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MDP

Are you ready to confront today’s most urgent policy challenges and develop the strategic thinking and analytical skills needed to shape effective and equitable public solutions?

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Curriculum

인쇄 글자 크게 글자 작게

The Master of Development Policy (MDP) program aims to cultivate both international and domestic professionals with the expertise to design and implement development strategies in developing countries. The program also seeks to nurture experts who can contribute to strengthening development cooperation between Korea and its partner countries. Through the curriculum, students are expected to build a solid foundation in development economics, develop a comprehensive understanding of the economic, political, social, and cultural dimensions of development, and acquire valuable insights and lessons from Korea’s development experiences. Required courses include Introduction to Development Policy (IDP) and Quantitative Methods (QM), while students have the option to specialize in Sustainable Development (SD) or International Development (ID) to deepen their knowledge and expertise.
Starting from the 2026 incoming class, all programs require students to complete at least 36 credits. KDI School operates on a trimester system, allowing full-time students to graduate in approximately 1.5 years, while part-time students typically finish their studies in about 2 years. Each program is designed, run, and evaluated according to the five core competencies established by NASPAA (Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration), along with program-specific Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs). The curriculum is regularly updated to reflect feedback from current students, alumni, and partner institutions, ensuring a demand-driven structure. In addition, students intending to pursue doctoral studies may have the opportunity to enroll in Ph.D.-level courses, subject to approval and guidance from their advisors.

Program Specific Concentrations

Sustainable Development

As one of the key concentrations within the Master of Development Policy (MDP) program, Sustainable Development focuses on the interconnectedness of economic growth, human development, and environmental sustainability. Today’s development practitioners are expected to balance these priorities and address complex, long-term challenges that affect both people and the planet.

Students in this concentration explore a broad range of issues, including poverty, labor, education, healthcare, population dynamics, human rights, and social change. In parallel, the curriculum also addresses the economic and environmental dimensions of development—such as productivity, macroeconomics, technology, project evaluation, energy, and environmental policy.

Through this integrated approach, the Sustainable Development track helps students gain the knowledge and skills needed to design and implement development strategies that are both inclusive and future-oriented.

This concentration is particularly relevant for mid-career professionals and aspiring practitioners in the public sector, international organizations, and NGOs working in the fields of human development, social policy, and sustainable growth.

  • Advanced Development Economics
  • Analysis of Education Policy in Comparative Perspectives
  • Climate Change Economics and Policy
  • Culture, Creativity and Local Development
  • Dispute Resolution and Negotiation
  • Economics of Education: Policy Design and Evaluation
  • Entrepreneurship and Innovation
  • Environmental Economics in Developing Countries
  • Financial Instruments and Markets
  • Gender and Development
  • Global Energy Policy
  • Global Health and Development
  • Human Capital and Economic Development
  • ICT for SDGs
  • Input/Output Analysis
  • International Development in Practice
  • Introduction to the International Trade and Investment Systems
  • Labor Market and Labor Policy
  • Land Policy
  • Macroeconomic Policy
  • Mind, Behavior and Public Policy
  • Political Economy of Development
  • Population and Development
  • Productivity and Economic Growth
  • Regional Development and Public Policy
  • Social Inequalities
  • Social Protection and Work
  • Spatial Economics and Quantitative Modeling
  • Technological Change and the Environment
  • The United Nations and Sustainable Development
  • Urban and Regional development
  • Urban Transportation Policy

International Development

Within the Master of Development Policy (MDP) program, the International Development concentration explores how international economic and diplomatic strategies can be aligned with development goals. In an increasingly interconnected world, public sector leaders must understand both global dynamics and regional contexts to shape effective, forward-looking policies.

This concentration provides students with the theoretical foundations and practical tools to navigate key global development issues such as Official Development Assistance (ODA), trade, foreign direct investment (FDI), international finance, and the operations of international organizations. It also emphasizes the importance of regional perspectives through country and area studies.

