Overview
The Berkeley Master of Development Practice (MDP) was created in response to one of the core recommendations of the International Commission on Education for Sustainable Development Practice and is generously supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The commission concluded that there is significant and growing demand for generalist development professionals – individuals highly trained in a set of cross-disciplinary competencies that prepares them to address the complexities of sustainable development. Students in the program become part of the Global MDP network of 25 universities and their partner organizations all over the globe.
Undergraduate Program
There is no undergraduate program in Development Practice.
Graduate Program
Development Practice : MDP (Master of Development Practice)
Courses
Development Practice
DEVP 220 Climate Change and Energy 3 Units
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
The first segment of the course provides an overview of the conceptual science of climate change. The second segment of the course will review energy management concepts. The third segment will present economic and policy perspectives to assess evolution of energy policies and to analyze the political economy of climate change policies and their implications.
Climate Change and Energy: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Graduate student standing or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Development Practice/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Instructors: Baldocchi, Nazaroff, Traeger, Rhew, Chiang, Roland-Holst, Kammen, Fisher, Rajagopal
DEVP C221 Climate, Energy and Development 3 Units
Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015, Fall 2014
Graduate seminar examining the role of energy science, technology, and policy in
international development. The course will look at how changes in the theory and practice
of energy systems and of international development have co-evolved over the past half-
century, and what opportunities exist going forward.
A focus will be on rural and decentralized energy use, and the issues of technology, culture,
and politics that are raised by both current trajectories, and potential alternative energy
choices. We will explore the frequently divergent ideas about energy and development that
have emerged from civil society, academia, multinational development agencies, and the
private and industrial sector.
Climate, Energy and Development: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Graduate student standing or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Development Practice/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Instructor: Kammen
Also listed as: ENE,RES C221/PUB POL C221
DEVP 222 Economics of Sustainable Resource Development 3 Units
Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
This course will introduce the basic concepts including economic welfare, externality, public good, global commons, policy approaches for dealing with externality, and techniques for quality analysis. It will include case studies where groups will design economic incentives and policy solutions to major problems. It will have sections on particular problems including climate change, water and air quality, animal waste, toxic contamination, forestry and fishery policy.
Economics of Sustainable Resource Development: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Graduate student standing or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Development Practice/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Instructors: Zilberman, Sunding, Roland-Holst, Norgaard
Economics of Sustainable Resource Development: Read Less [-]
DEVP 225 Innovation, Product Development, and Marketing 3 Units
Terms offered: Spring 2018, Spring 2017, Spring 2016
This course will introduce the basic concepts of innovation, product development, and marketing in developing countries. Students will analyze alternative knowledge and innovation systems, and the role of public and private sector interactions. The course will also introduce models of technology transfers, adoption, and diffusion of technology, as well as introduce students to basic principles of marketing, assessment of consumer choices, and the challenge of bringing to market efficient solutions to meet customer needs.
Innovation, Product Development, and Marketing: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Graduate student standing or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Development Practice/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Instructor: Villas-Boas
Innovation, Product Development, and Marketing: Read Less [-]
DEVP 227 Principles of Natural Resource Management 2 Units
Terms offered: Spring 2018, Spring 2017, Spring 2016
This course will introduce concepts in natural resource management. Segment 1 will cover basic modeling, techniques, and methodology in natural resource mamangement and sustainability. Segment 2 will address genetic resources and agriculture. Segment 3 will cover principles of natural resource management, namely water and air, in the development context. Segment 4 profides an overview of major concepts in the conservation of biodiversity. Students are expected to present research reports based on case studies.
Principles of Natural Resource Management: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Graduate student standing or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Development Practice/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Instructors: Resh, Kremmen, Feldman, Lemaux
DEVP 228 Strategic Planning and Project Management 3 Units
Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
A pragmatic, interdisciplinary introduction to strategic planning and project management, introducing students to a portfolio of models, tools, and techniques drawn from the private, nonprofit, and public sectors. It will offer an opportunity through case studies, simulations and class projects to apply those approaches in settings relevant to the development field.
