Friedensau Adventist University
Master of Arts in Development Studies Online
Möckern, Germany
MA
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Oct 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 2,400 / per semester
STUDY FORMAT
* application starts from March 1st
Key Summary
About: MA in Development Studies Online at Friedensau professionalizes practitioners and suits learners needing part-time e-learning. It offers theory on humanitarian and development aid, practical training in project planning, monitoring and evaluation, plus research methods and writing to support research careers. Accredited as the MA International Social Sciences (Development Studies) for part-time distance learning, programme fosters virtual co-learning with international professionals, building skills in policy analysis, programme design and evaluation.
Career Outcomes: Graduates often become project managers, M&E specialists, policy advisors. They work in development, NGOs, government, research institutes or consultancy, applying project design, monitoring, evaluation and data analysis skills.
It aims at professionalizing those already working in development or others for whom an e-learning program seems most fitting. It offers a solid academic base in the field of development studies. Students learn relevant theories that are necessary to critically reflect current practices in the field of humanitarian and development aid. Courses such as project planning, monitoring and evaluation advance students’ practical competencies. Academic competencies taught in the area of research methods and writing skills enable a continuation of a scientific career. Stemming from the diversity of the student body, the specific worth of the program lies in the opportunity to assess international issues through virtual co-learning with professionals from across the globe.
Accreditation
The MA Development Studies (part-time) offers the study program of the accredited MA International Social Sciences (Development Studies) as part-time distance learning for students with relevant professional experience.
Content
- Theories of Development
- Development Industry and Legacy
- Development of Economics
- Poverty Analysis and Social Protection
- Public Health in Developing Countries
- Religion and Development
- Peace and Conflict Research
- Methods of Empirical Social Research (qualitative and quantitative)
- Academic Writing and Presentation Skills
- Career Development
- Planning, Management, and Evaluation of Development Projects
- Disaster Management and Response
- Sustainability, De-growth and Resource Politics
- Globalization and Global Governance
- Migration and Development
- Gender Intersectionality and Development
- Land Use, Land Rights and Development
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Research-Oriented Master Thesis
Specialization in an area of concentration is possible.
Electives
(Four out of these must be taken)
- Gender and Social Development
- Gender Research and Intersectionality
- Land Use, Land Rights and Development
- Sustainability, Degrowth and Resource Politics
- Migration and Development
- Forced Migration and Refugee Studies
- International Peace and Conflict Studies
- Globalization and Global Governance
- Human Rights and Development
- Contemporary Religion and Development
- Special Elective