Mar 28, 2024  
Graduate Catalog 2015-16 
    
Graduate Catalog 2015-16 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of International Development Administration


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M.I.D.A. Director: Paul Clements,
Room 3354, Friedmann Hall

The Master of International Development Administration (M.I.D.A.) program is designed to prepare candidates for careers in international development and to meet the specialized needs of public administrators and program and project managers from the developing countries. The course of instruction has as its focus the managerial and political dimensions of development and democratization and includes a strong multidisciplinary component that draws from political science, public administration, economics, geography, social work, communication, and evaluation, research and measurement.

The program is designed for two types of students: Public administrators and officials from developing countries who require additional training to meet new or increased responsibilities; and graduates from both developing and industrial countries, including the United States, who are interested in careers in international development, such as in government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), or international organizations.

The M.I.D.A. program includes development administration theory and practice, methods and strategies of development management, and the honing of skills. M.D.A. students are guided in their work by established and experienced members of the academic community, all of whom are research scholars, and the majority of whom have lived and worked in the developing countries. Usually faculty have had experience with national and/or international organizations, or have worked with a variety of governments on development projects.

Two options exist—the standard M.I.D.A. program and the Peace Corps option. The admission and program requirements for each option are listed below.

Standard M.I.D.A. Program Option

 

Admission Requirements

Applicants must satisfy the requirements for admission to the Graduate College in order to be considered for admission to this program. An applicant must possess an undergraduate degree, preferably in the social sciences with either a concentration in political science or public administration, and should have some exposure to economics and/or statistics. Applicants with actual public administration experience may, under some circumstances, substitute professional attainments for undergraduate preparation.

A grade point average of 3.0 in all undergraduate work is normally a requirement for admission to the M.I.D.A. program; however, where grading scales are computed differently, equivalencies will be determined. International students must obtain from and submit their applications to the WMU Office of International Student Services. American students should apply through the WMU Graduate Admissions Office. The Department of Political Science also requires three recommendations (using WMU Graduate Reference Forms), a one page statement of the student’s interest in the M.I.D.A. program, a curriculum vitae or resume, and any other supporting data that can assist the Department’s Admissions Committee, which screens and judges all applications.

All students must demonstrate English proficiency (i.e., the ability to speak, read, and write in the English language) before entering the M.I.D.A. program. A Career English Program is available for students whose English language capabilities are limited.

Students are encouraged to submit all required application materials by June 15 for the fall semester; by September 15 for the spring semester; and by February 15 for the summer session.

Program Requirements


The Master of International Development Administration is a professional degree that requires 42 semester hours of graduate courses. Up to six hours may be waived for those with extensive administration experience. To earn the M.I.D.A. degree, students must maintain a minimum “B” average (GPA 3.0 on a 4.0 scale) in all courses. Students normally complete the program in 20 months. The basic requirements are as follows:

1. Prerequisites (non-credit)


Only for those candidates without the requested academic or practical background: PSCI 2400: Introduction to Comparative Politics, ECON 2010 or 2020, Principles of Economics, or other courses as determined by the M.I.D.A. Director.

3. Development Analysis (6 hours)


Select two of the following:

5. International and Comparative Studies (3 hours)


Select one:

6. Concentrations (9 hours)


Three courses within one of the six concentrations. Under special circumstances a mix of courses appropriate to the needs of the student may be selected with the approval of the M.I.D.A. Director.

a. Leadership:


b. Health Services Management


f. Planning and Nonprofit Management


7. Approved Elective (3 hours)


With the approval of the M.D.A. Director choose one course from the above.

Peace Corps Program Option


The MIDA Peace Corps Option is designed for students who wish to earn the MIDA degree and to carry out two years of service as Peace Corps Volunteers. This option is only available to U.S. citizens as Peace Corps only accepts U.S. nationals. Rather than the 42 credit hours required for a standard MIDA, the Peace Corps Option requires 36 credit hours plus completion of Peace Corps service. Of these 36 credit hours, 30 are earned at Western Michigan University prior to Peace Corps service and six credit hours are earned for a field paper researched and written during Peace Corps service. The 30 credit hours on campus are normally earned in a rigorous 10 month course of study from September through June (four 3-hour courses in the fall semester, four in the spring semester, and two in the summer session).

Admission requirements


The admission requirements for the Peace Corps Option are the same as those for the Standard Program Option listed above. Applicants, however, should note on the MIDA application that they want the “Peace Corps Option.” Students should apply to Peace Corps no more than one year prior to their desired departure date.

Program requirements


1. Prerequisites—same as for Standard M.I.D.A. Program Option.


3. Development Analysis (3 hours)


Select one:

4. International and Comparative Studies (3 hours)


Select one:

5. Concentrations (9 hours)


Three courses in an area of personal concentration selected with the approval of the M.I.D.A. Director. 

6. Approved elective (3 hours)


One course selected with the approval of the M.I.D.A. Director.

7. Field Paper (6 hours)


8. Peace Corps Service:


Notification by Peace Corps of completed service.

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