Master's Degree: Objectives
Master of Science in Information and Communication Technology for Development (MS-ICTD)
Development as a path, not an endpoint.
The MS-ICTD program is designed to train motivated individuals to use both technology and the social sciences to boost health, education and civil service initiatives all over the world.
Students will study from a variety of perspectives and disciplines to learn how information and communication technology (ICT) can enable sustainable development. Issues of globalization, equity, gender, health, entrepreneurship and poverty will be examined.
Technology and societies vary, as do solutions.
Technologies that contribute to development vary. So students will be taught to evaluate the potential benefits, risks and consequences of technology for a wide range of societies--from undeveloped to impoverished. To this end, while students will study the technical and social aspects of technology, they will also gain a foundation in development and cultural studies as well.
How do we balance technology with cultural, political and social concerns?
In order for ICT-based development interventions to succeed, technological considerations must be balanced with social, cultural, political and external issues. Therefore, in addition to technical courses, students will study economics, global health, fieldwork methods, social entrepreneurship and related fields. Achieving a balance between technological and cultural/political issues is a central objective of this program.
On-campus expertise
The MS-ICTD program builds on existing on-campus strength in many of the core areas that define the discipline.
See curriculum.
The Practicum:
Get real-world, on-the-ground experience.
After three semesters of coursework, students go out in the field to do a semester-long practicum. This is an opportunity to get extensive experience in the challenges of real-world development. Students will work with program staff to design their best practicum experience given personal interests and career choice.
The MS-ICTD masters program prepares you to:
• Acquire the knowledge necessary to use information and communication
technology to advance community development worldwide.
• Understand essential relationships between technology, culture, development theory and practice.
• Learn how access, social equity, sustainability, appropriate design and distribution influence development outcomes.
• Collaborate effectively with practitioners from multiple disciplines in the creation, deployment and evaluation of development solutions.
• Participate significantly in development projects, thus bringing practical experience to your future employment.
• Seek further graduate study in pursuit of a doctorate.
• Compete successfully for jobs with:
- Multinational companies seeking to enter emerging markets
- Government and non-governmental organizations
- Community-based organizations engaged in development
For further information, download the program description or email Dr. Revi Sterling,
program director, at
revi.sterling@colorado.edu, or Ruscha Cohen, graduate program
adviser, at
ruscha.cohen@colorado.edu.
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