Life At RESD : Regional Economic & Social Development : UMass Lowell

Is RESD right for me?

Recent college graduates
Mid-career and part-time students
Students from outside the U.S.
What are RESD students like?
What are RESD professors like?
What resources are available for RESD students?
What is the RESD community like?
What is Lowell, MA like?
How much does it cost?
What do students do with a degree from RESD?
What about my career?

Recent college graduates

Many students enroll in RESD soon after completing undergraduate degrees. These have included, but are not limited to: liberal arts fields such as economics, sociology, psychology, political science and history; and practice-oriented fields such as management, education, and engineering. RESD offers these students a chance to build their resumes through work experience in research assistantships and practica. For students who plan to go on to PhD programs, the master’s thesis is an opportunity to build valuable research skills.

Mid-career and part-time students

A significant number of students have earned their degree by taking classes on a part-time basis. Students working in social services, government, and non-profit settings gain a deeper understanding of the issues they work with on a daily basis and gain relevant skills. Students in business settings find that our program helps them think about the competitive context of their work in a way that MBA programs would not.

Students from outside the U.S.

We are proud to have students from around the world. RESD students have come from many countries, including:

China
India
Jamaica
Japan
Turkey
Ghana
Mexico
Vietnam
Israel
Nigeria
Greece
Indonesia
Venezuela
Burma
Liberia

Each fall, a special orientation is held for international students. Graduate students have formed clubs for Chinese, Thai, Indian, Taiwanese and Korean students. Students coming to the U.S. for the first time have used the RESD listserv and local contacts to find housing and to help get their bearings on arrival. Financial assistance is available through the Research Assistantship program (see “How much does it all cost?” below). If you are from outside the U.S. and are considering joining the program, please contact us (link) so we may provide you with all of the information you need. We may be able to put you in touch with a RESD student from your own country!

What are RESD students like?

RESD has a unique mix of students from a variety of academic and career backgrounds. Many countries, cultures, and age groups are represented. In any RESD class, you will find some full time students, others taking one class at a time, and some taking a single course, either to sample the program or to fulfill an elective requirement for another program. Some enter our Master’s program immediately after earning their undergraduate degrees, and others come to us after years in a career. Our diversity is a major factor behind the richness of the RESD academic experience.

What are RESD professors like?

All RESD faculty have the highest degree attainable in their respective disciplines, and all contribute to their fields through continuing research. Faculty are involved with a variety of activities and programs on the campus, including the Paul E. Tsongas Center, the Tsongas Industrial History Center, the Center for Women and Work, the Center For Family, Work and Community, the Center For Industrial Competitiveness and the Lowell Revolving Museum. A number of faculty are engaged in international collaborative research. Faculty members serve as advisers to new, full-time RESD students to guide them through their course selections. Later in the program, faculty members work with students on independent study courses, research assistantships, and capstone projects. The small size of our program and classes mean that students and professors know each other well, usually on a first-name basis. All course are taught by the current faculty, not teaching assistants.

What resources are available to RESD students?

The RESD suite is situated on the top floor of a UMass Lowell library building. Most RESD faculty offices are here, and nearly all RESD courses are held here. This suite also offers meeting tables, quiet study space, a lounge area, full-service computers and wireless internet access. Students often come in before classes to meet and socialize, and are welcome to use the space throughout the week.

Matriculated RESD students enjoy the full privileges of the University, including:

Access to university facilities including computer labs and fitness centers.
Use of university library resources, including borrowing privileges and remote access to electronic databases
UMass Lowell email accounts
University-sponsored health insurance.
Financial sponsorship for attending academic and professional development conferences, offered by the Graduate Student Association.
Activities and events throughout the academic year, including lectures, tours, exhibits, and films.

What is the RESD community like?

We like to think of ourselves as a friendly and welcoming bunch! We usually have a reception at the beginning of each semester for new and returning students to meet. Students keep each other updated on news and events through an email listserv. A Thesis Club meets every few weeks for students to share encouragement and ideas as they work on their theses. The RESD Club meets several times per semester. It plans occasional field trips and frequent “pub nights” where students gather after class for camaraderie. RESD alumni keep in touch through their own listserv, as well as social and professional networking websites.

What is Lowell like?

Lowell’s downtown offers students numerous cultural, dining, and nightlife options. The area offers students a variety of neighborhood types for housing. The region is home to many natural and cultural attractions and the city of Boston is less than an hour away. Find out more about Lowell.

How much does it all cost?

Detailed information on UMass Lowell tuition, fees and financial aid is available here.

Full time RESD students have the opportunity to apply for jobs as research assistants. This involves an 18 hour per week work commitment to a professor, research institute, or community organization. Besides the valuable experience they gain, research assistants receive a monetary stipend and tuition abatement. For research assistants who are legal residents of Massachusetts, tuition and fees are paid in full. For those from other states and countries, the equivalent amount of tuition and fees for in-state students is credited to their University accounts. Students have found that the stipend paid to research assistants is sufficient to cover the basic cost of living around campus (housing, food, and utilities with a small amount left over).

Students not working as research assistants can usually manage part time jobs, even when carrying a full time course load. Students working full time are encouraged to commit to no more than two classes per semester.

What do students do with a degree from RESD?

RESD is a versatile program. Students use what they learn here to launch further studies in a variety of disciplines or to enter careers in a multitude of fields. Here is a sample of what our graduates have gone on to:

PhD programs in social sciences, history, public policy, planning, and management.
Work with community development corporations in Lowell, Lawrence and Boston.
Work in the U.S. Peace Corps.
Research and consulting in a variety of settings.
Analytical roles in academia and consulting.
Planning positions in local and regional agencies.

What about my career?

RESD students have many opportunities to explore career options and to make their way into a field of interest. Research assistantships, internships and practica afford students a chance to gain work skills and experience. RESD faculty members assist students with career discernment, and their extensive networks are a wonderful resource. RESD alumni have also helped current students in finding jobs and making career contacts.

Life at RESD