College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Graduate Programs

Master of Arts in International Care and Community Development

This program prepares men and women for context-sensitive, strategic leadership in meeting the needs of the poor and oppressed, both in the U.S. and overseas. This degree emphasizes core issues of global-cultural awareness and social justice. Students are equipped to identify, analyze, and understand cultural differences in contexts of need, and to develop holistic responses that are sensitive to the particular constraints and opportunities presented in those settings.

Students will explore career options in relief and development contexts, including leadership and management, as well as project design and facilitation. Possible career settings for people with a Masters in ICCD include:

Relief and development agencies (World Vision; World Concern)
Local government (Health and Human Services; tribal relations consultant)
International government (World Health Organization; United Nations)
Church ministries (missions director; urban outreach coordinator)
Corporate relations/philanthropy (grant coordinator; community impact researcher)
Healthcare (cultural communications consultant; minority rights advocate)
Project management (homeless shelter vocational trainer; orphanage director)
Education (minority student advisor; literacy advocate; English teacher abroad)
Research (immunization program design; program impact evaluation)

This degree is essentially practical and tied to real-world needs; there is a constant emphasis on the interplay between theory and praxis. All students will take part in a cross-cultural field experience in semesters two, three, and four through the practicum series. This may include volunteering for an organization with which they are already associated. Through this practicum, students use research skills learned in the classroom to enact social change in a real-world context. Students may opt to use this field research as a basis for their final thesis project.

The objective of this degree is to equip people to become:

Scholars with sensitivity and expertise at observing and interpreting culture;
Innovators who can create culturally responsive programs that address social issues;
Critical thinkers able to evaluate existing approaches to meeting the needs of the poor and oppressed;
Leaders and managers who inspire with life- changing compassion and world-changing vision.

Program Format

The M.A. in International Care and Community Development program uses a cohort system in which all entering students are grouped together and given nearly the same schedule of courses for the entire program. The advantage of this system is the support and openness it creates. The cohort becomes a valuable resource for several reasons. Students study together. They encourage and assist one another when needed. They also become comfortable with one another to the point of being able to discuss sensitive issues and share personal accounts. Such an approach integrates community with personal, academic, and spiritual formation.

Course Format

It takes 19 months to complete this degree across five semesters. Classes are in session from the first week of September through April the following year. There are one-to two-week breaks between each semester. Classes usually meet one or two evenings per week and one weekend per month. Weekend classes are comprised of a Friday evening and a Saturday morning through afternoon.