Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Global Development Practice

To complete degree requirements, students earning a Master of Liberal Arts in Global Development Practice will take DEVP E-599, Global Development Practice Capstone. This course is a capstone designed for students earning a Master of Liberal Arts, global development practice (GDP) degree. The course approach is learner-centered, whereby students create a Sustainable Development Plan (SDP) for a “client” by applying skills and knowledge gained from their graduate school experience. This course builds upon the student’s guided prework completed in the mandatory DEVP E-598 Global Development Practice Precapstone Tutorial.

The course deliverables include: a detailed actionable and measurable plan in (Word or PDF format), as well as a (PowerPoint) presentation to be given to the class as well as to client stakeholders. Appropriate clients may include communities, corporations, NGOs, governmental agencies, schools, universities, hospitals, etc. GDP students work with a client with one or more stakeholders to develop and deliver a customized SDP focused on one or more of these areas: community development, human rights, labor practices, education, environmental sustainability and fair operating practices. Class time is devoted to addressing client requirements and developing actionable solutions. Listings of prior projects may be viewed at the Global Development Practice Capstone website.

Faculty

Judith Rodriguez,  Research Associate and Program Administrator Zofnass Program for Sustainable Infrastructure at Harvard University Graduate School of Design.

Course Sequencing

First, you register for the noncredit, DEVP E-598, Global Development Practice Precapstone Tutorial, the semester prior to capstone enrollment (no earlier), where you'll receive individual advice from your capstone advisor, Will O'Brien, on your capstone proposal. The tutorial is not a course. You work independently on your proposal by submitting multiple proposal drafts and scheduling individual appointments. You need to make independent progress on the proposal without special prompting from the research advisor.

You register for the tutorial in:

• fall, if you plan to take the capstone in the spring
• spring, if you plan to take the capstone in the summer (*this sequence is required for international students who need a student visa)

See Precapstone Tutorial for specific proposal requirements, and see Timeline for mandatory proposal submission deadlines.

Second, you register for the on-campus capstone as your final, one-and-only course. Due to the heavy demands of the capstone course, you cannot be registered in any other courses. Moreover, all other degree requirements must be fulfilled in order to draw upon your entire GDP training and expertise to produce a final capstone project worthy of a Harvard degree. Capstones are offered on campus in the fall and spring semesters as well as during the intensive three-week summer term.

Examples of GDP Capstone Projects

Consultant: Nagwa Awad
Client: Red Bank Township, NJ – Community Development Plan to enable Township to conserve energy, reduce waste and provide a healthier environment for residents

Consultant: Hadiza Hamma
Client: Aflac Plastics Limited > Community Development in Northern Nigeria – Development Plan to enable construction of a road in support of a community located in Afaka, Nigeria

Consultant: Emma Lane
Client: Girl Scouts of Eastern MA – Community Development Plan enables scouts to gain an understanding of the lifecycle of food choices and sustainability practices during summer camp

Consultant: Claire Street
Client: Ride North End – Community Development Plan creates a program to engage senior members of the community in a new Spin class to foster healthy lifestyles and well being