Master of Science in Community Development (MSCD)

Students attending Delta State University have the unique opportunity to become involved in Center projects as a volunteer or by establishing an internship.   Students may browse the CCED program descriptions and contact the CCED Faculty Associate in their department to begin the process.  If their department does not have a CCED Faculty Associate the student may contact the program’s leader directly for more information. 

Any department wishing to collaborate with the CCED on student opportunities should contact the CCED Director.

Mission

The goal of the MSCD program is to prepare graduates for successful careers as professional practitioners in private and public sector organizations. The program offers flexibility to both traditional and non-traditional students to earn the degree online or by taking courses on campus through lectures or seminars. Individuals who are employed full time may enroll as part-time students and take up to six graduate hours per semester.

The MSCD program works in conjunction with the CCED to offer students valuable volunteer and internship opportunities with CCED programs. Such experience allows students to take what they learn in the classroom about community development, and apply it firsthand while serving local communities.

Program Description

The Masters of Science in Community Development (MSCD) was created in 1996, as the first graduate program in community development in the South. The MSCD program is a 36 semester hour curriculum, with options including thesis or practicum research.  To remain in good standing, graduate students must maintain an overall graduate grade point average of "3.0" or B.

The program enrolls students from the Delta, State of Mississippi, and the Mid-South. To date, graduates are from several states throughout the nation and abroad. 

Testaments

John Bridges, University of Mississippi Medical Center, MSCD, DSU, 2011
“The completion of the MSCD program helped me to gain a good perspective on how social problems and community development issues impact health care disparities in Mississippi. The MSCD program gave me a good social science background and lens through which I can better understand medicine and how it affects community. I also learned important skills in research and evaluation, which I continue to develop here at UMMC.”

Sarah Leonard, BA, University of Michigan, and MSCD, 2006, Currently Research Associate, Social Science Research Center, Miss. State University
“As a research in the Institute for Community-Based Research, I developed a passion for community-based Social Science Research. This experience was extremely beneficial to my personal and professional development. ..I had the opportunity to present my work at prestigious conferences...which allowed me to develop professional networks. ”

Tomeka Harbin, BA, University of Mississippi, 2002, MSCD 2004. Currently Coordinator, Cleveland Youth Council
“The MSCD program allowed me to attend professional conferences in Montreal, Canada, Ithaca, NY, and Tuskegee to present and hear presentations from people all over the world.. I was able to work with faculty on community improvement projects which gave me in depth knowledge…This brought me into an elite group of students—the Hearin Fellows.”

Kenneth Pigg, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology, University of Missouri, Past President of The Community Development Society, and Treasurer and Business Manager, the Rural Sociological Society
“The Community Development program at Delta State University has quietly assembled an outstanding faculty that prepares students for the world of work as well as for additional education. The excellence of their program is demonstrated by the quality of their product and the engagement of both faculty and students in professional endeavors. What’s more, students are strategically engaged as the faculty extends their teaching into mentoring roles. It is hard to get much attention in the South except for great sports programs, but the MSCD program at Delta State is rapidly gaining a reputation for excellence and relevance in the U.S. and beyond.”

Ralph Brown, Ph.D., Professor, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
“As a potential student, you should realize that of the many things that can affect the quality of your education--besides your own effort and preparation--two things are paramount: (1) the quality of the faculty who will mentor you; and (2) the quality of the educational experiences the institution provides you. The community development program at DSU has assembled some of the most dedicated and accomplished faculty in the U.S. Their expertise covers all the basics from research design and methodology to theory and practical application. In fact, the quality of the MSCD faculty that DSU has been able to recruit and retain is amazing.

Contact Information

For more information, go to the Academic Program page.

To request an application for admission to the MSCD program, you may write:

Dr. Paulette Meikle, Chair, Division of Social Sciences and Professor of Sociology & Community Development, Kethley 205
Delta State University
Cleveland, MS 38733

Or, e-mail Dr. Meikle at pmeikleyaw@deltastate.edu. In all correspondence, be sure to include your full name, your full mailing address, your home phone and work number, Fax number, if available, and your e-mail address.