Program schedule
Master of Development Practice students graduate in one year by enroling in four courses per term and completing the Field Placement (DEVP 611) in the spring term. These changes will give students greater flexibility to specialize in their course selections. They will more efficiently support the possibility of extending the placement (which will now be held in the final semester) into full-time employment. The new program schedule is outlined below:
|
MDP Calendar (Effective May 1st, 2025) |
|
|---|---|
| Term | Required Courses |
| Fall |
Pre-programme orientation (Sep) DEVP 601: Foundation of Sustainable Development Practice DEVP 602: International Development: Theories and Practice DEVP 609: Sustainability Concepts, Applications and Key Debates |
| Winter |
DEVP 607: Methods of Sustainable Development Practice: A systems Approach |
| Spring | DEVP 611: Field Placement |
Note: If there is a discrepancy between the Graduate Calendar and the program schedule, the Graduate Calendar will take precedence, and please notify the Graduate Program Coordinator and Advisor.
* Effective May 1st, 2025, course codes have changed to DEVP from INDEV *
Global association
Through the Global Association, the Master of Development Practice (MDP) program at the University of Waterloo connects you to a network of 36 university partners and organizations around the world. The Global MDP was the vision of Professor Jeffrey Sachs of The Earth Institute at Columbia University. The aim was to address the challenges of sustainable development (such as poverty, health, conservation, climate change, etc.) by training professionals equipped with cross-disciplinary knowledge and skills in sustainable development practice. With generous funding from MacArthur Foundation, the first MDP programs were first launched in 2007.
The Global Association of MDP programs is a registered body with a governance structure that works to support universities, faculty members and students for a just and sustainable world. The network provides students and alumni with:
- Networking opportunities with faculty and other students and alumni
- Representation at the MDP Global Association organizational structure
- Access to job postings suitable for MDP graduates
- Field training opportunities at partner MDP field sites (subject to negotiation and approval)
- Participation at the annual International Conference on Sustainable Development (ICSDP)
- Career panels for MDP students and alumni at ICSDP
- Research and publication opportunities
- Access to high level experts in the field of sustainable development through participation in Global Classroom
Visit the Global Association website to learn more about this internationally recognized program.