Master of Arts in International Development Studies
Steps from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, the Elliott School engages the Washington and global policy communities in meaningful discussions of development policy. The International Development Studies (IDS) graduate program is the fastest-growing program in the Elliott School of International Affairs. Under the leadership of former U.S. Agency for International Development official Professor Sean Roberts, this program trains the next generation of development practitioners, exposing them to the latest research, best practices from the field, and experiential learning opportunities.
The M.A. in International Development Studies provides a broad understanding and appreciation of current development theories and issues, as well as the processes involved in formulating policies and implementing development projects. Students prepare for professional careers in the field of international development through interdisciplinary coursework that includes the study of economics, research methods, policy analysis, and management. In their final year, IDS students complete capstone projects, working with Elliott School faculty mentors in partnership with aid organizations around the world.
Our aim is to help form young men and women who are engaged, morally intelligent and committed to improving the human condition. Students in the IDS program are taught to think critically but creatively about development and are intensely engaged with today's cutting edge developmental issues.
From Donor-Centrism to Data Paloozas: The New World of Development Cooperation
Watch Donald Steinberg, Deputy Administrator at USAID, in this February 28, 2013 IDS event video.
