Master of Development Practice (MDP)
Course Overview
This is a one-year, full-time, campus-based program designed for students who want to become impactful development professionals.
Includes nine required courses and up to four electives covering health, environment, social sciences, and management.
Core topics include foundations of sustainable development, international development theory and practice, systems thinking, global health, energy sustainability, water security, and sustainable cities.
Electives allow you to focus on areas such as water resources, sustainable food systems, urban planning, tourism, governance, or peace and conflict studies.
The final term includes a field placement or applied project, usually 3–4 months long, often followed by presenting your work at an international sustainable development conference.
What You'll Learn
A strong interdisciplinary understanding of sustainable development challenges and solutions across health, environment, economics, and management.
Practical skills in methods like systems thinking, global health assessment, policy design, and field research.
The ability to specialise through electives in topics that match your interests, from water governance to food security or urban development.
Real-world experience through a field placement with an NGO, government, or development agency.
Leadership and communication skills, including opportunities to present your work to an international audience.
25,000 CAD
University of Waterloo
https://uwaterloo.ca
Skills You'll Gain:
