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Future Generations University Solving Global Problems with Local Solutions

Future.Edu Growing Sustainable Communities

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  • ADMISSIONS
    • ADMISSIONS
    • COVERDELL
    • AMERICORPS MEMBERS
    • BENDING BAMBOO
  • ACADEMICS
    • ACADEMICS
    • MASTER’S DEGREE
    • APPALACHIAN CONFERENCE
    • INDIA RESIDENTIAL COURSE
    • GRADUATE CERTIFICATES
    • CONTINUING EDUCATION
    • FOR STUDENTS
    • INTRO TO COMMUNITY CHANGE
    • TAKING IMPACT TO SCALE
    • SOCIAL RESEARCH FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
    • FUNDRAISING AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
    • ALUMNI
  • RESEARCH
    • MAPLE
    • SOCIAL CHANGE
    • SONGS OF ADAPTATION
    • MONITORING NATURE
    • SEED-SCALE
    • EDUCATION RESEARCH
    • HEALTH
    • CONSERVATION
    • PEACE
    • FACULTY SCHOLARSHIP
    • ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP
    • BOOKSTORE
  • ABOUT US
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    • PRESIDENT
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An Affordable Online Master’s Program Designed for You

Earn leadership skills for a changing world. Complete the Master of Arts in Applied Community Development online in under 22 months for under $20,000.

Enroll today!

Why our Master’s in Community
Development?

Learn from our faculty of experts how to scale up community-driven change that is inclusive and sustainable.

Skills you will learn:

  • Non-Profit Management
  • Monitoring & Evaluation Priorities
  • Social Research Methods
  • Fundraising and Resource Development
  • Community Conservation
  • Resource Mapping
  • Communication for Social Change

“It has given me project management and leadership skills that will be directly applicable to my chosen career.”

—ASHLEY, USA

Master knowledge & skills
for community change

A Personalized Approach:

  • Designed to be flexible around the priorities of the working adult
  • Hands-on project-based learning in your community
  • Weekly live online classes
  • Design the program to fit your goals through independent study and internships
  • Earn your degree and make the world a better place at the same time
PeaceCorps

Peace Corps
RPCV
25% Scholarship
May Apply

More Info
AmeriCorps

25% Scholarship
Available to
AmeriCorps and
Vista Volunteers

More Info

Make Your Success a Priority.

Begin Your Journey Today.

Enroll Today!

2021
Academic
Catalog

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Higher Learning Commission Affiliation - Future Generations University.

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  • Accreditation
  • Disability Services
  • Class Enrollment & Diversity
  • Net Price Calculator
  • Security
  • Student Outcomes
  • Retention & Graduation Rates
  • Policies/Consumer Info

Accreditation

Accreditation

Future Generations University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the largest and oldest accrediting body in the United States. This quality assurance by a federally-recognized body also meets requirements necessary for the institution to receive and manage federal financial aid funds. The accreditation process also provides a periodic opportunity and incentive for the institution to review, assess, and advance the quality of its educational and financial operations

Disability Services

Disability Services

The university encourages everybody to become part of our global network regardless of any potential disability. Personal interviews are conducted with anybody who would special considerations so that we can assist each person in their education journey.

Future Generations University ensures equal educational opportunities for students in the online masters in community development program who qualify as a person with a disability under the applicable laws (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504). Many students who were under an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or a 504 Plan during high school will qualify for services, as will many other students who did not receive any specialized services during their K-12 education. It is the students responsibility to email our disability services representative at disabilityservices@future.edu to register for services. Documentation may be required and approved accommodations are determined on an individual basis. It is the students responsibility to inform faculty via letter from our office of the necessary accommodations each semester in order to receive accommodations throughout the semester. Professors are under no obligation to provide academic accommodations until they receive and discuss the accommodation letter with the student requesting accommodations. When a student has asked for disability related accommodations without an accommodation letter, a referral is appropriate and necessary. Faculty or students who encounter problems regarding accommodations are asked to notify Disability Services immediately. We encourage students to communicate with faculty at the start of each semester, but there are no deadlines to register for disability services. Students may disclose a disability to our office anytime during their education at the institution. Faculty may be approached by a student with an accommodation letter anytime during the semester. Though a student may approach a faculty member late in the semester with an accommodation letter, accommodations are not retroactive; that is, the accommodations do not apply to work completed before the students submission of documentation and the determination of necessary accommodations.

