Financing and Investing in Sustainable D
Finance for Sustainable D
This course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the global financial system through the lens of sustainable development. Rather than focusing on ESG or impact investing, the course examines the structures, incentives, and decision-making processes of key financial actors, including public finance institutions, development banks, asset owners, central banks, and private capital markets, and how they can be mobilized to support the goals of sustainable development.
Through lectures, guest speakers, and case studies, students will explore topics such as carbon markets, infrastructure finance, industrial policy, China's international finance strategy, and degrowth economics. The course also addresses the skills and frameworks needed to engage professionally in sustainable finance across sectors.
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Instructor:
Aniket A Shah
Info - 3 points
Development Practitioner's Lab (DP-Lab)
DP-Lab I
Registration is only available to MPA-DP Students.
This is a required course for MPA-DP students in their second semester, focused on tools and methods for effective program design in sustainable development. Drawing on insights from over 90 MPA-DP alumni working in diverse global contexts, this course emphasizes applied learning, systems thinking, and adaptive leadership.
Students will learn and apply tools to diagnose development challenges, design interventions for social impact, and address cross-cutting themes such as communication, ethics, equity, and inclusion. The course supports students in developing a comprehensive project proposal, structured around contextual analysis, implementation planning, and critical reflection on development practice.
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Instructor:
Lisa Tarantino
Info - 3 points
MPA-DP: Field Study
Field Study (1.5 credits)
This course supports the required field placement for MPA-DP students, providing academic credit for the application of classroom learning to professional practice in a development setting. Students must register for a total of 3 credits across one or two semesters, selecting from six registration options that accommodate varying academic schedules and visa requirements.
Registration Options:
3 credits in the Spring semester*
1.5 credits in the Spring and 1.5 credits in the Fall*
3 credits in the Fall semester
3 credits in the Spring semester
1.5 credits in the Fall and 1.5 credits in the Spring
1.5 credits in the Spring and 1.5 credits in the Spring
*International students on F-1 visas conducting their summer field placement in the U.S. and securing Curricular Practical Training (CPT) must select one of the two asterisked options to remain in compliance with immigration regulations. All six options are available to J-1 students using Academic Training (AT).
The course requires submission of a placement proposal, faculty oversight, and post-placement deliverables.
- 1.5 points
MPA-DP: Field Study
Field Study (3 credits)
This course supports the required field placement for MPA-DP students, providing academic credit for the application of classroom learning to professional practice in a development setting. Students must register for a total of 3 credits across one or two semesters, selecting from six registration options that accommodate varying academic schedules and visa requirements.
Registration Options:
3 credits in the Spring semester*
1.5 credits in the Spring and 1.5 credits in the Fall*
3 credits in the Fall semester
3 credits in the Spring semester
1.5 credits in the Fall and 1.5 credits in the Spring
1.5 credits in the Spring and 1.5 credits in the Spring
*International students on F-1 visas conducting their summer field placement in the U.S. and securing Curricular Practical Training (CPT) must select one of the two asterisked options to remain in compliance with immigration regulations. All six options are available to J-1 students using Academic Training (AT).
The course requires submission of a placement proposal, faculty oversight, and post-placement deliverables.
- 3 points