MA in International Community Development

Northwest University's M.A. in International Community Development (MAICD) curriculum, which is offered in both campus and online formats, has a practical emphasis and includes qualitative research skills, a six-credit certificate in Outcomes-Oriented Program Management (also available as a stand-alone certificate), and opportunities to collaborate with existing nonprofit organizations. You’ll gain a big-picture view of community development and social justice issues, and an understanding of how they are interrelated. You will also be challenged to focus on a particular cause that you care about, and create a project or thesis around this theme.

Northwest University launched the campus-based MAICD in 2008, and the online global hybrid format in 2014. Between the two formats, over 20 cohorts have graduated from the MAICD program.

Northwest University is fully accredited, and qualifies for students to receive Federal Financial Aid. The MA in International Community Development is known for its:

• ethos of contextualization, collaboration, and community empowerment
• small cohort sizes, with strong cohort and alumni communities facilitating transformational learning
• practical and applicable knowledge and skills
• flexible focus areas allowing you to gain general knowledge of the field but also specialize in particular issue, and
• thoughtful incorporation of perspectives of faith
• personalized guidance from your professors and program staff as you work toward your thesis or thesis project.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the MAICD program, graduates will be able to:

• Assess the particularities of culture contexts as they are relevant to the design and implementation of community development interventions;
• Engage qualitative research methods to identify a community’s core challenges and inherent resources;
• Collaborate with community stakeholders and external agencies to create contextualized responses to social challenges;
• Define a personal theological/philosophical framework for a vocation of service;
• Develop lifelong, habitual practices of authentic self-assessment and personal transformation;
• Strategize for effective program implementation and management;
• Analyze relief and development outcomes to assess program impact.

Please reach out to us for an info-packet, including all of our course descriptions.

Other Programs at Northwest University

Northwest University has several other grad programs which will appeal to Idealist prospective students. These include:

• EdD or PhD in Organizational Leadership
• Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or PsyD in Counseling Psychology
• Master of Education or Master in Teaching
• Master of Arts in Bible and Theology or Ministry
• Master of Business Administration
• Master of Science in Nursing