MA in Community Development
This program will develop your capacity as a leader in civil society and social economy. You'll learn to apply new skills and knowledge to social change and social justice. You'll finish your degree with a research project or thesis that is applicable in the field of community development.
Our online distributed program is perfect for working professionals. Your original research project or thesis will be supervised by a faculty member. You'll defend it in an oral examination.
The program is delivered through online courses with on-campus summer residencies of one to two weeks in each of the first three years. You'll start in May and take courses year-round.
The program is introducing me to the skills and competencies I need to be successful as a community developer. It is also helping me make connections in Canada in this field, which is very important as a recent permanent resident whose previous career and goals were not in community development. - Trisha L. Renken-Sebastian
Admission
Course delivery is both online and on campus.
- Next entry: May 2025
- Next application due: October 31, 2024
See all admission requirements on the admissions site.
Program outcomes
The MACD program's unique focus on the application of learning outcomes means that you will graduate:
- with a comprehensive and systematic understanding of the historical and political underpinnings, key concepts and spheres of practice embedded in the social economy and civil society
- equipped to lead transformative change efforts
- able to build and manage effective projects, organizations, enterprises and networks
- able to demonstrate initiative, leadership and originality in identifying challenges and opportunities for organizations and the broader social economy
- able to understand key global trends, challenges, threats and opportunities communities face and strategies to address them
- able to engage in a community-based approach to social change and social justice
Degree requirements
The program consists of 16.5 units of study, including 4.5 units for the master's project (CD 596/598).
In addition to online coursework, students must attend a two-week summer residency workshop in the first term and a one-week summer residency workshop in the fourth and seventh terms. The remaining courses are completed online.
Given the cohort-based and cumulative nature of the program, students are encouraged to complete each term successfully before proceeding further through the program.
- Core courses: CD 501, 505, 512, 526, 530, 531
- Elective courses: Subject to availability, choice of one elective from CD 506, 509, 518, 522, 590 as well as courses in related fields of study offered by the School of Public Administration or by other departments, with permission of the graduate advisor.
- Final requirement: Beginning during the third (spring) term, students will begin work on a master's project (CD 596/598) or thesis (599) addressing a management, policy or program problem for a client in the community development sector.
Academic year one
Term 1 (May to August) online and on-campus
- CD 501 Setting the Foundations for Community Change
- CD 530 Systems Thinking, Innovation and Strategic Planning
- Summer term residency (two weeks on campus)
Term 2 (September to December) online
Term 3 (January to April) online
Academic year two to program completion
Term 4 (May to August) online and on-campus
- CD 531 Leadership and Transformation
- CD 596 Group Project or CD 598 Master's Project or CD 599 Master's Thesis
- Summer term residency (one week on campus)
Term 5 (September to December) online
Term 6 (January to April) online
Term 7 (May to August) online and on-campus
- CD 526 Communication and Engagement
- CD 596 Group Projector CD 598 Master's Project or CD 599 Master's Thesis
- Summer term residency (one week on campus)
Concurrent MACD and Graduate Certificate in Evaluation
Complete a Graduate Certificate in Evaluation program at the same time as your MACD degree. You’ll pay a one-time fee and can count evaluation courses as your two electives in the MACD program. Please contact paservice1@uvic.ca before applying to the certificate program.
Current one-time graduate certificate fee for concurrent students:
- $847.78 (domestic students)
- $1071.78 (international students)
Tuition fees are updated annually. There may be additional fees if you do not complete concurrent program requirements according to the recommended schedule.
Fees
Get the details on tuition and costs on the Graduate Studies site.
The program is a minimum of five full fee installments. If you complete the program early you must pay any outstanding fee installments. You will incur more fees if you go beyond the five fee installments.
The estimates below are approximate as tuition and fees are re-evaluated every year and typically go up by 1-2% in May. This estimate doesn’t include any tuition increases, textbooks or GSS fees.
- Some courses have all open access reading materials and others require textbooks. We recommend budgeting about $150-$200 CDN per term.
- Graduate Student Society (GSS) fees are about $100.00 per term. There is also a health and dental plan that students can opt out of should they already have coverage.
For domestic students, tuition for this program is approximately $18,000.00.
For international students, tuition for this program is approximately $22,500.00 CDN. There may be additional fees for international students. Contact the International Centre for Students for more information.
Program requirements for students who entered before May 2019
Program requirements for students admitted up to and including May 2019 will remain as per the calendar that was in effect at the time of their admission.