Location:

Worcester, United States

Program Type:

Full Degree

Degree Level:

Master

Specialty:

Sociology

Program Overview

Program Description:

The Master of Arts degree in International Development and Social Change (IDSC) emphasizes the connection between critical thinking and effective action. It is designed for scholars of international development, as well as for present and future practitioners of grassroots, community-based development.

Offering alternatives to centralized planning and implementation, the IDSC/MA program has been a pioneer in participatory development and a leading force in creating tools for social change. The challenge for the 21st-century is to promote just and equitable development and sustain environmental resources through critical thought, local planning and action. The IDCE Department and the IDSC Program stress participatory approaches that foster alliances and partnerships between local institutions and broader entities such as external development agencies, universities, and state and non-governmental organizations.

This master’s program helps students conceptualize innovative approaches to development problems by building an understanding of the complex causes, influences and implications of poverty, social injustice and conflict. Rooted in the belief that effective approaches merge many disciplines, the IDSC/MA employs a cross-disciplinary focus, with faculty from anthropology, economics, environmental sciences, women's studies, geography, history, government, and management. Links with collaborating institutions in countries such as Kenya, Nepal, Ghana, India, Senegal, and Mexico provide important real-world perspectives and field work opportunities.

Additional Program Information

Accreditation:

Clark University is accredited by The New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. through its Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.

Financial Aid:

Yes

Requirements:

- Application form - Personal Statement - Transcript(s) from all previous colleges/universities - 3 Letters of Recommendation - Resume/CV - Signature Page and $75 application fee - TOEFL/IELTS score (international students from non-English speaking countries or have not studied at a university in U.S. for 4 years) The IDCE Department does not require you to submit GRE scores; however if you have taken the GRE’s and feel your scores would enhance your application, you are welcome to submit them.

International Requirements:

Applicants from countries in which English is not the first language must submit either 1) a TOEFL score of at least 575 (233 on the computer-based test) or 2) a 90 on the iBT (Internet Based TOEFL) or 3) a minimum score of 6.5 on the IELTS.