Academic Program

The Regional Economic and Social Development (RESD) program is designed to serve students from a variety of backgrounds, from both the United States and abroad. It attracts recent undergraduates from liberal arts fields such as social sciences (Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Political Science and History) and also from practice-oriented fields (Management, Education, and Engineering). For those already working in the government or businesses related to economic and social development, our program can enhance skills and provide opportunities for career advancement.

Graduates of the program will be prepared to assume professional roles in local, state, and national government agencies (in the United States and abroad); in research, consulting, and planning aspects of business; and in civil society (non-profit) organizations working on economic or social development. Students who choose to do so will also be prepared to go on to doctoral programs in social sciences, history, public policy, planning, and management.

The Department offers Advanced Certificate and Master’s programs, to prepare students to understand, analyze, and intervene in the economic and social development of regions. al. The degree program has three main objectives. The first is to provide students with a profound and practical understanding of the dynamics of development processes. Second, the program trains students in research skills that are useful for analyzing and tackling development problems. Third, students learn practitioners' tools for solving such development problems--tools that can be useful in a variety of settings including businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. The program offers students flexibility in choosing the appropriate mix of research and practitioner skills to meet their needs and interests.

The Merrimack Valley, birthplace of the American industrial revolution and home to two centuries of immigrants, offers a fascinating laboratory and backdrop for studying how regions develop and evolve. Students learn how to use technical tools such as geographic information systems and statistical analysis, while simultaneously conducting field research in actual communities and industries. Students investigate the relations between local development and the national and international economies. Opportunities are presented to examine the social and environmental dimensions of development, and to compare regional strategies for development from around the globe.

As a RESD student, you will learn how to look at a region as a whole, discover innovative solutions, and intervene in communities for positive change. You will probe the historical roots of development and explore the theories that illuminate it. You will experience first-hand the economic and social development of regions.