Class Enrollment & Diversity

Students in the community development master’s program come from fields of communication, community development, conservation, ecosystem resilience, education, food and water security, linguistics, natural resource management, nonprofit management, peacebuilding, and primary and local health care, research, and sociology.

1. Gender:
Alumni are 50%* female.

2. Ethnicity, Nation, and Country of Origin:
Future Generations University has an incredibly diverse student body in terms of region, nation, and country of origin. Since the nature of this Master of Arts is applied study and research in the context of our students, they conduct their graduate work in their home communities and countries.

80% of all graduates are from developing nations and continue to work in those countries. Our graduates are located in 40% of the 45 Least Developed Nations in the world^. 40% of those are women.

Our student body extends through the following nations: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bolivia, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guyana, Haiti, India, Iran, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, The Philippines, Uganda, United States, Vietnam, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

And across the following US states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Kentucky, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and West Virginia.

* all percentages are rounded to the nearest 10%
^https://www.un.org/development/desa/dpad/least-developed-country-category/ldcs-at-a-glance.html

Net Price Calculator

The current tuition cost per credit hour is USD$600. The Masters in Applied Community Development degree requires a total of 32 credits to graduate, making the final price of tuition USD$19,200. There are no additional required fees. Students earn this degree from their home using their community and current work as the classroom. Books and materials are generally made available for free on the university’s learning management system.

There are also Residential Courses between semesters; both June/July and January each year. Residential Courses allow students to examine “best practices” of community change and development practice in the field, they pay their round-trip travel to the location and the cost of the credits. All additional program costs are covered by a generous donor.

Security

Students engage their graduate work online and in their community of work and service. They are best equipped to identify and deal with local security concerns. During optional residentials, the university exercises due diligence in providing safe and adequate living
accommodations, venues for field studies, and means of in-country transportation. To view our Annual Security reports, visit our Consumer Information page.

Student Outcomes

Most Future Generations University students enter and graduate from this program in the same or a related field of community change and development practice. The difference is that their graduate studies enable their advancement in both profession and vocation.

Students typically come from fields of communications, community development,conservation, ecosystem resilience, education, food and water security, linguistics, natural resource management, nonprofit management, peacebuilding,and primary and local health care, research, and sociology.

93 %

of graduates expanded their work to larger areas

90 %

of alumni received a promotion after their degree

79 %

of alumni earned a salary increase

68 %

of students started new programs or organizations

Retention & Graduation Rates

  • In 2018, the program transitioned to a student-centered open enrollment model where each study plan is individualized to the student’s needs.
  • This has led to higher overall graduation rates.
  • 83% Graduation rate – 10 year average
  • Review of the last three years:
    • 90% – Graduation Rate
    • 70% completed in the standard two-year schedule
    • 20% completed in less than two years – utilizing prior learning assessment and transfer credits
    • 10% took three years or longer to complete – through part-time enrollment and reinstated students

Policies/Consumer Info

The Academic Catalog provides a Grievance Procedure for student concerns about grading and supervision. To date there has been one student grievance, which was satisfactorily handled according to procedure, leading to the student’s successful completion of her Master’s degree. The university complies with allTitle IX regulations. There have been no student, staff, or faculty complaints under Title IX.

The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 requires universities participating in federal student aid programs to make certain disclosures to enrolled and prospective students, parents, employees, and the public. In an effort to assist students and their families in making informed decisions. Future Generations University has developed a consumer information page to serve as a central point for obtaining information about the institution. Click here to consult that page.

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          Frequently Asked Questions

          How is Future Generations University different from other universities?

          • Future Generations University is for professionals in community change. You can be an established professional or you can be newly entering. The program will fit you. Your major platform for learning will be your work, and the best of world learning is brought to your work … to help your community improve. At traditional universities, you go to school, then go to work after you get your degree. You will expand your work in learning connections throughout the world.
          • This connecting into the world begins in either specific certificate classes or the two-year Master’s degree, but once having entered Future.Edu of world-engaged learning, through the parallel organization (Future.Org), you join a world-circling professional community of applied community change. You do not “graduate” from Future Generations University, but rather you commence into world, stature, professional, practicing discourse of continuing learning.

