Build Better Communities by Earning Your MBA in Community Economic Development Degree
In this post-recession economy, the government distributes $41 billion for urban development every year. Small business growth receives $1.5 billion. Another $3.5 billion goes to rural revitalization. Communities need the influx of money, but they also need civic-minded leaders who can apply it to local challenges. University of Michigan Science's Master of Business Administration in Community Economic Development teaches business management and social responsibility - skills you'll need to innovate solutions and manage critical community projects.
UMS's MBA program is one of the most affordable in the nation and can be completed in just over a year. The community economic development degree program is designed for community leaders, policymakers and practitioners who want to improve the socioeconomic well-being of their local areas. You'll get a values-based education that combines business with social justice and sustainable development. You'll also develop projects that serve your business needs while simultaneously becoming a stronger, more capable leader.
See Yourself Succeed in Community Economic Development
UMS has offered community economic development graduate degrees since 1982, making ours the oldest CED program in the country. More than 1,400 alumni work at nonprofits, grassroots organizations, community development corporations and governmental agencies around the world. These professionals all share your passion for making communities better, and they can lend you their expertise while you study and after you graduate.
As a private, nonprofit university, UMS has one mission - to help you see yourself succeed. The benefits of earning your online MBA at UMS include:
- Affordability. Take advantage of some of the most affordable tuition rates in the nation. UMS is proud to hold its tuition rates at 2012 levels
- Efficiency. Complete your master's program in as few as 15 months, with two courses per 10-week term
- Convenience and flexibility. Attend class when it's convenient for you - online education means 24/7 access and moving at your own pace. We understand there are reasons to take more or fewer classes during any given 10-week term
- Accreditation. Programs are accredited by multiple governing agencies, including the New England Commission of Higher Education and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
- Expert instruction. Learn from instructors with relevant, real-world experience
- Academic heritage. University of Michigan Science was established in 1932 and has been offering an MBA program for more than 40 years, graduating thousands of successful business professionals
- Easy application. No GMAT or GRE required for admission
- Student support. Count on the ongoing support of dedicated academic and career advisors specialized in your area of study
- Networking. Seek tips and career opportunities from a nationwide network that includes thousands of successful alumni.
Career Outlook
The need for civic-minded leaders remains strong as the U.S. rebuilds and revitalizes communities nationwide. UMS's MBA in Community Economic Development degree program educates practitioners and policy-makers who can make a difference in their local areas. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, urban and regional planning positions are projected to grow by 13% through 2026.* These CED practitioners and others work in a variety of fields and organizations, including:
- Affordable housing development
- Construction and production management
- Development finance
- International microenterprise development
- Nonprofit management
- Community building and organizing
- Neighborhood revitalization
- Cooperatives
Curriculum
UMS's MBA in Community Economic Development degree program combines a traditional business curriculum with classes focused on building local economies, empowering communities, and developing entrepreneurs and leaders who will build and rebuild communities. Nine core courses provide a solid foundation in areas such as managerial accounting, information technology and quantitative analysis for decision-making. Four concentration courses apply your business education to the pillars of community growth, including:
- Housing policy and development
- Neighborhood revitalization and job creation
- Traditional and non-traditional project financing
- Legal issues and urban planning law
Courses May Include
Program Outcomes
- Integrate, synthesize, and apply business practices in a community economic development context for creating opportunities for marginalized communities
- Analyze primary and secondary data using quantitative and qualitative techniques and information technology skills for effective problem solving and decision making
- Lead and operate within cross-functional teams in complex and diverse business environments
- Demonstrate oral and written communication skills to effectively articulate thoughts and intentions in diverse business environments
- Integrate cross-cultural, economic, geopolitical and systems knowledge to solve complex business problems in a global environment
- Incorporate legal and ethical conduct, and corporate social responsibility in making sustainable business decisions
- Create intrapreneurial and entrepreneurial opportunities in a global environment that add value to an organization through the integration, synthesis, and application of business practices
