Master of International Development Policy Program
Do Development Differently; Do Development Better
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Shape the Future of International Development Policy
The Master of International Development Policy program from the McCourt School at Georgetown University is not your typical international development studies program. Instead, its curriculum focuses on economics and the rigorous analytical and technical skills needed to tackle complex challenges in developing and emerging economies. Outside the classroom, you’ll gain valuable professional experiences collaborating with passionate development practitioners who share your passions and recognize and value your new skills. With funding for summer placements, travel opportunities and engaging client-capstone projects, you’ll graduate as a different kind of development professional, one with an easily recognized set of advanced technical skills and real-world experience.
Early Action Deadline If you apply by this deadline, increased scholarship opportunities and early notification are available.
Priority Deadline If you apply by this deadline, increased scholarship opportunities are available.
Final Deadline This is the final date to apply for Fall 2024 start.
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Equipped for Success in Development Policy
Our STEM-eligible Master of International Development Policy program is ranked #4 in International Global Policy and Administration by U.S. News & World Report. It provides the necessary technical and analytical skills to make a real impact in developing countries. We incorporate courses and professional work experiences to enhance your understanding of politics, management and ethics.
This comprehensive approach prepares you to navigate the challenges commonly faced in the public sector and international institutions. With a highly structured curriculum, including core and elective courses, a summer experience and a client-capstone project, you’ll gain the professional experience and technical skills that employers value, spanning economics, quantitative research, management and leadership. You’ll also develop vital skills in collaboration, critical thinking, economic analysis, ethical leadership, policy analysis and more through McCourt’s Foundational Skills.
Bridge the Gap Between Theory & Practice: A Program-Funded Summer Experience
Hands-on learning is essential to preparing you for the policy world, especially in development policy. You’ll spend the summer after your first year in a program-relevant professional placement and put what you’ve learned in the classroom into practice. We provide funding for living and travel expenses, enabling you to identify and secure placements that best fit your interests. In 2023, our students worked in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Colombia, Ghana, Jordan, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania and Washington, DC.
Putting Your Knowledge into Practice
You’ll gain the skills and expertise needed to work in a variety of fields, including international development organizations, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and more. No matter where you apply your skills, we’re confident our program will give you the tools and expertise you need to make a meaningful difference. Within six months of completing their degrees, 95% of 2022 graduates were employed or had secured job offers.
U.S. News & World Report
Meet Our Changemakers
As a diverse group of problem solvers, we’re dedicated to turning bold ideas into action. At the McCourt School at Georgetown, you will not only learn from your professors, but also from your classmates. Our students come from all walks of life and backgrounds, offering a rich community of experiences and perspectives. Together, we engage in policy-relevant research and strive to make the world a better place
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A Testimonial
“I wanted a graduate program that would equip me with the knowledge and analytical skills to help me become a more conscientious and effective practitioner in order to design more sustainable and effective programs and policies. Ultimately, I chose McCourt because of its evidence-based approach to development, the strength of its rigorous quantitative sequence, and its proximity and many connections in the International Development hub within DC.”