AY 2008-2009 Field Description The SAIS International Development (IDEV) Program provides an interdisciplinary approach to the study of developing countries, with the aim of preparing students for careers in development. IDEV students can choose one of three tracks: Finance and Development, Politics and Governance, and Human Development. In addition, they can opt for (1) a specialization in Development Economics, offered through the SAIS International Economics Program, or (2) a specialization in Emerging Markets, which is administered through the IDEV Program. Washington, DC is in many ways the center of the development world. It is home to multilateral institutions like the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Inter-American Development Bank; US government agencies or affiliates like the Agency for International Development, the Treasury Department, and the National Endowment for Democracy; research centers like the Center for Global Development or the Brookings Institution; non-governmental organizations like Freedom House, the Eurasia Foundation, FINCA, Accion, and InterAction; and many for-profit service providers like Chronics International or Development Alternatives International. Students in the IDEV program receive rigorous academic training that helps them better conceptualize the development process in its economic, political, and social dimensions. Many students combine this program with practical policy and field experience through an internship between their first and second years. Student also can expand their contacts with development practitioners throught the networking that is possible in the Washington area. Program Description Given its interdisciplinary approach to development, the SAIS International Development Program (IDEV) draws upon development courses offered by other SAIS programs, especially in Regional studies, and also offers its own courses on key development topics not covered elsewhere at SAIS.
Admission to IDEV Only a limited number of students admitted to SAIS will be accepted into the IDEV program, although IDEV courses are open to all SAIS students on a space-available basis. Students are admitted directly to the IDEV program as part of the SAIS application process. Strong preference will be given to students with prior experience living in developing countries, or with prior work or volunteer experience relevant to a career in development, although consideration will be given to students demonstrating a strong motivation to make a career change into development work. The Human Development track has a separate requirement of two years of continuous local-level experience in a developing country. To enter IDEV, students must also have completed the SAIS Intermediate Microeconomics requirement prior to entering SAIS. This can be done though SAIS summer school, Pre-Term courses offered annually by SAIS in August, or by demonstrating proficiency with taking the SAIS Microeconomics placement exam. Students who feel their background is strong enough to take the placement exam are highly advised to do so when it is offered in June; failure to pass this exam or a SAIS microeconomics course will disqualify candidates from entering the IDEV program.
Academic Requirements:
IDEV students can select one of three tracks: - Finance and Development encompasses emerging market finance, microfinance, and
public finance. Students will typically emphasize one of these three areas, though it is strongly recommended that all students in this track take the SAIS International Economics Program’s course in corporate finance. Microfinance has become a major growth area within development in recent years, but one that requires knowledge of conventional finance as it becomes integrated with the latter. Students in this track can look to careers ranging from working in the field on a microfinance project, analyzing proposals for funding of development projects by national or international aid agencies, to participating in decisions on direct foreign investment by private-sector institutions such as banks, corporations, and venture-capital funds.
- Politics and Governance focuses on issues related to institutions, governance, rule of law, public administration, accountability, anti-corruption, civil society, and democratic development. Institutions are important in their own right, and in recent years have been recognized as being critical to economic development. Students in this track can look to careers either making policy in national agencies or multilateral organizations, or working in organizations promoting democracy, human rights, or rule of law.
- Human Development focuses on social sectors including public health, sustainable development, rural and urban development, and education. Public health or sustainable development courses are offered in conjunction with the SAIS International Policy Program. Students in this track can look forward to careers in multilateral organizations, national development agencies, or in non-governmental organizations working to deliver social services.
ALL IDEV students take the IDEV gateway course, Introduction to Development, during their first semester. Students then take a minimum of 3 courses in their selected track, plus one course either in one of the other two tracks or from a list of tools courses. In addition, students are required to choose two IDEV-approved regional courses on development. A comprehensive list of such approved regional courses can be found on the IDEV website by clicking here.
For one of their SAIS core courses, IDEV students must choose Comparative National Systems. For their two SAIS elective economics courses (in addition to Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, International Trade Theory and International Monetary Theory), IDEV students must take a course listed by the International Economics Program in either the Development Economics or Finance categories. For their second elective, they must take either a Statistics course or one of the full Econometrics courses. Students should arrange to take an appropriate preparatory course so that they can qualify to take the sats/econometrics courses. Related Specializations In addition to satisfying the above IDEV academic requirements, IDEV students can opt for a specialization in Emerging Markets, which is administered through the IDEV program, and /or one of the specializations offered through the SAIS International Economics Program, either Development Economics, or International Finance, as appropriate for their IDEV track. PhD Program The IDEV program will accept at most one doctoral student per year to work with the program director. That student must be interested in doing a dissertation in the broad area of institutions and governance as they relate to development.
Click here for a chart outlining 2008-2009 academic requirements.
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