Community Economic Development (M.S.) Frequently Asked Questions
The 20–month program is divided into 4 terms. Term 1 (Sept – Dec) Term 2 (Jan- Apr) Term (Sept – Apr) Term 4 (Jan –Apr). Students have summers free from courses while still maintaining work within their project requirement. This totals 16 actual “in-class” weekends for a total of 20 months.
While this program is not offered completely online, it is offered in a hybridized model which is designed for the working practitioner. NCED participants travel to SCED’s Main Campus (Manchester, NH) or West Coast Location (Los Angeles, CA) and take courses one long weekend per month (Friday - Sunday), and work online the rest of the month. This allows students to continue working while going to school.
There are two times when a student in required to be on campus in addition to the weekend schedule. This is for the mandatory orientation and for the Diversity in Organizations course which take place during a can take advantage of additional elective classes which are offered occasionally throughout the term on weekdays.
While the degree at both locations is the same, each location runs as a separate cohort that run on separate schedules, therefore, you must conttinue at the location in which you were accepted.
- National Weekend Program
- Manchester- June 30, 2010
- West Coast (Los Angeles) - December 1, 2009
- International Weekend Program (Main Campus) – June 30, 2010
- Completed Application
- Personal Statement
- Two Letters of Recommendation ( Three if “waiver”)
- Undergraduate Transcript (N/A for “waiver”)
- Professional Resume
- $25.00 Application Fee
- Waiver Exam (if applicable)
- School of Community Economic Development
Southern New Hampshire University
C/O Kathleen Kennedy
2500 North River Road
Manchester NH 03106
E-mail: k.kennedy@snhu.edu
Fax: 603.644.3130
- SCED Main Campus (Manchester, NH) – Anthony Poore 603.644.3123 or a.poore@snhu.edu
- West Coast Location (Los Angeles) – Reginald "Reggie" Chapple 213.748.5848 or r.chapple@snhu.edu
- Students must first apply to the MS Program and be accepted to be considered.
- After a student is accepted into the Program they must then complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online if one wishes to pursue student loans or be considered for internal SCED financial aid.
- Once the FAFSA has been reviewed by the Feds, all Financial Aid information is made available to SNHU and an award letter is then sent to the student assuming no issues arise (i.e. defaulted on previous GSL, have not applied for the Selective Service, etc.) Please review SNHU's Financial Aid Award Guide.
- Additional information can be found on the SCED's Financial Aid Website webpage or by calling the office at 603.645.9645
Generally CED Graduate Students are eligible to receive $20,000.00 per academic year in loans. “Need Based’ scholarships are awarded by the School and dollars vary by student. Awards range from $500 to $2,000 per term.
- Travel (if applicable)
- Lodging (if applicable)
- Miscellaneous (related academic materials)
Yes
- Main Campus – Costs and Payment Options is available here.
- West Coast Location – Costs and Payment Options is available here.
- Manchester Location – September 10, 2010
- West Coast Location – January 2010 (Date TBD)
- Class Weekend Schedules
Courses are offered in a sequential manner therefore one cannot begin in January w/the exception of SCED's West Coast Center
- Main Campus – Webster Hall (Manchester, NH)
- West Coast Location - LA NHS, 3926 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 303, Los Angeles, California
- Manchester, NH- Radisson Hotel Manchester, 700 Elm Street, Manchester, NH 03101. Phone Number: 603.627.2525. The SCED negotiated rate is $79 per night plus 8% Rooms and Meals Tax. Transportation is provided by the hotel "to and from"the airport as well as to campus. Please note all students MUST make their reservations three weeks prior to your stay to receive the negotiated rate.
- West Coast – Ramada Hotel 3900 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, 213-736-5222. The hotel is within walking distance to LA NHS. The negotiated rate is $85.00 (single occupancy) or $95.00 (double occupancy) per night.
Each year the School of CED accepts a limited amount of waiver candidates. In these cases the bachelor degree requirement is waived in exchange for at least five years experience in the field of CED. Waiver candidates will need three letters of recommendation and will submit an essay. For more information on the waiver exam contact Kathleen Kennedy at k.kennedy@snhu.edu
Students must complete required courses and 39 credits with a minimum GPA of 3.0 to graduate.
Students are required to take 32 "required" course credits and 7 "elective" course credits to successfully complete the Program. Course offerings can be found at www.snhu.edu/ced
A community project is required in place of a thesis. Participants are required to plan and implement a CED project in their communities as part of the program. Typically, the project is linked to their area of specializations and employment. The sequence of project courses (CED 791 through CED 794) takes place throughout the duration of the program and is designed for students to learn and apply directly all the skills and tools CED practitioners need to enhance their community-based work. It is not a requirement of the Program to have a project defined before entering the Program.