Students gain the analytical skills and contextual understanding necessary to engage in policy work that spans borders and sectors. The concentration is well-suited for mid-career professionals and aspiring experts seeking to work in public institutions, NGOs, international organizations, or trade-related roles in the private sector.

  • Advanced Development Economics
  • Competition, Innovation and Firm Dynamics
  • Democracy, Political Mobilization and Economic Development: Korea’s Experience
  • Development and Challenges in East Asia
  • Development and Political Reform: Comparative Cases
  • Development in Africa and the Middle East
  • Economic Development in Historical Perspective
  • Economic History of the West and Development Lessons
  • G20 and Global Governance
  • Global Development Finance Cooperation
  • Impact Evaluation Methods
  • Industrial Policy and International Trade Regulation
  • Industrial Policy for Small and Medium Enterprises(SMEs)
  • International Development in Practice
  • International Macroeconomic Theory and Policy
  • Introduction to Geospatial Analysis
  • Investment Project Valuation and Risk Analysis
  • Knowledge Sharing for International Development
  • Korean Economic Development
  • The China Path: Political Economy and Global Impact
  • The United Nations and Global Affairs
  • Theory and Policy of International Trade
  • Trade and Industrial Policy for the 21st Century
  • Trade Law and Policy in Practice
  • Understanding the World Economy

Course List & Schedule

Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements - category, MDP
Category MDP
Core Courses Requirement : 6 credits (2 courses)
  • Introduction to Development Policy
  • Quantitative Methods
1st Concentration Requirement: at least 9 credits (3 courses) from 1 concentration (Mandatory)
  • ID(International Development)*
  • SD(Sustainable Development)*
    * Starting from the Fall 2026 semester, ID and SD will be integrated into DP(Development Policy)
2nd Concentration Elective: up to 9 credits (3 courses) from 1 concentration (Optional)
  • FM (Finance and Macroeconomic Policy)
  • TI (Trade and industrial Policy)
  • PS (Public Finance and Social Policy)
  • RE (Regional Development and Environment Policy)
  • ID(International Development)*(
  • SD(Sustainable Development)*
    * Starting from the Fall 2026 semester, ID and SD will be integrated into DP(Development Policy)
  • PA (Public Administration and Leadership)
  • SM (Strategic Management)
  • GP (Global Governance and Political Economy)
  • DS(Data Science for Public Policy and Management)**
    ** 9 credits (3 courses) including at least one Basic course are required
    		•
    Research Project Optional
    • ARS (3 credits) + Thesis (3 credits)
    • ARS (3 credits) + Capstone (3 credits)
    Language Requirement
    • Language in Public Policy and Management (3 credits)
    • Korean Language and Culture I (3 credits) (only for full-time international students)

    ※ Total Minimum 36 credits

      • KOICA, NIIED GKS Global Network Scholarship, and G20 Scholarship follow their own graduation requirements.

      • The above graduation requirements will apply starting from the 2026 incoming class. Students admitted before 2025 should refer to the student handbook for their respective year/semester.

    Graduation Date

    Spring

    End of May

    Summer

    End of August

    Fall

    Commencement or
    January 31st

    ※ If you take any courses during the fall semester, you will graduate on January 31st (not in December)

    Ceremony

    Completion Ceremony

    • Requirements: Enrolled students in a Masters degree, meet minimum credits requirements inclusive of the courses being taken currently.
    • Date: August, December (Refer to the academic calendar of each year)
    • Certificate of Coursework Completion will be awarded at the Completion Ceremony.

      * Certificate of Coursework Completion is different from Certificate of Completion (Certificate of Completion is issued to students who have completed the minimum required semesters but have not yet graduated)

    • Students will be invited to the completion ceremony only once

    Commencement

    • Requirements: Enrolled and Completed students in Ph.D. and Masters degree having met all graduation requirements
    • Date: December (Refer to the academic calendar of each year)
    • The diploma will be awarded only once at the Commencement. (Graduates in January will receive it after the graduation date.)