Program Delivery 

We currently offer our International concentration of the Economic Development program in two deliveries:

1. A full-time cohort based program in Pennsylvania for full-time students - 15 months to complete
2. A hybrid delivery model for practitioners working in development - 3 years to complete.

Our Urban Concentration of the Economic Development concentration is currently offered as a full-time cohort based in Pennsylvania that takes only 15 months to complete.

US Cohort:

This MBA program is a full-time 15 month program - 12 months in the US and for the International concentration, 3 months in a developing country (required 'field semester'). The Urban concentration requires equivalent credit hours in a CBDT, or community-based development training.

This program is a cohort model, meaning that you will start together in late August and work through the program as a group. The program starts with a required orientation, which is normally held the weekend before classes begin for Fall semester.

Field Semester Component
Students enrolled in the on-campus program, international concentration spend 12 months in the United States at the Eastern University campus. The final semester (September to early December) is spent in a developing country to complete the program. During this field semester, you can return to your mission or development agency or begin work part-time with an NGO, mission organization or other church related organization that serves poor communities. At the same time you will also complete your final course work via distance education.

Hybrid Delivery Model for the working professional:
The MBA in Economic Development (International) is offered in a residency/on-line learning model to practitioners working in NGOs, non-profits and other development organizations. You will come together annually in Africa for a three-week residency and the "classroom" coursework for a few courses. Throughout the following year, you will complete the on-line portion of those courses, applying them to the work in your organization. The program is designed to support you in your work with your ministry. 

You will repeat the process each year for the next two years with new courses each year. This program takes three years to complete.

For information on upcoming residency dates and class starts, please contact:
Mike Sheridan, Program Coordinator for US based programs, at  1-800-597-9324 (USA Only) or 484-581-1275
Lauren Gauthier, Program Coordinator for South Africa based programs, at 1-800-597-9324 (USA Only) or 610-341-1398

Other Programs with short residencies:

• Organizational Leadership (MA)
• International Development (MA)