Diane’s Annotated Curriculum

May 13, 2015September 3, 2015 Jessica Daniels

This is the first year when providing an “annotated curriculum” is a mandatory (o.k. — strongly suggested) topic for graduating student bloggers. Here’s Diane‘s review of her four semesters in the MALD program.

Pre-Fletcher Experience
Oxfam Australia, Australia
Jewish Aid Australia, Australia

World Food Programme (internship), Nepal

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) (internship), New York

Fields of Study
Development Economics
International Negotiation & Conflict Resolution

Post-Fletcher Professional Goals
Humanitarian policy

Curriculum Overview

Semester One

Agriculture and Rural Development in Developing Countries
Humanitarian Action in Complex Emergencies
Econometrics
Law and Development
Quantitative Methods (1/2 credit)

In the summer before arriving at Fletcher, I made the decision to pursue studies in food security in Africa, a topic I am passionate about. I also really wanted to strengthen my economics skills. I arrived at Fletcher excited by the many and varied classes in areas I wanted to study. I jumped right into it, taking a heavy load in my first semester. After placing out of the basic economics requirement during Orientation, I was able to get my quantitative, economics, and law requirements out of the way this semester. I enjoyed taking Humanitarian Action in Complex Emergencies, as this class is offered jointly by Fletcher and the Friedman School of Nutrition and it was held at the downtown campus. It was a heavy first semester load, and I am not sure I would recommend to incoming students that they take 4.5 credits.

Semester Two

Development Economics: Macroeconomics Perspectives
Econometric Impact Evaluation for Development
Microfinance and Financial Inclusion
Strategic Marketing for Non-Profit Organizations
French (audited)

After practicing my French over winter break in Montreal, I came back to Fletcher for my second semester, determined to pass my language requirement. I am pleased that I focused on it this during my first year, because I was quite stressed about the requirement, and by spring break I had passed both the written and oral exams. I decided to try out some different classes at Fletcher, and found myself learning about technology for development, and loving the topic. Both the marketing class and Prof. Wilson’s Microfinance class were outside of my comfort zone. They were both probably the most interesting and practical classes I have taken at Fletcher. My Development Economics and Impact Evaluation classes helped me complete my Development Economics requirements. I also spent the semester applying for internships for the summer. In the end everything came together, I finished my first year at Fletcher, and spent my summer interning with Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) in Northern Ghana.

Summer Internship
Innovations for Poverty Action, Tamale, Ghana

I was keen to use my summer to gain more field experience, and I really wanted to work on a research project. After taking Econometrics and Impact Evaluation in my first year, applying to IPA seemed like a natural choice. My offer from IPA came through on the day of my last exam, right before I flew home to Australia for a couple of weeks of R&R. I then spent about 2.5 months with IPA in Ghana. It was great from the perspective of allowing me to further develop skills and knowledge I had gained in my first year at Fletcher. It was also useful from the perspective that I was able to rule out impact evaluation as a future career choice. This allowed me to refocus my second year at Fletcher in a different direction.

Semester Three

Processes of International Negotiation
Microeconomics
Managing Operations in Global Companies: How the World’s Best Companies Operate (1/2 credit)
International Economic Policy Analysis (audited)
Exercising Leadership: The Politics of Change (Harvard Kennedy School)

I returned to Fletcher with some new goals. I decided to go back to basics a little bit, so I took Microeconomics, which I loved, as Prof. Tanaka included a lot of very practical applications. I also took Processes of International Negotiation, which fulfilled my DHP requirement. I wasn’t super keen on taking this class, but I ended up really enjoying it, and continued on to make this one of my Fields of Study, fulfilling the other requirements in my last semester. Because I had always been interested in logistics and business operations, I decided to take Managing Operations. It was fast and furious, and I learned a lot really quickly and enjoyed the business focus. I also decided to finally take the opportunity to cross-register at Harvard. I really wanted to take a management or leadership class, and ended up in Exercising Leadership. It was a great experience, as the class was all about personal leadership failures. I enjoyed getting off the Tufts campus two days a week and exploring Harvard Square some more. I also worked as a Research Assistant at the Feinstein Center, which was almost like taking another class, as I worked 10 hours each week on a research project. I really enjoyed this experience; I learned some important skills and became a better researcher.

Semester Four

Leadership on the Line (Harvard Kennedy School January term)
Negotiation and Mediation in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Engaging Human Security: Sudan and South Sudan
Seminar on Program Monitoring and Evaluation (Friedman School of Nutrition)

My parents came to visit over winter break, and it was great to show them a little of the country I have called home the last two years. I left my parents a few days early, because I was enrolled to take a J-term class at Harvard. This was a follow-on to the leadership class I took in the fall. It was a fantastic experience, however J-term classes do cut into the first week of the Fletcher schedule, which makes it a more stressful start to the semester. But after attending classes full time for two weeks, and a final paper, I was done, and able to take three classes the rest of the semester. Again, I worked as a research assistant for the Feinstein Center, and served on the Admissions Committee, so I was glad to be taking a lighter course load.

I decided that, given I had finished most of my requirements and completed the economics classes I had wanted to take, I would select classes that interested me on a more personal level. This led me to take the Israel-Palestine negotiations class. This has definitely been the most interesting class I have taken at Fletcher. Prof. Rouhana had a guest speaker involved in the negotiations almost every week. We were then invited to dinners with the guest speakers, and it was a fabulous opportunity to engage in study of the conflict in a really focused way. I also decided to take the opportunity to take a class with Prof. Mazurana and Prof. de Waal on Human Security in Sudan and South Sudan. This was a great way to bring together a lot of what I had learned at Fletcher and also fill some gaps in my knowledge. I also cross-registered at the Friedman School to take their M&E class. It was fun to spend a day a week at Tufts Boston campus, particularly as the weather got nicer and I could walk through the Boston Common on my way to class. I decided that I would work on my thesis over the summer, building on the final paper I am writing for the Sudan class, while I look for work.

As I wrap up my two years at Fletcher and begin my search for my next job, I can honestly say that the diversity of classes I have taken here has allowed me great flexibility in the type of roles I am able to apply for. That, as well as access to other schools in the area, is why I have enjoyed the Fletcher curriculum so much.