Capstone
The International Development Studies (IDS) program is an interdisciplinary master’s program that prepares students for professional careers in the field of international development. It is designed to provide a broad understanding and appreciation of current development issues and theories, as well as the processes involved in formulating policy and implementing development projects.
The work completed over the course of the IDS program culminates in the Capstone project, in which students work on a "real-world" consulting experience through any of a number of development organizations working around the world. Capstone projects, comprised of no more than four students, have addressed a broad range of topics, including rural education, urban upgrading, microfinance, and municipal planning, among others, pursuing and conducting fieldwork in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
As students of the IDS program, we are challenged, in our applied research Capstone project, to advance poverty reduction efforts around the world, taking into account the economic and social realities of the poorest inhabitants.