Master's in International Development and Social Change

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/M.A. 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/M.A. 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.

Click here to view our downloadable program brochure.

The IDSC/M.A. Program has three key elements:

1. Challenging conventional ideas about development and seeking innovative alternatives,
2. Understanding how the interplay of power relationships gives rise to social injustice and inequity, and
3. Exploring the linkages between critical thinking and effective development practices at the community, regional, national, and global levels.

Courses introduce classical and contemporary approaches and critiques of development and provide practical skills to advance professional goals in the field of development. The unique blend of theory and practice enables students to link local planning and action to policy making at different levels. The program also focuses on gender issues and social justice, bridging differences in post conflict areas, building alliances among institutions, and learning from the voices of marginalized people.

“I would strongly encourage prospective students to choose IDCE because of the quality professors as well as the students in the program. Without taking anything away from the top-notch professors in the Clark IDCE program, I actually learned the most about international development from my peers. When the vast majority of IDCE graduate students have lived overseas in a developing country, the discussions in and outside of the classroom were quite eye-opening. With a heavy dose of international students and plenty RPCVs, there were many perspectives that broadened my understanding of the issues surrounding international development. Additionally, although I entered the IDCE program with a good understanding of what goes on on the ground in Africa, I had little idea of the forces that work overhead and how these larger discourses affect developing countries. Finally, the Clark IDCE program has great connections that will help you land a job. The IDCE program can plug you into programs such as the PMF program that often go under the radar at other schools.” Jeremy Casterson (IDSC/M.A. '03)

“The large international student body at Clark was wonderful. It is a tremendous learning experience to sit in a classroom with people from all over the world, each of whom bring their own standpoint to the discussion.” Jennifer A. Keahey (IDSC/M.A. '06)

“Students should enroll in Clark's IDSC program to get a comprehensive education in the theories and tools of development. The elective courses are the most challenging and thought provoking. I felt like the course materials we read and discussed facilitated excellent discussions and the group activities allowed you to learn from diverse perspectives and develop future contacts with your fellow students. I was able to design two internships for credit, one a summer internship doing gender analysis for USAID in Eritrea and the other developing media skills (digital video filming and editing) at a local TV station. These internships have really helped me get opportunities in health communications and gender awareness. The experiences of faculty brought a priceless dimension to classes and in the writing of my final research.” Sara Krosch (IDSC/M.A. '05)