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Community Development – Master’s

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Community Development

Chart the next stage of your career. With the need for community leaders on the rise, now is your moment to make a change. Learn new ways to collaborate with stakeholders to address local conditions, socioeconomic disparities, and environmental changes. Gain knowledge to help find solutions to increase livability, resilience, and sustainability in an increasingly complex society.

At a Glance

30

Total Credits

$750*

Cost Per Credit
*Tuition and fee rates subject to change

2 years+

Time to Complete

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You are ready to take your stakeholder management skills—and your career—to the next level. Explore new strategies for tackling immediate local issues, economic disparities, and environmental shifts. Through hands-on projects, you’ll apply cutting-edge theories to practical scenarios, giving you the tools to lead impactful development initiatives and create sustainable solutions.

Round out your skills to lead change and propel your career forward in this vital field and do so with the flexibility to customize your studies. Prepare yourself in your specific area of interest to make the next significant strides in your career and with the people you impact.

Graduate College Requirements:

  • 4-year Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent)
  • Academic Records/Transcripts
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA (Program may alter requirement.)

Students outside of the program can take courses with the permission of the program director.

Specific requirement details can be found on the Graduate College website.

 Program Specific Requirements:

  • Three letters of recommendation

International Requirements:

  • Financial Statement
  • Proof of English Proficiency
    • Iowa State University and the Graduate College have three areas of English requirements related to graduate studies.

 

Sample program for a part-time student :

  • Semester 1 (Fall): 6 credits
    • COMDV 5020: Theories and Constructs of Community Change – 3 credits
    • Elective – 3 credits
  • Semester 2 (Spring): 6 credits
    • COMDV 5030: Community Development Methods – 3 credits
    • Elective – 3 credits
  • Semester 3 (Summer): 3 credits
    • Elective – 3 credits
  • Semester 4 (Fall): 6 credits
    • COMDV 5050: Analysis of the Community Economy – 3 credits
    • Elective – 3 credits
  • Semester 5 (Spring): 6 credits
    • COMDV 5040: Creating Community Change – 3 credits
    • Elective – 3 credits
  • Semester 6 (Summer): 3 credits
    • COMDV 5300: Community Development Practicum – 3 credits

Biswa Das
Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Education (DoGE)
Email: bdas@iastate.edu
Research and Extension Interests: public finance and community economic development
Teaching: Public Policy and Applied Public Finance

Carlton Basmajian
Associate Professor
Email: carlton@iastate.edu
Research Interests: History of urban and regional planning in the U.S., politics of planning, urban design and the built environment.
Teaching: Community Development research methods and data analysis

Mike Macri III
Professor of Practice
Email: mmacri3@iastate.edu
Teaching: Real estate development and economic growth, analysis and strategies

Robert Pfaff
Assistant Professor
Email: robpfaff@iastate.edu
Research Interests: Transportation planning and policy; community development
Teaching: Community Development theory and practice, analyzing and shaping community change.

Melissa Stenstrom
515-294-3366
715 Bissell Road
159 College of Design
Ames, IA 50011-3094
choose_design@iastate.edu

The coursework has taught me about building a sense of community so I can ensure that my team and I have all voices heard within the work that we do.

Amy Piaget, current master’s student in community development

Industry Growth

  • 16,000

    Annual job openings for social and community service managers

  • 9%

    Projected U.S. employment growth through 2032

  • 6%

    Better employment growth when compared to overall U.S. employment growth

Career Path Opportunities

Map your career with Iowa State University’s online master’s in community development, clearing your path to your next opportunity in a range of sectors.

Sectors:

  • Local and state government
  • Cooperative extension
  • Non-profit
  • Art/culture and historic preservation
  • Education
  • Housing
  • Infrastructure
  • Social and recreational services
  • Natural resources

Potential job titles:

  • Social and community service manager
  • Economic development manager
  • Community health and wellness coordinator
  • Nonprofit organization manager
  • Housing and infrastructure manager
  • Community art coordinator
  • Community development program specialist
  • Natural resource and environmental coordinator
  • Cooperative extension coordinator
  • Social and community services manager
  • Parks and recreation supervisor

A flexible online experience, designed intentionally for you.

With Iowa State’s online programs, your career never has to wait. Gain the same high-quality education and industry-focused knowledge as on campus programs, guided by expert professors preparing you for your next.

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Take the next step

Anything is possible at Iowa State University with innovative academic programs, hands-on research opportunities, and globally recognized scholars to support you every step of the way.