Master's in Development Practice, Emory University

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Master's in Development Practice, Emory University

The Emory Master's in Development Practice is a 2-year, multidisciplinary degree program committed to preparing a new generation of development leaders.

In the face of global poverty, political and ethnic conflict, a degrading natural resource base, and irreversible climate change, the goal of achieving sustainable development represents the most pressing challenge of our time. Emory's MDP program is an intensive, two-year course of study and practice that prepares leaders to meet this challenge. The Emory MDP prepares students to combine an under

standing of the multi-dimensional causes of poverty with the practical skills needed to address them. Our curriculum includes rigorous engagement with core academic disciplines, field experience alongside seasoned development practitioners, and hands-on training in crucial technical skills. Learn more about the Emory MDP curriculum on our website: http://web.gs.emory.edu/mdp/curriculum/index.html

In addition to the academic resources of a major research university, Emory's MDP program draws on its partnerships with established international development and research organizations, including CARE, The Carter Center and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Our global network of partners includes humanitarian organizations, research centers, government agencies and grassroots movements. These partners provide Emory MDP students with the opportunity to work with leading institutions in the field of sustainable development worldwide, and in a wide range of institutional settings. Learn more about our partner organizations here: http://web.gs.emory.edu/mdp/partners/index.html

Learn more about our approach to education for sustainable development practice, and meet Emory MDP Director Dr. David Nugent, in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=de5hDBFjPCA

09/01/2026

What can you do with a Master’s in Development Practice? 💭

Our graduates work in nonprofits, public agencies, and other mission-driven organizations in Atlanta, across the U.S., and internationally. 🏙️ 🌎

Through hands-on experience in MDP, students build a broad skill set that prepares them for leadership roles. They develop skills in program management, monitoring and evaluation, community engagement, communications, partnership-building, and more. ✍️

Graduates work on issues including climate and the environment, community development, economic empowerment, human rights, migration, and disaster response. 💡

Join us for a virtual info session:

September 10 | 11AM ET

➡️ Register today at the link in the story.

08/27/2026

What is MDP? 💡

If you want to work on complex social and environmental challenges, MDP gives you the skills to do that work across sectors and disciplines. 🌐

MDP students learn about topics like climate and the environment, community development, public health, economic empowerment, and human rights. MDP is interdisciplinary, with coursework in social sciences, environmental sciences, health sciences, and management sciences. 📝

MDP prepares students for careers in local and global development. Our graduates work at nonprofit organizations, government agencies, consulting firms, universities, and the private sector. 💼

Join us for a virtual info session:

September 10 | 11AM ET

➡️ Register today at the link in the story.

08/26/2026

Today marks the start of a new academic year for our MDP students! 🎉

We are excited to welcome back our newly minted second-year students as they return from their practicums across the globe (Class of 2027), as well as our incoming cohort (Class of 2028) — a dynamic group of students from diverse backgrounds, each bringing unique perspectives and experiences to our program. 🌎

Here’s to a year of growth, innovation, and learning together! 💡

08/21/2026

Our MDP Team cordially invites you to the Emory MDP Welcome Reception to celebrate our incoming cohort and welcome the Class of 2026 and 2027 back from their field practicum work!

🏫 Where: Benchwarmers Sports Grill
📅 When: August 22
⏰ Time: 1:30-4 PM

Check your email for the registration link! We look forward to seeing you there!

08/17/2026

Interested in advancing your social impact career? We are hosting our first info session of the year for prospective students on September 10 at 11:00AM ET. Join us to learn about our unique approach to preparing global and local development professionals, and get your questions answered!

We’ll cover:
🔹 What makes Emory MDP unique
🔹 Academic and practical training opportunities
🔹 Resources available at Emory
🔹 Our program’s cost structure
🔹 The application process, and more!

➡️ Register today through the link in story!

07/28/2026

This summer, five of our Emory MDP students are gaining hands-on experience through practicum placements across the globe:

⭐ Adele McLees — CARE (Côte d’Ivoire)
⭐ Amber Whitaker — CARE (Ghana)
⭐ Abena Darkwaah — Liberia Organic Cocoa and Agricultural Company (Liberia)
⭐ Jesse Meyer — CARE (Sierra Leone)
⭐ Madeline Morrison — United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Thailand)

Practical learning experiences are a cornerstone of the Emory MDP curriculum. Through our embedded practitioner model, students serve within development and humanitarian organizations as professionals-in-training, working alongside project teams to produce high-quality work while building their skills and professional networks.

Since the program’s inception in 2010, Emory MDP has facilitated more than 500 summer practicums with 100 partner organizations across 75 countries. We are proud to see our students continuing this tradition of global engagement and meaningful, hands-on learning.

07/02/2026

Recently, Emory MDP alumni from across the world returned to campus to honor former Program Director, Dr. Carla Roncoli and celebrate her retirement. Together, students and faculty reflected on the many ways Carla has impacted their journeys, both during their time in the program and after graduation.

Tears were shed, laughs were had, and many hugs were given as students shared personal reflections on how they benefitted from Carla’s mentorship, vision, and steady presence as they navigated their time at Emory. Those who could not attend in person — now working and living across the world — sent in video messages contributing to our collective expression of appreciation.

Carla left the celebration showered in flowers, chicken-themed gifts, a scrapbook filled with memories and messages from across the years, and a one-of-a-kind quilt featuring photos from every MDP cohort. Each gift represented the relationships she has cultivated and the lasting connections she has helped build among generations of students across her 16 years of service.

We are filled with gratitude and admiration for all she has built and the many lives she has touched along the way. While her presence at Emory will be deeply missed, her influence will remain embedded in the 200+ strong MDP alumni network. Her impact will continue in the students she mentored, the programs she shaped, and the community she nurtured.

Thank you to Hannah Jose (MDP ’26) for capturing how special this moment was; scroll to the end to see her recap video. 🌎✨

06/04/2026

Cheers to the Emory MDP Class of 2026! 🎓

Together, this incredible cohort represents 5 countries and a wide range of experiences and passions. Though their time in the classroom is coming to a close, their journey is far from over. 💫

This summer, many of them will head into their practicum placements with prominent organizations such as Liberia Organic Cocoa & Agricultural Company, Heifer International, UNDP, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and Worldreader, among others. 🗺️

We are confident that they will continue making positive change in every space they enter. Here’s to our MDP graduates — leaders, visionaries, advocates, researchers, and so much more! 🌍💡

06/02/2026

Meet Shahnooz (MDP 2027)! 🌟

Shahnooz is making an impact in the international development community as a Compliance Intern with CARE International! 🌍

During the Spring 2026 semester, Shahnooz supported donor compliance and data management processes, helping strengthen accountability systems within a global development context. In this role, she worked with data systems and compliance procedures that support effective program implementation and ensure donor requirements are met across projects. 📊

We’re proud of Shahnooz and excited to see the difference she continues to make in advancing effective and accountable global development programs! 🎉

05/15/2026

We’re proud to spotlight Rebecca Yeboah (MDP 2024) and the incredible work she has been doing to advance age-friendly care in rural communities.

Through published articles, policy papers, webinars, and national presentations, Rebecca’s research explores how rural health systems can better support older adults through age-friendly ecosystems, community health workers, and public health initiatives. Explore her work through the link in our story!

Address

1599 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA
30322

Website

http://www.emory.edu/mdp

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