
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Available in lieu of IDSC698 Research Project. |
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Master
International Dev. 
