Choose One

• Prospective Students
• Current Students
• Faculty & Staff
• Alumni
• Parents
• Community & Friends

• Graduate Programs
  • Mission Statement
  • M.Ed. in Human Development Counseling
  • M.Ed. Community Development and Action
    • Program of Studies
    • Culminating Experience
      • Thesis
      • Final Project
      • Comprehensive Examinations
    • CDA Practicum
    • CDA Faculty
    • Recent CDA Graduates
    • Peabody Career Center
    • CDA Student Handbook
    • Glossary of Acronyms & Terms
  • Ph.D. in Community Research and Action
• HOD Undergraduate Program
• Faculty and Staff
• Center for Community Studies
• Fieldschool in Intercultural Education
• Newbrough Graduate Award

Final Assessment Options

CDA students are required to complete, at a minimum, 30 hours of coursework, 300 hours of practicum work and one of the following three final assessment options:

1. Master's Thesis - This is an experience in independent scholarly research which is intended to contribute to the field of community development.
2. Final Project - This opportunity allows students to integrate CDA core philosophy, coursework and field experience. The student will communicate meaningfully how these three elements are related and how they have contributed to their personal and professional growth during the project's life span.
3. Comprehensive Exam - This is an in-depth writing experience intended to display the student's full understanding of the material covered by the CDA degree program and to encourage the student to think critically about this material.

Each final assessment option provides the student with a different method of expressing what they have learned and how to apply it. Each student should speak with their major advisor  upon matriculation to discuss which assessment option is appropriate. Because the thesis and final project options require a great deal of preparation, a student must plan to stay in the program for four semester; LINK students and those graduating in three semesters must choose the comprehensive exam option.

When Selecting a Final Assessment Option Consider:

• What are my future goals and which final assessment option best fits my needs?
  • Students going on to more graduate work may be best suited to the thesis option.
  • Students going on to work in non-profit organizations may be best suited to the final project.
  • Students who plan to finish their degree in fewer than four semesters may be best suited to comprehensive exams.
• What skills do you want to focus on acquiring or polishing with your final assessment experience?
  • Students who want to focus on acquiring research skills may decide the thesis is the best fit for them.
  • Students who want to focus on administrative and evaluative analysis may decide the final project is the best fit for them.
  • Students who want to focus on core content in their courses may decide the comprehensive exam is the best fit for them.
• How much time do I want to devote to my final assessment?
  • Thesis and final projects require a much larger time commitment than the comprehensive exam.
• What sort of final product do I want to have when I leave with my degree?