Master of Community Development (MCD)

Program Description

The Master of Community Development (MCD) is a 36-credit-hour program. Full-time and part-time students are welcome to apply. The core curriculum will be taught in an evening, weekend or intensive format geared toward working adults.

The MCD program prepares graduates for a variety of leadership roles in community development, including municipal government, non-profit organizations, social service agencies, and real estate development.

Why Choose 91福利社’s MCD Program?

The Master of Community Development is a one-of-a-kind program not found anywhere else in the United States. While other degree programs concentrate on just one aspect of community development, 91福利社's integrated program emphasizes a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach.

The MCD program offers the following distinctive features:

An innovative educational model designed to support the career needs of a broad range of individuals working in the community development field.

Integrated human, organizational, physical and economic aspects of community development for a holistic approach to developing viable communities.

A program that combines theory with practical application through partnerships with professionals in community development.

Faculty expertise from across academic units to provide a broad, interdisciplinary foundation for creating livable communities.

The MCD program, located in Detroit, focuses on the development of marginalized communities within an urban context, while providing local activists an easily accessible program to address Detroit’s social and physical condition. The program prepares others to work in communities facing similar issues.

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    Admissions Requirements

    Admissions criteria and process

    Applicants to the Master of Community Development program should have a minimum GPA of 3.0* in a bachelor’s or master’s degree program from an accredited institution. To be considered for admission, a candidate must complete the graduate application for evaluation by MCD faculty. The application consists of:

    • Transcripts from a bachelor's or master's program at an accredited institution.
    • Letter of interest, including your MCD concentrations preference(s).
    • Resume, illustrating excellence and accomplishment in academic, extracurricular, service and/or professional endeavors.
    • Two letters of recommendation from employers and/or faculty, including contact information.
    • Test scores (GRE, GMAT, TOFEL etc.) are not mandatory, but will be considered.
    • An interview, facilitated by MCD faculty/administration members, to determine the applicant’s contribution to a unique learning environment.

    Additional requirements may include:

    • An essay exam to determine English language and writing skills.

    *Professional accomplishments in a related field will be considered in addition to GPA.

    For more information

    Contact the Admissions Office at (313) 993-3289 for more information.

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    Degree Requirements

    Curriculum

    The MCD curriculum has five elements: an intensive introduction, a core curriculum including seminar classes and skills workshops, concentration electives, and a capstone project. The introduction course provides an overview of the four concentrations, while the core curriculum offers a course in each of the human, organizational, physical, and economic development concentrations. The remaining core curriculum explores more complex issues in contemporary community development, including diversity, social justice, regional and global issues and trends. MCD workshops are designed to develop skill sets in areas such as community needs assessment, grant writing, and verbal and graphic presentations. The total credit hour requirement is 36 credit hours.

    Introduction to Community Development—2 credit hours

    • MCD 5010 Introduction to Community Development (2 credits)

    Core Curriculum—19 credit hours

    • MCD 5020 Introduction to Economic Development (3 credits)
    • MCD 5040 Introduction to Human Development (3 credits)
    • MCD 5060 Introduction to Physical Development (3 credits)
    • MCD 5080 Introduction to Organizational Development (3 credits)
    • MCD 5100 Diversity and Multi-culturalism in Community Development (2 credits)
    • MCD 5120 Environmental Social Economic Justice (2 credits)
    • MCD 5140 Regional Development and Sustainability (2 credits)
    • MCD 5200* MCD Skills Workshops (1 credits)

    During the course of the MCD program, students must complete three MCD program workshops of their choice focused on useful skills for workin