          Are you accredited?

          Accreditation

          Future Generations University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the largest and oldest accrediting body in the United States. This quality assurance by a federally-recognized body also meets requirements necessary for the institution to receive and manage federal financial aid funds. The accreditation process also provides a periodic opportunity and incentive for the institution to review, assess, and advance the quality of its educational and financial operations

          The Higher Learning Commission
          230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
          Chicago, IL 60604
          inquiry@hlcommission.org
          Phone: 1-800-621-7440
          Website:http://www.ncahlc.org/

          What is the purpose of the Future Generations University?

          For the last 15 years, Future Generations University has been dedicated to empowering committed development practitioners by providing a new model of applied higher education. By focusing learning in the communities where these change-makers already live and work, students immediately begin advancing social change with the skills and strategies they obtain.

          Future Generations University offers a two-year Master of Arts Degree in Applied Community Change. The program includes five specializations in different areas where communities have the opportunity to grow. Instruction is also offered through a range of focused certificates. Further, the University also conducts and applies research on the effectiveness of community-based approaches for achieving impact in a widening range of areas.

          What is Class/Enrollment Size?

          For the first fifteen years (Classes from 2003 through 2017), enrollment was exceedingly selective. Each class typically had 20+ students. The university is expanding now, but remains selective.

          To date, the Masters Degree program has prepared students from 40 countries. Since 2003, seven classes (Class 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015) have graduated. Through the 15 years an additional range of students have graduated from the certificate programs.

          Can you tell me more about your alumni?

          Our students enter as development practitioners in their own countries. The learning allows them to grow their jobs and communities. The following statistics indicate the engagement of our master’s alumni specifically.

          • Percentage of alumni Employed: 95%
          • Engaged in similar community work as during Master’s program: 83%
          • Working for the same organization as during the Master’s program: 58% (of these 40% have changed jobs within their organization, mostly promotions)
          • Working for a different organization: 42% (of these 36% have started their own organization/consultancy).
          • Working together on Future Generations Alumni Collaboration Grants: 37%
          • Continued on to obtain a PhD, are in, or applying for a doctoral/PhD program: 11%

          Am I eligible for the Masters Degree Program?

          Please check our eligibility criteria for full details. To summarize, all applicants to the master’s degree are required to: 1) work with a community throughout the two-year program; 2) have a Bachelors Degree or equivalent; 3) be proficient in the English language; and 4) have reliable internet connectivity. Applicants to the certificate programs generally are open to anyone willing to do the work.

          Do I have to quit my job to complete this Masters Degree Program?

          No. In most cases, students build their learning experience around their current position or field in order to maximize their effectiveness in these areas, using their current community as a learning platform. If participating in optional residential experiences, which require travel to a host community, the student should first obtain permission from an employer. Apart from these residential options, learning will be based in students’ home communities.

          How do donations to the university support the work of students?

          Students at Future Generations University have implemented incredible work making positive changes in their home communities and workplaces around the world (Read about some of their work).

          Most students come from admirable low-paying career paths in field like education, health services, rural development, and conservation driven by a passion to help others and secure a better future for their fellow community members.

          This means they often have limited funds for continuing education and their community building projects, and rely on the support of generous donors. We hope you will join! When you donate to our academic programs, you are not just funding a single development project, you are opening the door for a series of community-driven efforts led by our students and each additional community leader they train in empowerment methods.

          I'd like to support your students, how can I help?

          If you’d like to support the next generation of community leaders being trained by Future Generations, you can donate to a scholarship fund for current or future students. You could also work with our financial office to start a special fund for a program of your choice– perhaps you’d like to support students working in a designated field, from a specific country, or you’d like to fund a class focused on a certain area of community change. Visit our donate page for options on ways to contribute or contact us at (info@future.edu).

          Who is the best person to contact for more information about the university?

