For students who want to enact local, national, or global economic development to help people and communities thrive, economic development masters programs might prove a wonderful option. These Masters in Economic Development programs help students learn how to use economic development—a “policy intervention endeavor” encompasses a range of processes and policies—to affect social, political, and economic change.[i]
At the master’s level of education, economic development degree programs typically involve an inter-disciplinary curriculum and interactive, hands-on classroom. Students commonly study subjects such as economics, political science, sociology, history, business, and others through a combination of lectures, case-studies, and workshops. Through their studies, they may gain extensive knowledge of economic development’s historical contexts (and its roots as modernization, westernization, and industrialization, for example)[ii], present-day applications, and future goals. The goal of many programs is not only to instill in students’ minds the core theories and principles of various types of economic development, but also to teach students how to apply theory to practice. Students may emerge from their programs with an economic development acumen key to causing progress in the field.
Because economic development is a diverse and expansive field, numerous master’s in economic development degree programs exist. Here are some examples:
Students may opt to pursue one of these
master’s degrees in economic development or numerous others. Or they might pursue a Master of Art or Master of Science directly in Economic Development.
You’ll likely approach the interdisciplinary curriculum of an economic development degree program through a combination of core and elective coursework. Your core coursework will typically provide an overview of economic development and a framework for thinking about the field, and your elective coursework will typically help you concentrate your knowledge.
Depending on your program, your core coursework might cover topics such as:
Your elective coursework may delve into subjects such as:
These are just some of the many core and elective subjects you might study in your master’s in economic development degree program. As you browse through our sponsored listings below, take note of each program’s curriculum, options for specialization, and objectives. Some programs give you numerous options for concentration, and others are designed to cover one or two specific components of economic development. Economic development is an incredibly expansive field, so you’ll likely find a variety of options.
In many cases, students complete their core and elective coursework through two years of fulltime study, although program lengths vary by school. To conclude their programs, they commonly complete a capstone project (usually a community project or thesis), take a comprehensive exam, and, in some programs, participate in an internship. The point of many economic development master’s degree programs is to teach students how to apply economic development theory to practice, so developing hands-on, interactive experience may be emphasized. You may pursue your master’s in economic development degree through on-campus, online, or hybrid formats.
In your economic development master’s degree program, you’ll likely have an opportunity to develop many skills, especially quantitative and qualitative ones. Here are some examples to give you a sense:
Quantitative skills: you may develop your quantitative skills through your studies of economics, public policy, research methodologies, and other topics conducive to data collection, analysis, and interpretation. You will likely learn numerous research methodologies (designing surveys, etc.) and discover how to analyze and assess results. You may also learn how to use economics, mathematics, and conceptual tools to measure results.
Qualitative skills: you may develop your qualitative skills through your studies of sociology, history, political science, and other subjects conducive to more flexible ideas, theories, and interpretations. You’ll likely learn about social, economic, and political factors and discover how think critically about their possible implications. You may also discover how to balance qualitative evidence and experience with quantitative analysis and research.
Depending on your program, you may also develop your capacities to read, write, and conduct research. Through doing your coursework and assignments, you may learn how to analyze and think critically about what you read, communicate effectively orally and through writing, and comprehend research conclusions and methodologies. You may also learn how to conduct and share your own research in the field of economic development.
These are just some of the knowledge and skills you may develop in your master’s in economic development program.
You may begin your search here. If you look below, you’ll find listings of various master’s degree programs in economic development. You may click on the orange hyperlink to read more about the particular program, or you may “request information” directly from the school. Amongst the list of Masters in Economic Development sponsored programs, you’ll find a blend of online, on campus, and hybrid programs. If you’d like to refine your search, you may use our search tool to your left to browse programs by program format (online, on campus, or hybrid) or location (city, state, or country). Don’t hesitate to peruse our extensive listings to discover which programs might provide a perfect fit. Good luck!
Sources: [i] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_development | [ii] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_development
Sponsored Listings
Subscribe for information on earning a graduate degree
By entering my email address and clicking "Sign Up" I agree to be contacted by EducationDynamics for additional education products and services, this submission is not required to use our site. Privacy Policy.
Advertise | About | FAQs | Update Programs | Terms of Use | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Disclosure: What Determines Top/Best? | Do Not Sell My Personal Information (CA and NV residents)
© Gradschools 2020. All Rights Reserved.
The sources for school statistics and data is the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System unless otherwise noted.
Disclosure: EducationDynamics receives compensation for many of the featured schools on our websites (see “Sponsored School(s)” or “Sponsored Listings” or “Sponsored Results” or “Featured Graduate School(s)”. So what does this mean for you? Compensation may impact where the Sponsored Schools appear on our websites, including whether they appear as a match through our education matching services tool, the order in which they appear in a listing, and/or their ranking. Our websites do not provide, nor are they intended to provide, a comprehensive list of all schools (a) in the United States (b) located in a specific geographic area or (c) that offer a particular program of study. By providing information or agreeing to be contacted by a Sponsored School, you are in no way obligated to apply to or enroll with the school.
This is an offer for educational opportunities, not an offer for nor a guarantee of employment. Students should consult with a representative from the school they select to learn more about career opportunities in that field. Program outcomes vary according to each institution’s specific program curriculum. Specific School Disclosures. Financial aid may be available to those who qualify. The information on this page is for informational and research purposes only and is not an assurance of financial aid.
