A 6-credit individual capstone, Management Practicum is a distinct and required component of the MSDM. The objective of the practicum is to put students in managerial positions that will help organizations or communities accomplish positive, practical, and observable objectives. To the extent that this is feasible, the organization or communities will hold students accountable for achieved results. Students do not need to achieve their objectives in all respects, but rather continue to try work toward them and demonstrate progress to the organization or community. This includes communicating any necessary adaptations to the objectives that students will eventually make. In the process, students will take the viewpoint of a manager, attempting to apply some selected principles of management and carefully observe the process.

The Development Management Practicum has six required components:

1. Ongoing participation with your colleagues in all Practicum meetings
2. Eight preparation exercises
3. Carrying out the assignment
4. An outcome/product, i.e. the change or the result of the Practicum 
5. Report and analysis of the process in an Analytical and Process Report
6. Formal presentation of your findings and experiences to the Development Management cohort

Skills Institutes are intensive workshops designed to introduce students to professional skills relevant to careers in international affairs. Taught by experienced practitioners, these rigorous and experiential workshops allow students to translate theory into practice and gain the competencies sought by today's employers. Over 2-3 full days, students will have the opportunity to focus on tangible skills that are applicable to the communication field.