Emory University
The Emory MDP Program is designed to produce a new kind of development professional-one who has the academic training necessary to understand the multi-dimensional causes of poverty as well as the practical skills needed to redress the limitations of current development approaches. The two summers of field research that students engage in are an essential component of their preparation as professionals. During their initial summer field practicum students familiarize themselves with key aspects of development practice by joining an ongoing project with one of Emory's partner organizations. In their second year of coursework students produce a Field Training Report, based on their first summer's fieldwork. In this report, students critically assess the project in which they are involved by drawing upon the interdisciplinary principles and methods learned in their first year of coursework. Based on this assessment and working jointly with their host organizations, students derive lessons learned and formulate recommendations for constructive changes. During their second summer, students return to the same setting as their first field training to help integrate these lessons and recommendations into the practices of their host institutions.
PRE- FIELD TRAINING - The pre-fieldwork training helps students understand the distinctive nature of development issues in the specific socio-cultural, political-economic and environmental setting in which they will work.
YEAR ONE INTENSIVE FIELD PRACTICUM I - Students join ongoing projects at partner organizations that allow them to become familiar with key aspects of development practice. While in the field, students work closely with and receive mentorship from development professionals based in their host organization.
YEAR TWO INTENSIVE FIELD PRACTICUM II - Students return to the same site of year-one field practicum and collaborate with their host organizations in catalyzing constructive changes in the projects in which they have worked the previous summer.