Strategic Planning and Project Management: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Graduate student standing or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Development Practice/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Instructors: Horvath, Agogino, Danner, Scharffenberger
DEVP 229 Quantitative Methods and Impact Evaluation 3 Units
Terms offered: Spring 2013, Fall 2012
This course is designed to introduce students to the basic concepts of estimation, prediction, and hypothesis testing. The course will focus on impact evaluation theory and methods and will explore the variety of tools available for rigorously measuring the impact of development programs on poverty.
Quantitative Methods and Impact Evaluation: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Graduate student standing or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Development Practice/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Instructors: Auffhammer, Miguel
DEVP C232 Foundations of Public Health 2 Units
Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
The seminar will introduce core disciplines and concepts in public health, using a case-based, integrated approach. Examples of cases discussed include: respiratory disease and air pollution; tobacco control and prevention of smoking-related conditions; disease elimination or eradication via childhood immunization; environmental control and prevention of schistosomiasis; behavior change and prevention of HIV/AIDS; and novel economic approaches to improving healthcare delivery to impoverished groups.
Foundations of Public Health: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Development Practice/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Instructors: Reingold, Smith
Also listed as: PB HLTH C253
DEVP 233 Law, Politics, and Policymaking 3 Units
Terms offered: Spring 2018, Spring 2017, Spring 2016
Law, Politics, and Policymaking will introduce students to principles of law, the mechanisms of politics, political economy, and policymaking delving into fundamentals of business, as well as environmental, international, and human rights law in the context of development. This course will provide students with insights into real-world contexts in which sustainable development practice takes place. It will consist of case studies of political economic and legal analysis.
Law, Politics, and Policymaking: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Graduate student standing or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Development Practice/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Instructors: Farber, Rausser
DEVP 235 Economic Development and Policy 3 Units
Terms offered: Prior to 2007
Learn to apply the tools of economic analysis to problems of growth, poverty, and environmental sustainability in developing countries and to understand what can be done to promote development through policies and investment projects, and learn to analyze the economic, social, and environmental impacts of specific initiatives. This course will teach students to use data to conduct development analyses and learn to prepare the corresponding reports for international development agencies and policymakers.
Economic Development and Policy: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Microeconomics and econometrics at the undergraduate upper-division or Master's level
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Development Practice/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Instructors: de Janvry, Roland-Holst, Raphael
DEVP 237 Leadership, Conflict Resolution, and Community Development 3 Units
Terms offered: Spring 2018, Spring 2017, Spring 2016
This three-segment course starts with critical evaluation of literature and methods for communal natural resource management, followed by a segment that emphasizes leadership skills and conflict resolution approaches for development. The third segment will address issues of conflict and policymaking in a global context and provide the institutional perspective of development organizations and strategies.
Leadership, Conflict Resolution, and Community Development: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Graduate student standing or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Development Practice/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Instructors: Ray, Carpenter, Barclay
Leadership, Conflict Resolution, and Community Development: Read Less [-]
DEVP 239 Interactive/Multidisciplinary Seminar 2 Units
Terms offered: Spring 2018, Fall 2017, Spring 2017
This course provides an opportunity for Master of Development Practice students to interact with a diverse group of invited guest speakers, including academics and practitioners. It will also provide opportunities for group discussion of basic questions, and it will provide opportunities to present ideas and discuss research and internship plans and experiences.
Interactive/Multidisciplinary Seminar: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Graduate student standing or consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Development Practice/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Instructors: Zilberman, Scharffenberger
Formerly known as: Development Practice 300
DEVP 246 Transboundary Water Conflict Resolution: The Israeli/Arab Case 3 Units
Terms offered: Spring 2016, Spring 2015
This course will cover technological, legal, and institutional mechanisms to resolve the water conflict between Israel and its Arab neighbors, emphasizing the agricultural, industrial, environmental and urban sectors that compete over this resource. Students will examine the distribution of available water resources in Israel among different users and sectors as well as between Israel and its neighbors.
