Help make communities better places to live, learn and play.
Start your journey at K-State and learn to facilitate sustainable and prosperous societal change while acquiring the skills, information and networks to build community in the 21st century.
Community development is a practice-based profession that promotes increased quality-of-life for residents of rural and urban communities of place, identity and/or interest though economic opportunities, sustainable initiatives, organization, education and participative democracy. The online community development master’s degree will prepare you for a variety of careers or allow you to advance further within this profession.
*This estimate is based on the IDEA common price and is for illustrative purposes only. Your hours and costs will differ depending on your transfer hours, course choices and your academic progress. See more about tuition and financial aid.
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What you get when you choose K-State:
Choosing K-State means you get a robust program with tenured faculty, professors of practice with years of hands-on experience in the field, and dedicated staff to help you on your journey through the program. You also have access to amazing library resources as well as most campus resources.
What you can expect while at K-State:
While at K-State, you will have dedicated staff members who will assist you throughout your educational journey. From the time you apply until the time you graduate, you’ll work with faculty in the LARCP department at KSU as well as other universities in the IDEA network. You’ll also work with students from across the country and world!
This program includes courses that are flexible, so you can plan class and study time around your day, although some courses may have optional sessions at specific times. The degree can be completed part-time or full-time. Work with your advisor to determine the best courses and load for you.
Students who do not have a 3.0 minimum GPA in the final two years, or approximately the last 60 credit hours, may be admitted on a contingent basis after review of their official transcript.
Additional Documentation Your application must include the following:
Statement of objectives: Provide a one-to-two-page statement describing why you want to study community development. Be specific about how the program can help you achieve your professional goals and any particular focus areas you hope to pursue. This statement is also an opportunity to provide additional information about yourself and your aptitude for graduate study in community development. Statements should be addressed to the faculty in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional & Community Planning (LARCP), the academic home of the community development program.
If transcripts are not in English, you must furnish a translation by an appropriate authority.
You will be asked for official transcripts after notification of admission.
Applications for the Community Development program are accepted until the first day of the semester for which you are applying.
CDPLN 700 - Foundations of Community Development (3 credits)
CDPLN 705 - Organizing for Community Change (3 credits)
CDPLN 710 - Community Analysis (3 credits)
CDPLN 715 - Principles and Strategies of Community Change (3 credits)
CDPLN 720 - Community and Regional Economic Policy and Analysis (3 credits)
CDPLN 725 - Community and Natural Resource Management (3 credits)
Electives (18 credits)
CDPLN 633 - Grantwriting (3 credits)
CDPLN 655 - Land Development Planning (3 credits)
CDPLN 701 - Introduction to GIS (3 credits)
CDPLN 701 - Special Studies in Community Development (3 credits)
CDPLN 702 - Community Engagement (3 credits)
CDPLN 703 - Applied Community Development (1-3 credits)
CDPLN 704 - Community Leadership and Capacity Building (3 credits)
CDPLN 706 - Economic Development, Strategies and Programs (3 credits)
CDPLN 707 - Evaluation of Organizations & Programs (3 credits)
CDPLN 708 - Government, Politics and Community Development (3 credits)
CDPLN 709 - Housing and Development Programs
CDPLN 711 - Immigrants in Communities (3 credits)
CDPLN 712 - Sustainable Communities (3 credits)
CDPLN 713 - Nonprofit Management (3 credits)
CDPLN 714 - Intro to Native Community Development (3 credits)
CDPLN 716 - Building Native Communities and Economic Capacity (3 credits)
CDPLN 880 - Proposal Development (3 credits)
CDPLN 899 - Research in Community Development (3 credits)
Students can choose from one of three options for their capstone: a written culminating exam, a report, or a thesis. Each of these options allows you to showcase what you’ve learned in the program and apply your knowledge and skills to real-world problems that align with your interest and expertise. The written examination is completed during the last semester of study, while the report and thesis must be started several semesters earlier under the guidance of a self-selected K-State major professor.
This program is offered through the Innovative Digital Education Alliance (IDEA), which offers you a unique chance to take classes from multiple, high-quality universities. Expand your professional network by collaborating with classmates and expert faculty from across the country who bring diverse perspectives and experiences to the coursework.
Once you have chosen K-State to be your home university and are admitted, you will work with your Community Development program advisor and the IDEA Campus Coordinator to enroll in classes. Your Community Development advisor is responsible for handling information at K-State, and your Campus Coordinator assists you through IDEA processes and is your link to distance education resources across the universities.
Nathan Bramsen, '15
Nathan’s passion for improving communities and helping others on a local and global scale was strengthened through the community development master's program.