          Our staff will be happy to supply you with additional information ​ if you are a member of the press or simply seek answers to some more questions not addressed on this page. Please email us at graduate@future.edu and we will do our best to give you the information you would like.

          You can also contact any of our offices worldwide and meet with the team there.

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                      Our History

                      Future Generations first began tackling humanity’s toughest challenges in 1992: understanding how to create community-driven change that is both sustainable and scalable. Recognizing traditional approaches to community development were not working, UNICEF launched a task force and enlisted Future Generations to study this question around-the-world. Future Generations was founded to promote the newly synthesized method for community-based sustainable development.

                      After a decade of successful demonstrations of the methodology advancing health, peacebuilding, conservation, education, and livelihoods across India, Afghanistan, China, Peru and other nations, Future Generations formed a new global learning community to extend this method at scale. A separate graduate school was established in 2006, which today advances research, learning, and action in 42 countries as Future Generations University (Formerly Future Generations Graduate School). The original civil society organization, Future Generations Inc., continues to serve as a connector and resource hub between country programs and the university’s growing alumni in the Future Generations Global Network.

                      As this learning organization evolved into a University with new research initiatives and a wider reach, so did its innovative approach to global education. What sets all Future Generations programs apart is how they transform the community into the classroom. Life-useful learning is delivered over long distances through a combination of online coursework, peer learning, and community-based projects. The University offers a range of learning opportunities, including online resources, customized training, certificate programs, and a Master of Arts in Applied Community Development. This degree program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the USA’s oldest and largest higher education accrediting body.

                      Our Shared Future

                      For the first time in human history, every country of the world has signed on to the same set of goals: the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In these, governments, many corporations, and donor agencies have shared targets to address our immense global challenges. Future Generations focuses on empowering communities around the world to better engage these structures of support from the bottom-up using the SEED-SCALE method.

                      Education is the great equalizer. Communities don’t need to wait for policy or leadership change to deliver needed services; learning can open the door to new skills that help communities use what they already have to advance a shared vision for the future. Students at Future Generations steer their learning journey according to local priorities so they can advance their personal goals alongside their professional work and community well-being.

                      Future Generations University is dedicated to opening this life-changing opportunity up to more community leaders in the coming years by:

                      • Enhancing the Master’s degree, keeping costs low and increasing flexibility to grow enrollment
                      • Expanding Non-Formal Education offerings with new certificate and training programs customized for partner organizations
                      • Developing online learning resources and programs that open access to the SEED-SCALE method among new audiences around-the-world
                      • Advancing community-grounded research to promote site-specific innovations in health, education, economic development, climate change and ecosystem monitoring, and more
                      • Establishing Sustainable Development Learning Centers at sites of strength across our Global Network to extend learning and innovation for local sustainable development impact
                      • ADMISSIONS
                        ▼
                        • ADMISSIONS
                        • COVERDELL
                        • AMERICORPS MEMBERS
                        • BENDING BAMBOO
                      • ACADEMICS
                        ▼
                        • ACADEMICS
                        • MASTER’S DEGREE
                        • APPALACHIAN CONFERENCE
                        • INDIA RESIDENTIAL COURSE
                        • GRADUATE CERTIFICATES
                        • CONTINUING EDUCATION
                        • FOR STUDENTS
                        • INTRO TO COMMUNITY CHANGE
                        • TAKING IMPACT TO SCALE
                        • SOCIAL RESEARCH FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
                        • FUNDRAISING AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
                        • ALUMNI
                      • RESEARCH
                        ▼
                        • MAPLE
                        • SOCIAL CHANGE
                        • SONGS OF ADAPTATION
                        • MONITORING NATURE
                        • SEED-SCALE
                        • EDUCATION RESEARCH
                        • HEALTH
                        • CONSERVATION
                        • PEACE
                        • FACULTY SCHOLARSHIP
                        • ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP
                        • BOOKSTORE
                      • ABOUT US
                        ▼
                        • ABOUT
                        • FACULTY & STAFF
                        • TRUSTEES AND ADVISORY
                        • PRESIDENT
                      • PARTNERSHIP
                      • PUBLICATIONS
                      • SUPPORT
                      • BLOG