Master of Arts in Community Development (MACD)
The Master of Arts in Community Development (MACD) program will develop your capacity as a leader in civil society and social economy. You'll apply new skills and knowledge to social change and social justice problems. You'll complete your degree by working on a research project focused on community development.
The program is online with summer residencies on campus for the first 3 years. You'll start in May and take courses year-round.
Customize your degree by focusing your electives in your area of interest. Our focus areas range from dispute resolution to Indigenous governance.
Join us to contribute a positive impact on government, nonprofit organizations and communities in British Columbia, Canada and around the world.
Learn about our vision, mission and values.
The program is introducing me to the skills and competencies I need to be successful as a community developer. It is also helping me make connections in Canada in this field, which is very important as a recent permanent resident whose previous career and goals were not in community development.
What Community Development Means to Me?
Program Structure
Core courses (6):
CD501 - Setting the Foundations for Community Change
CD530 - Systems Thinking, Innovation and Strategic Planning
CD512 - Program and Project Design, Management and Evaluation
CD505 - Research Foundations for Community Development
CD531 - Leadership and Transformation
CD526 - Communication and Engagement
Elective courses:
Subject to availability, choice of two electives from CD506 - Enterprise Development for Community Benefit, CD518 - Citizen Participation and Democratic Governance, CD522 - Understanding and Mainstreaming Gender, CD590 - Directed Studies as well as courses in related fields of study offered by the School of Public Administration (ADMN) or by other departments, with permission of the Graduate Adviser.
Final requirement:
Beginning during their third (spring) term, students will work on a Master’s Thesis (CD 599), a substantial analysis of an organizational issue, policy issue, or other relevant topic approved by their faculty supervisor, which may be done in collaboration with a client. In exceptional cases requiring confidentiality or other special circumstances, a student may complete a Master’s Project (CD 598) instead of a Master’s Thesis, but this must be approved in advance by the Graduate Advisor and the student’s supervisor.
Please also see MACD program schedule and requirements in the academic calendar.
Admissions
Learn everything you need to know about becoming a UVic grad student, from program details to submitting your application.
- next entry: May 2026
- next application deadline: Extended to November 15, 2025 (updated October 8, 2025)
Funding
Every year, UVic awards $12 million to help fund graduate students through a combination of:
- UVic fellowships and awards
- teaching assistantships
- research assistantships
Learn more about funding on our frequently asked questions page.
Concurrent MACD & Graduate Certificate in Evaluation
Complete a Graduate Certificate in Evaluation program at the same time as your MACD. You’ll pay a one-time fee and can count evaluation courses as your 2 electives in the MACD program. Please contact paservice1@uvic.ca before applying to the certificate program.
Research strengths
Learn about research being done by our faculty members. Focus areas include:
- decolonization of organizations
- community-based participatory research
- planetary health
- culturally responsive program evaluation
- reproductive justice
- food sovereignty
- gender mainstreaming
- Indigenous resurgence
- public engagement
- environmental justice
- states of emergency
Information sessions
Join us in an upcoming Zoom information session to see if our programs are the right fit for you.
If you have any general questions please take a look at our frequently asked questions.