GLobal Development & Justice
Degree: Master of Arts in Global Development & JusticeProgram Length: 2 years
Cohort Format: One in-person session per week
Total Credit Hours: 36
Tuition: $525 per credit hour
Program Overview
The Master of Arts in Global Development and Justice prepares leaders to address complex issues of poverty, injustice, community development, and human flourishing in local and global contexts. Rooted in Kingtopia’s Kingdom-centered approach to leadership formation, the program helps students connect faith, justice, culture, systems thinking, and practical service in ways that strengthen communities and promote meaningful change.
Students will explore global development, community transformation, nonprofit and NGO leadership, advocacy, ethical decision-making, cross-cultural engagement, and applied strategies for sustainable impact. The program is designed for leaders who want to serve communities with wisdom, compassion, courage, and integrity.
Courses for Master of Arts in Global Development and Justice
MAGDJ 501- Foundations of Christian Leadership Identity (3 credit hours)
This foundational course establishes the theological, philosophical, and personal basis for Christian leadership in global development and justice contexts. Students explore the biblical foundations of servant leadership, justice, and human dignity, examine their own leadership identity, calling, and character, and develop a personal leadership philosophy grounded in Christian formation. Topics include leadership identity, biblical justice, calling and vocation, character formation, spiritual disciplines for leaders, and the integration of faith and professional practice in community development and justice work. Required text includes McGee — Reimagining Learning: The Power of Triple Loop Leadership.
MAGDJ 510 - Community Development & Systems Change (3 credit hours)
This course provides a comprehensive foundation in community development theory and practice, with particular attention to systems-level thinking and faith-based approaches to community transformation. Students analyze how communities develop, how systems perpetuate inequity, and how leaders can mobilize change from within complex social and organizational environments. Topics include community development models, asset-based community development (ABCD), systems thinking for practitioners, root cause analysis, power and privilege in development work, and the integration of faith and justice in community practice.
MAGDJ 520 - Ethics, Dignity & Cross-Cultural Leadership (3 credit hours)
This course develops students' capacity to lead ethically and effectively across cultural, national, and organizational contexts. Students examine the ethical dimensions of development and justice work, explore frameworks for honoring human dignity in all contexts, and develop practical skills for building trust-based partnerships across difference. Topics include development ethics, postcolonial critiques of aid and development, cross-cultural communication and collaboration, power dynamics in global partnerships, and the theological foundations of human dignity and justice.
MAGDJ 590 - Applied Field Project I — Local or Global Site (3 credit hours)
The first of two applied learning experiences in the MAGDJ program, this course challenges students to engage directly with a real community development or justice initiative — either locally in the Greater Phoenix area or at an approved global partner site. Under the supervision of their Cohort Mentor and course faculty, students conduct a community needs and assets assessment, develop a preliminary intervention or partnership strategy, document their process, and present findings to their cohort. This course integrates learning from Term 1 coursework and grounds development theory in real-world community practice.
MAGDJ 530 - Program Design, Evaluation & Learning (3 credit hours)
This course develops students' capacity to design effective development programs, evaluate their impact, and build organizational cultures of learning and adaptation. Students learn to apply logic models, theory of change frameworks, and evaluation methods to real development initiatives. Topics include program design, theory of change, logic model development, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), participatory evaluation methods, learning and adaptation in complex environments, and the use of data to improve program effectiveness.
MAGDJ 540 - Partnerships, Funding & Organizational Sustainability (3 credit hours)
This course prepares students to build and sustain the organizational and financial infrastructure needed for long-term community impact. Students learn to develop cross-sector partnerships, pursue diverse funding streams, and build organizational models that are mission-centered and financially resilient. Topics include cross-sector partnership development, faith-based and NGO partnership models, grant writing and fundraising strategy, earned revenue and social enterprise, organizational sustainability planning, and the ethics of external funding in community development.
MAGDJ 550 - Economic Development & Poverty Reduction Theory (3 credit hours)
This course provides students with a rigorous foundation in the theory and practice of economic development and poverty reduction. Students critically examine dominant and alternative frameworks for understanding poverty, analyze the evidence base for different intervention approaches, and develop the analytical capacity to evaluate economic development initiatives in community contexts. Topics include classical and contemporary poverty theory, microfinance and economic empowerment, community wealth building, workforce development, and the relationship between economic development and justice.
MAGDJ 610 - Research Foundations for Practitioners (3 credit hours)
This course introduces students to research methods and evidence-based practice as tools for community development and justice leadership. Students develop the ability to read and evaluate scholarly and practitioner literature, design basic inquiry and evaluation projects, and apply research findings to real-world community challenges. Topics include research design, qualitative and quantitative methods, participatory action research, community-based research ethics, literature review, and the use of evidence in development practice. This course also serves as preparation for students pursuing the EdD through the 5-Year Pathway.
MAGDJ 620 - Leadership Integration Seminar (3 credit hours)
This capstone seminar facilitates the integration of learning across the MAGDJ program. Students reflect on their leadership growth, revisit their personal leadership philosophy, and prepare for the final Development & Justice Playbook capstone. The seminar format includes peer dialogue, case study analysis from global and local development contexts, guest practitioners from community development and justice organizations, and structured reflection. Students develop a comprehensive Leadership Portfolio documenting their formation, competencies, and vision for continued community impact. Required text: McGee — Reimagining Learning: The Power of Triple Loop Leadership.
MAGDJ 690 - MAGDJ Capstone: Development & Justice Playbook (6 credit hours)
The culminating experience of the MAGDJ program, this course requires students to design, implement, and document a comprehensive Development & Justice Playbook — a practical, field-tested collection of strategies, tools, partnerships, and evaluation frameworks drawn from their applied field work and program learning. The Playbook is intended to be immediately usable in the student's professional context and suitable for dissemination within their organization or field. Students present their completed Playbook to a faculty panel and cohort audience and submit a final written report. Successful completion of this course is required for graduation.
Career Opportunities
Why choose Global Development & Justice? This graduate program gives students the opportunity to strengthen their leadership capacity in nonprofit, faith-based, community development, advocacy, international development, and justice-focused organizations. The Master of Arts in Global Development & Justice is designed for professionals who want to address social challenges, strengthen communities, promote human flourishing, and lead development work through faith-rooted, community-informed, and sustainable approaches.
Community Development Director
Program Manager
International Development Practitioner
Justice and Advocacy Specialist
Director of Justice and Community Engagement
Grants and Program Development Officer
Social Enterprise Leader
Impact Consultant
Poverty Reduction Program Coordinator
Community Health Director
Workforce Development Director
Field Director
Country Representative
Faith-Based Community Development Leader
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