You are here: American University School of International Service Development Management Funding & Fellowships

Back to top

Funding your master's education and gaining practical experience

The following awards and fellowships are available to help Development Managementstudents achieve their academic and professional goals while offsetting the financial costs associated with them.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Fellowship Opportunities

For applications and requirements for the following opportunities, please contact the Department of Environment, Development & Healthat edhsis@american.edu

The International Development program offers travel fellowships for the spring, summer, and fall to assist students pursuing summer research projects, practicum research, internships, and co-ops. This fellowship is named in honor of Drs. Irene Tinker and Millidge Walker, former members of the International Development faculty whose generous support has helped make this program possible.

Students have used this fellowship to work with organizations like the World Health Organization, Population Services International, and BRAC,and have traveled to countries such as Cambodia, Brazil, Liberia, and Armenia.

This annual award is given to a student who has completed their first year of study in the International Development or Development Management program. The award provides$5,000 to be used for spring semester tuition.The two main criteria areacademic excellence and a record of effective and active service to outside communities and/or relevant student organizations.This award is given in memory of former faculty member Walter Sherwin, who spent his entire career working to improve the lives of people around the world through international development projects. It was started in 2006 by his wife, Kitty Sherwin, his two children, Mark and Jennifer, and his sister, Sue Byrd.

The Steven Arnold Innovative Small Grant Fund provides students in the International Development and Development Management programs with small grants for an innovative idea that is helpful to communities, to the student’s professional development, to the International Development program, and/or the field of development as a whole. All currently enrolled students enrolled in the International Development program are eligible to apply. This fund is named after Steven Arnold, the "father" of the International Development program.He was a co-founder of the program,and for many years its sole director.IDalumni and faculty created this fellowship in his name.

This award is named after Dr. Leon E. Clark, one of American University’s earliest and most prominent International Development leaders. In the spirit of Dr. Clark’s legacy and commitment to intercultural understanding, the Leon E. Clark Fellowship sponsors research on development issues with a “cultural” lens. Each year, the Fellowship finances up to two independent study projects on the general theme of culture and development.In addition to kind gifts from his friends, colleagues, and students, his wife, Dr. Maria Donoso Clark, has made a very generous gift to celebrate Leonand his ideals and contributions.

The David Hirschmann Award is distributed annually to a second-year student from a developing country who has achieved an excellent academic recordand demonstrated a commitment to community service. The fellowship awards$2,000to be used for spring semester tuition. Thisfellowship honors the life and legacy of the late David Hirschmann, who served on the faculty of the International Development program for more than 30 years and was its directorfor 11. Funds for the fellowship were raised by the IDAlumni Board as well as IDalumni and faculty.