Transboundary Water Conflict Resolution: The Israeli/Arab Case: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Development Practice/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Instructor: Fischhendler
Transboundary Water Conflict Resolution: The Israeli/Arab Case: Read Less [-]
DEVP 295 Implementation and Assessment of Internationally-Funded Development Projects 1 Unit
Terms offered: Fall 2016, Fall 2015, Fall 2014
This course will bridge the gap between development theory and its application by sharing the challenges that arise from: i) the implementation of projects and programs supported by international financing institutions like IFAD; and ii) the assessment of their impact. Since the mandate of IFAD is to focus on fighting rural poverty, the seminar will cover a range of topics regarding: i) sectoral/sub-sectoral domains such as rural development, natural resource management, and micro-finance; ii) vulnerable social groups such as indigenous people, marginal farmers, women and youth; and iii) key development processes such as targeting, empowerment, participatory planning, and monitoring and evaluation.
Implementation and Assessment of Internationally-Funded Development Projects: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 6 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Development Practice/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Instructor: Galletti
Implementation and Assessment of Internationally-Funded Development Projects: Read Less [-]
DEVP 296 Innovative Finance for Development 1 Unit
Terms offered: Spring 2018, Spring 2017
This course will focus on the means and methods of finance applied to social, economic, and environmental challenges facing developing economies. It will survey the application of innovative financing emerging through new products and services, new processes and operations and organizational forms in addressing problems as diverse as entrepreneurial finance, renewable energy, environmental finance, global health, accelerating medical solutions, regional development, affordable housing, urban revitalization and infrastructure.
Innovative Finance for Development: Read More [+]
Objectives Outcomes
Course Objectives: In addition to understanding the evolving field of development finance, students will discover why capital structure matters in aligning diverse interests into new business models for sustainable social and economic change and develop capacity in designing appropriate financial products/structure.
Student Learning Outcomes: Students will acquire and apply data gathering, economic, and financial analytical skills to identify specific market failures in developing economies enabling them to apply appropriate financial tools to bridge capital gaps for project and enterprise finance.They will:
• Design and construct an innovative finance application in a developing economy;
• Measure, analyze and report development impacts of an innovative finance project;
• Identify and develop how a development impact investment would benefit and expand capital access through the creative use of innovative financing tools;
• Assist a high-impact project to access flexible market and below-market financial tools;
• Identify how to structure the transaction and identify potential interested partners with aligned interests in the proposed project.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 6 weeks - 3 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Development Practice/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Instructor: Yago
DEVP 299 Independent Study 2 - 4 Units
Terms offered: Spring 2018, Fall 2017, Spring 2017
Supervised Independent Study and Research
Independent Study: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated a maximum of 2 times.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2-4 hours of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Development Practice/Graduate
Grading: Letter grade.
Instructor: Zilberman
Faculty and Instructors
+ Indicates this faculty member is the recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award.
Faculty
Clair Brown, Professor. Innovation, management, economics, labor, employment, labor market institutions, semi-conductor industry.
Research Profile
Arpad Horvath, Professor. Life cycle assessment, LCA, sustainability, green design, transportation, water, construction, biofuels, energy, environmental management, infrastructure systems.
Research Profile
C. William Ibbs, Professor. Strategic trends, strategic planning, construction industry, project control, management systems, construction disputes, management of engineering and contruction projects, labor productivity, construction accounting and project finance.
Research Profile
Claire Kremen, Professor.
+ Edward Andrew Miguel, Professor. Africa, education, development economics, human capital, health, ethnic divisions, social capital, civil conflict, war, pre-analysis plans, water.
Research Profile
Tapan Parikh, Assistant Professor.
Gordon Rausser, Professor. Biotechnology, environmental policy, resource economics, regulatory policy, bargaining and negotiation theory, futures and options markets, industrial organization and antitrust analysis.
Research Profile
Isha Ray, Associate Professor. Water and development; Gender, water and sanitation; technology and development.
Research Profile
Kirk R. Smith, Professor. Climate change, public health, air pollution, environmental health science, global health, household energy.
Research Profile
Christian Traeger, Assistant Professor.
Sofia Berto Villas-Boas, Associate Professor. Economics, industrial organization and applied econometrics.
Research Profile
Catherine D. Wolfram, Professor. Climate change, energy efficiency, regulation of business, energy and environmental markets.
Research Profile
Daniel Zilberman, Associate Professor.
Contact Information
Program Director
George Scharffenberger
311B Wellman Hall
Phone: 510-642-0262
Administrative Assistant
Jennifer Villafane
311C Wellman Hall
Phone: 510-642-1585