Development Practice

University of California, Berkeley

About the Program

The UC Berkeley Master of Development Practice (MDP) is an interdisciplinary, professional degree program designed to prepare leaders to tackle the local, regional, and global challenges of the coming decades. Graduates go on to careers “with meaning” in non-profit, business and government organizations. Attracting experienced, engaged, and entrepreneurial students from around the world, its rigorous curriculum provides core scientific knowledge; skills in problem-solving, design and management; analytical and decision-making tools, and integrative perspectives. The program’s foundational core curriculum is supplemented by individually customized specialization, drawing from the unparalleled breadth and depth of the world’s top public university. The Berkeley MDP’s focus is on practice with hands-on, experiential learning infused throughout the program. It emphasizes peer learning, enriched by a student cohort diverse in education, profession, and culture. Students come with backgrounds across the sciences and humanities; 40-50% of each cohort has been from outside the US, with alumni representing 26 nations.

The Berkeley MDP is a member of the Global Association of MDP programs — thirty-seven graduate programs in twenty-seven countries — sharing a common approach and designed around a set of core capabilities developed through a year-long consultative process supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

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Admissions

Admission to the University

Applying for Graduate Admission

Thank you for considering UC Berkeley for graduate study! UC Berkeley offers more than 120 graduate programs representing the breadth and depth of interdisciplinary scholarship. A complete list of graduate academic departments, degrees offered, and application deadlines can be found on the Graduate Division website.

Prospective students must submit an online application to be considered for admission, in addition to any supplemental materials specific to the program for which they are applying. The online application can be found on the Graduate Division website.

Admission Requirements

The minimum graduate admission requirements are:

  1. A bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution;

  2. A satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale; and

  3. Enough undergraduate training to do graduate work in your chosen field.

For a list of requirements to complete your graduate application, please see the Graduate Division’s Admissions Requirements page. It is also important to check with the program or department of interest, as they may have additional requirements specific to their program of study and degree. Department contact information can be found here.

Where to apply?

Visit the Berkeley Graduate Division application page.

Admission to the Program

Berkeley offers admission to applicants who appear to have the highest potential for graduate study and who, with the benefit of a graduate education, are the most likely to contribute substantially to their academic or professional fields through teaching, research, or professional practice.

International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency by taking one of the following exams:

  1. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
  2. International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

Selection criteria for the master’s program will include the applicant’s talent, academic background, work experience, leadership experience, vision, involvement in critical issues or new areas of research (such as poverty or climate change) and/or proven entrepreneurship. Applicants oriented towards developing managerial skills, improving public policy, and increasing interdisciplinary capacities as development practitioners will receive priority.

In addition to technical backgrounds and leadership potential, we will aim to establish diverse cohorts seeking balance among gender and ethnicity. We expect a highly competitive selection process leading to a mix of qualified international and domestic students. UC Berkeley requires a minimal level of mathematical and statistical skills that will be augmented by the Boot Camp, which will aim to ensure that students have the necessary computer skills and a basic understanding of economics, sociology, and business concepts.

Master's Degree Requirements

Curriculum

Year 1
DEVP 240Introduction to Development Practice2
DEVP 222Economics of Sustainable Resource Development3
DEVP 228Strategic Planning and Project Management3
Year 1 or Year 2
DEVP 229Quantitative Methods and Impact Evaluation3
DEVP 232Foundations of Public Health2
DEVP 227Principles of Natural Resource Management2
DEVP 233Law, Politics, and Policymaking3
DEVP 237Leadership, Conflict Resolution, and Community Development3
DEVP C253International Economic Development Policy3
DEVP 221Climate, Energy and Development3
Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Product Development Course(s)3
Summer Semester
Individual Project-Based Practicum International or Domestic
Year 2
DEVP 200AThe Capstone Experience3
DEVP 200BThe Capstone Experience3
Electives
Elective4-7
DEVP 290Special Topics1-3
DEVP 296Innovative Finance for Development3
DEVP 295Implementing and Assessing International Development Projects and Policies: From Theory to Practice1
DEVP 299Independent Study1-4

Courses

Development Practice

Contact Information

Development Practice Program

311 Wellman Hall

Phone: 510-642-1585

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Executive Director

David Zilberman, PhD

337 Giannini Hall

Phone: 510-542-6570

zilber11@berkeley.edu

Program Director

Michelle Reddy, PhD

311B Wellman Hall

Phone: 510-642-0262

mireddy@berkeley.edu

Director, Career & Student Services

TBD

311A Wellman Hall

Phone: 510-642-1462

lrobinson@berkeley.edu

Administrative Assistant

Lilia Yuan

311C Wellman Hall

Phone: 510-642-1585

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