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MSc in Development Management

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Taught Masters

Code
F11
Level
Postgraduate
Made up of
180 credits

Description

This MSc course is part of our development management programme, which also offers a Postgraduate Certificate in Development Management (C48), Postgraduate Certificate in Conflict and Development (C67), Postgraduate Certificate in Human Rights and Development Management (C96) and Postgraduate Diploma in Development Management (D37).

The MSc course is for:

  • Professionals in project management and those who have responsibility for development initiatives in government, non-governmental organisations, international and inter-governmental agencies and public and private enterprises.
  • People who intend to work in those areas, or who have an interest in public action for development.
  • Those who want to combine important elements of development and management.
  • Those who want to expand their conceptual and practical skills by taking an international perspective on management.

Planning your studies

To obtain the MSc you first need to gain the Postgraduate Diploma in Development Management (D37).

There is no time limit for completing the qualifications in the development management programme, though we cannot guarantee that the same selection of modules will continue to be available. You can take modules in any order, except that the development management project must be your final module. Because of demands that study of these modules will make on you we recommend that you take no more than 30 credits, particularly in your first year.

You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 60 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you.

Career relevance and employability

The MSc consolidates and extends the learning built up through the postgraduate diploma. The final project module, provides an opportunity to apply academic discipline to a development management problem, acquire research skills to deepen understanding of that problem (and to ‘find out fast’ more generally), and use learning from earlier modules to make a case for change in policy and/or practice. Typically, the problem you investigate is one linked to your professional practice, making for an ‘applied’ conclusion to the learning. With this experience, adding to competencies nurtured through the whole of your MSc study, you can be confident of its value to any organisation concerned with bringing about good change.

There is more information about how OU study can improve your employability in the OU’s Employability Statement from our Careers Advisory Service. You can also read or download our publication OU study and your career and look at our subject pages to find out about career opportunities.

Modules

For this 180-credit masters degree you require:

120 credits from the Postgraduate Diploma in Development Management (D37) 

And 30 credits from one additional module from the postgraduate diploma programme

And 30 credits from the following compulsory module:

Postgraduate compulsory module Credits Next start
The development management project (TU874)

Integrate your knowledge of development management with an example current practice, through a research project focusing on your own concerns and experience.

See full description.

30 Nov 2013

Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules TUXX874, TUZX874

If you have not already included 30 credits of postgraduate study from another masters degree programme in your postgraduate diploma, you have the option of counting this study against your masters degree instead of studying 30 credits from the optional modules. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service for further information.

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:

  • Knowledge and understanding
  • Cognitive skills
  • Practical and professional skills
  • Key skills

Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.

Credit for previous study elsewhere

If you have already completed some successful study at postgraduate level at another institution you may be able to transfer credit for this study and count it towards this Open University qualification. If you wish to apply to transfer credit you must do so as soon as possible as it may affect your choice of OU modules. If you are awarded credit for study completed elsewhere, you may find that you need to study fewer OU modules to complete your qualification with us.

Visit our Credit Transfer site for more information and details of how to apply for credit transfer.

On completion

On successful completion of the required modules you can be awarded an MSc in Development Management entitling you to use the letters MSc (Dev Mgmt) (Open) after your name. You will have the opportunity of being presented at a degree ceremony.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the following regulations:

These regulations are also available on our Essential Documents website.

How to register

If you want to study for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the module you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that module. During the registration procedure you will be asked to declare which qualification you are studying towards.

See a full list of modules available for this qualification