Community Development and Planning (CDP) Program

The Community Development and Planning program provides current and future community development practitioners, activists, and scholars with a strong foundation—based on theory, skill development, and practice—to take on the challenges of urban revitalization in the United States.  Our program links theory to practice through insightful participation of practitioners in seminars, high quality internships, and studio and practicum courses that allow students to learn directly from residents and community-based organizations about their resources, priorities, and strategies.  Students in the Community Development and Planning Program learn alternative ways of thinking and transforming communities to achieve greater equity and social justice.

The CDP Program offers core courses and hands-on skill development in critical areas such as: community development and planning theory, planning techniques, community organizing, community development finance, grant writing, land use, decision-making and negotiation, non-profit management, youth and community development, geographic information systems, and research and project evaluation methods. CDP students also benefit from a unique interdisciplinary approach to community development that integrates the perspectives and ideas of the other departmental programs: Environmental Science and Policy, Geographic Information Sciences for Development and Environment, and International Development and Social Change.

New Collaborations with the Graduate School Of Management

Concentration

The worlds of business and development are increasingly intertwined. Corporations are facing social, environmental, and sustainability challenges; and development and planning professionals are using management skills and thinking strategically every day.

Students enrolled in the CDP program within IDCE are now able to declare a new concentration in Enterprise Management based on a partnership with Clark University’s Graduate School of Management (GSOM). CDP students will take a selection of skill and elective courses at both IDCE and GSOM to earn the concentration as part of their graduate degree. Because student interests are diverse, and the offerings from IDCE are broad, this concentration would be tailored to each student, with specific courses to be determined with guidance from advisors in each department.

Joint Degree

Beginning in Fall 2008, IDCE and GSOM are piloting an opportunity to earn two degrees to a small, but determined group of CDP students. Students in the joint degree program will earn two degrees at the end of three years of graduate school—an MA in CDP and an MBA from GSOM. Only a few highly qualified students will be admitted to this pilot program. The admitted students will be guided individually by the faculty members in the IDCE and GSOM departments.

In today’s changing world, management skills are increasingly needed to advance social change. CDP students will now be able to draw on two sets of knowledge and skills; one of a trained business person and the other as a trained and concerned agent for social and political change. We aim to prepare students to be able to manage social mission-driven organizations. Email us for more information about this exciting endeavor.

Click here to view our downloadable program brochure.

For more ways to get involved locally, see the CDP Graduate Student Guide to Worcester. This document provides an overview of local organizations and initiatives going on in the city.

The CDP Experience

Through the CDP program, students will:

· Understand social, economic, and political forces that shape places
· Understand communities in a regional and international context
· Gain rigorous analytical training—the ability to explore and research complex social issues, solid quantitative and qualitative skills, and strong writing and public communication skills
· Challenge existing structures of power from within or outside transitional development organizations
· Develop professional practices that trigger social change to improve quality of life
· Prepare students to be leaders in a diverse range of community development and planning roles.

“The world needs more intelligent passionate people who can think and act quickly on the complex issues facing our communities. CDP gives students who are passionate about serving their community a great foundation of knowledge to build upon.” Jimmy Royster (CDP/M.A. '06)

Visit our Alumni page to learn more about CDP graduate career paths and opportunities.