Master of Community Development

The Master of Community Development program is designed to meet the needs of individuals with diverse academic backgrounds who care about the problems and potential of socially, physically and economically distressed communities. Students will also be involved with the design and development of new and growing communities with the anticipation of avoiding future problems being faced by communities today. The degree consists of a minimum of 36 credit hours, of which 18 are required courses and 18 elective courses. The curriculum is designed to broaden the knowledge base, promote research, service learning and decision making along with developing interactive and collaborative skills applicable to teamwork, management, leadership, and entrepreneurship.

Regular application requirements of the University apply to all applicants for the Community Development Masters degree. In addition, the candidates must schedule a meeting with the program director to develop a study plan which will lay out course selections and identify the need, if any, for additional credit hours beyond the required 36.

The degree requires a minimum of 36 semester credit hours. The core of the program consists of credit hours of courses required of all students. A list of pre-approved courses is provided, from which the student may select the remaining twelve credit hours. Alternative courses may be selected from offerings of other degree programs on campus, with departmental approval.

For the official requirements for a Master of Community Development, see the Prairie View A&M University Catalog.

View Program Flyer

Graduate Certificate(s) Program in Community Development

The School of Architecture under its graduate program in Community Development offers certificate(s) in the following study areas:

  • Real Estate Development
  • Historic Preservation
  • Fundraising
  • Community Planning
  • International Community Development

The purpose for offering graduate certificates is to meet the additional education needs of the community development professional. As jobs responsibilities change due to emerging new markets and demands, additional training or specialized training are often required for many of the other professions. For example, an architect may become involved in the preservation of historic districts or the planning and development of a community; a non-profit executive being involved in fundraising activities; a developer being involved in the development of another country’s infrastructure, etc. Students in the Community Development Master’s Program or any other master’s program have the option to select courses from these study areas to fulfill their elective course requirement. The Community Development Graduate Certificate(s) Program is a set of courses that provides in-depth knowledge in a subject matter. The set of courses are more practice-oriented than the required courses in a graduate academic program.

Certificates in Historic Preservation, Fundraising, International Community Development, Real Estate Development, and Community Planning are awarded after the completion of the program, and must be signed by the program director and/or the Dean of the School of Architecture.