Address Complex Questions of Poverty and Development

The Evans School’s International Development Policy and Management (IDPM) certificate offers students a foundation for addressing complex questions of poverty and development. The transcriptable certificate has been earned by UW graduate students from 14 departments and schools and allows students to study current topics in international policy, management, and economics in a disciplinarily diverse classroom. 

Requirements

The international development certificate requires that students complete 9 credits of core course material and two electives (6-8 credits) that cover areas or methods focused on international development. 

1. Three core courses (9 credits total).

  • PUBPOL 531 Development Management and Governance (AUT; 4 credits) examines the characteristics of development policy and aid institutions and explores the ethical and practical considerations of managing development projects at the national and local levels. 
  • PUBPOL 533 Economics of International Development (WIN; 4 credits) critically examines the most common economic development indicators of poverty, growth, and inequality, and provides an overview of, and basic economic literacy around, international macroeconomic topics including debt, aid, trade, and financial markets. 
  • PUBPOL 598 International Development Certificate Portfolio (SPR; 1 credit) A portfolio and paper developed by each student, reflecting upon the key learning experiences of the program. The portfolio will consist of a set of papers completed through certificate courses, while the paper will act as a reflective summary of the portfolio, coursework, and student learning in the program. 

2. Two elective courses (6-8 credits total) that cover areas or methods focused on international development.

Completion of the International Development Certificate will be acknowledged on the student’s official UW transcript.

Students are encouraged to review the UW Graduate School policies on certificate programs.

Eligibility and Admissions

Current UW graduate students who have completed at least one quarter with a minimum 3.0 GPA are eligible to apply. For most master’s degree students, the certificate coursework is taken across one academic year alongside coursework in their degree granting department; coursework may also be completed over multiple years. 

To apply for the certificate, please email the following materials as a single PDF to evansuw@uw.edu. Put IDPM Application_Last Name in the subject of your email. 

  1. A short letter of application introducing yourself, your academic program at UW, your background, areas of interest, professional and academic experience, future professional goals, and interest in the certificate. 
  2. A current resume listing both educational and professional experience. 
  3. University of Washington transcript (unofficial is fine; minimum GPA 3.0). 

Questions? Contact evansuw@uw.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. While the international development certificate was designed for UW graduate students outside of the Evans School, Master of Public Administration (MPA) students are welcome to join. Completion of both the MPA and the certificate will require additional credits as only 6 can overlap between the degree and certificate per current Evans policy. MPA students also have additional ways to tailor their degree. Students should confer with the Office of Student Affairs at evansuw@uw.edu.  

Yes. The international development certificate is a state-supported program. Graduate students in fee-based degree programs are welcome to join the certificate but should take note that most fee-based programs will use a different process to apply, register and pay for their courses than students in state-supported programs. The Continuum College policies about student status in “dual-major” would be helpful to review. 

Currently, admission to the certificate operates on a rolling admission basis. Once your application is received, it is reviewed by our committee and the decision is sent within two to three weeks.  

While we have a preference for you to take PUBPOL courses to fulfill your elective requirements, we understand this is not always practical. If you identify graduate level courses from other departments or schools that have appropriate learning in areas of methods of international development, then please bring an exception request to our attention. In your email message justify how the graduate-level course meets the spirit of the certificate and your professional goals.  

Typical electives include PUBPOL 539 Values in International Development, and PUBPOL 575 Taxes and Social Policy