Frequently Asked Questions
The application portal can be access through the Laney Graduate School's webpage. Those instructions are for all applicants to Emory’s graduate programs, though each program may have additional requirements or guidelines, so make sure that you review their specific websites.
An overview of the application requirements is available here. Applicants are assessed based on their statements of purpose, letters of recommendation, résumé/CV, and transcripts. Standardized test scores, like the GRE, may also help to support your application, if provided, but are not required.
We seek applicants with a combination of the academic ability needed to undertake the MDP's rigorous curriculum and relevant work, volunteer service, and /or study experience in low-resource settings. Knowledge of foreign languages and technical skills are highly desired. We welcome Returning Peace Corps Volunteers, AmeriCorps volunteers, and our brave veterans.
You must have completed a degree from a four-year, accredited university or college to be eligible for the MDP program. International students that come from university systems that have a different structure must have graduated from an equivalent university degree program prior to applying.
Successful applicants have majored in international relations/studies/affairs, foreign language and area studies, social and environmental sciences, public health, economics/business, and communication. Students with majors that not directly related to development should explain in their statement of purpose why they wish to shift direction and pursue a career in development practice.
We welcome applications from strongly qualified undergraduate students who have have relevant extra-curricular experiences. However, applicants who have had at least two or three years of relevant work or volunteer experience after completing their college degrees will be more competitive.
We do not expect applicants to have a face-to-face interview as part of their application process. Students may be able to visit campus before or after they are accepted to learn about the program. For more information, please contact the MDP Program.
You do not have to select or contact a faculty member prior to joining the MDP program. MDP students are assigned a mentor once they begin the program based on the students' interests. Advisors may be Emory faculty or development professionals, including Emory MDP alumni.
The Emory MDP program is a professional degree, like a MPH or MBA, with most graduates joining the workforce after degree completion. However, some opt to pursue further education, obtaining PhDs in Public Health, Environmental Health, International Law, Social Work, and Education. Interdisciplinary, practice-oriented PhD programs, such as the Global Health and Development and in Environmental Science and Society at Emory University, are excellent options for MDP graduates.
As a practice-oriented program the Emory MDP prepares students to be competitive on the job market. Emory MDP alumni have an 96% rate of employment. About half of them work with non-profits, while the rest serve with government agencies, consulting/contracting firms, research centers, policy think-tanks, and the private sector. See here for typical positions and employers.