Clark University Announces Changes to Four Master’s Degree Programs

Wednesday, December 04, 2019

GoLocalWorcester News Team

Clark University

Clark University’s International Development, Community, and Environment Department (IDCE) announced changes to four of its five master’s degree programs on Wednesday.

Starting in the fall of 2020, the M.A. in Community Development and Planning, M.S in Environmental Science and Policy, MHS in Community and Global Health, and M.A. in International Development programs — which currently take two years to complete — will be updated to enable students to earn their degree in 12-to-15 months.

“Our degree programs will be more accessible and attractive to students who are at the start of their careers as well as to professionals who might be looking to make a career change. As we expand our online offerings, part-time degree completion will become a more viable option for some prospective students,” says Edward R. Carr, director of IDCE.

Program Changes

A major change to the program is a reduction in the number of units required for a degree from 12 to 10.

Each program retains its academic rigor of core courses and methods/skills requirements while preserving the cross-program, problem-centered, classroom experience that makes IDCE’s curriculum distinctive and allowing students to complete their degrees in 12-to-15 months.

While most students will choose to take three courses per term and a single course during the summer, some may pursue a more ambitious schedule, taking four courses each during the fall and spring terms and a field experience course in the summer.

IDCE has further adjusted its curriculum to create three separate degree tracks, designed to provide students with options for completion of an advanced degree, including:

10 Unit Degree Option (12-to-15 months) — 10-unit curriculum consisting of three units of core courses, two units of methods and skills courses, four units of concentration courses, and one complete unit.
Prior Experience Option (12 months) — This option gives academic credit for prior professional work experience, which would allow qualified students to complete an IDCE degree in eight units, or nine-to-12 months. This pathway lets those students focus on building the skills they need to advance their careers and to maximize their impact in the world.
Research Track Option (20-to-24 months) — IDCE recognizes that a traditional, two-year residential master’s degree remains attractive to those students interested in conducting independent research as preparation for further graduate study. A research degree track will require 12 units for completion. Under this track, students will complete nine units of work across their first three terms (12-to-15 months). This option differs from the 10-unit Degree Option in that students are required to take a third method or skills course and engage in two units of substantial research in their final term.