Program Overview

Master of Arts in Diverse Community Development Leadership (DCDL)

About This Program

The Master of Arts in Diverse Community Development Leadership (DCDL) is an online master's program designed to prepare students for a career leading diverse organizations and communities. The program emphasizes contemporary social theory, with a focus on social justice, and features hands-on workshops and assignments.

Program Details

• College: Humanities
• Program Mode: Online
• Program Format: Cohort
• Program Duration: 2 years
• Financial Aid available
• No GRE Required

Program Description

This online master's program is designed for working adults and prepares students for a career leading diverse organizations and communities. The program focuses on organizational leadership models, social justice in diverse communities, conflict resolution, research methods, community partnerships, and communication management. Students will learn how to lead diversity initiatives, help communities identify their core needs, strategically plan major goals and initiatives, write grant proposals, and coordinate programs.

Skills That Shape Change

The program helps students develop leadership skills to identify community needs, manage conflicts, and enact socially just practices and policies. Students will examine modern systems of power and understand current social, political, and historical inequities, enabling them to make informed and effective leadership decisions.

Job Outlook

CSUN ranks 3rd as a talent provider for occupations like Social and Community Service Managers, Chief Executives, General and Operations Managers, Legislators, Administrative Services Managers, and Managers in Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Anaheim. CSUN also ranks 1st as a talent provider for occupations like Social and Community Service Managers, Marriage and Family Therapists, Counselors, Child, Family, and School Social Workers, and Healthcare Social Workers.

Career Opportunities

The program opens the door to a range of exciting career opportunities, including:

• Chief Diversity Officer
• Community Development Director
• Community Manager
• Community Promoter
• Community Relations Specialist
• Compliance Officer
• Deputy Director
• Development Specialist
• Director (Management)
• Director of Development
• Director of Marketing
• Executive Director
• Human Resources Manager
• Mental Health Case Manager
• Program Analyst
• Project Manager
• Public Relations and Fundraising Manager
• Senior Planner
• Social and Community Service Manager
• Social Services Director (Management)
• Social Work Case Manager
• Support Services Manager
• Youth Coordinator

Faculty

The program features a diverse faculty with expertise in various fields, including:

• Marcella De Veaux, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Journalism
• Steven M. Graves, Ph.D., Department of Geography and Environmental Studies
• Alicia Ivonne Estrada, Ph.D., Department of Chicana/o Studies
• Santosh Khadka, Ph.D., Department of English, Academic Lead, Master of Arts, Diverse Community Development Leadership

Student Resources

• Academic Calendar
• Canvas
• Student Account (CSUN Email & Student ID)
• myCSUNbox
• Technical Support for Tseng College Students

Student Success Stories

The program has a proven track record of helping students achieve their educational goals, with alumni praising the program's comprehensive support system and faculty expertise.

Related Programs & Portfolios

• Public Administration
• Public Health: Community Health Education
• Engineering Management
• Social Work
• Assistive Technology and Human Services
• Applied Behavior Analysis

Accreditation

The program is accredited and recognized for its academic excellence.