Global Development

In the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences .

Master of Professional Studies Degree Requirements

A candidate for the Master of Professional Studies in Global Development degree, administered by the Graduate School , must complete the following items to be eligible to graduate:

• A minimum of 2 semesters of coursework, in residence, with a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester, and a total of 30 credit hours.
• Out of the 30 credits, 20 must be in CALS; 18 must be for a letter grade; 24 must be in graduate courses or seminars 4000 and higher.
• A maximum of 6 of the required 30 credit hours may be earned through the student’s capstone project.
• A petition to the M.P.S. committee for exceptions to credit hour requirements may be submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies. Language courses and writing courses do not count toward the credits required for the degree.
• A maximum of 6 credit hours earned outside the program at Cornell University or elsewhere may be counted toward the 30 credit hours requirement at the discretion of the faculty advisor. These credits must be appropriate to the subject of the chosen field of study and completed not more than 5 years prior to admission.
• Satisfactory completion of a capstone project paper under the supervision of the faculty advisor. This paper may be the execution of an action program, the development of materials or methodology suited to the student’s situation, or development and execution of research appropriate to the profession.
• Hold a minimum grade point average of 2.5.
• Complete the degree within 4 years of admission.