emf15

Second year MALD student here. The MALD is appropriate for those coming out of a couple years of professional experience, or an all-star straight out of undergraduate, looking for that next step to boost or change career paths. The MAHA, on the other hand, is geared towards those with significant experience in humanitarian work (7+ years with Doctors Without Borders, or IRC, for instance) who are most likely looking to go right back into their previous organizations. There is a very small handful of MAHAs each year - maybe 3 maximum. They are required to complete a capstone project and 8 courses within the year, in both Fletcher and the Friedman schools. I'm guessing it doesn't appear here because it's a sort of a one of a kind, very specific degree geared towards very specific kinds of practitioners.

I'm a second year student at Fletcher, in the MALD program. I've never felt disadvantaged by not being in DC/NYC. Both are a quick train/bus/plane ride away and Fletcher students are always traveling down for interviews, conferences, networking events. Additionally, there's no better town to be a student than Boston, in my opinion. With Harvard, MIT, and the numerous other institutions in the area, employers are constantly holding talks and informational interviews. Many research centers operate out of the various universities and networking with other student groups in the area has its advantages as well. At Fletcher specifically: The Office of Career Services holds mandatory professional development trainings for first year students, plans two major networking trips to NYC and DC for the entire program, and serves as a database for alumni, connected organizations, Fletcher-friendly employers, and visiting recruiters. Representatives from all sectors visit throughout the year, both formally and informally recruiting. This includes think tanks, development organizations, consulting firms, government agencies, etc. Fletcher is a professionally-oriented school and the majority of students are looking to begin or continue careers after graduation so various offices within Fletcher are focused on providing opportunities for networking and job searches. On the other hand, Fletcher is also a full-time academic program so there's no required internship component. Many students work as research assistants for professors or various research centers on campus. Fewer work internships off campus. Most look to the summer for internships and work. Summer activities range from paid internships at IBM, positions at offices in the State Department, independent research, UN internships abroad, or work within think tanks or NGOs. There's no real "typical" path since Fletcher offers opportunities for a wide range of interests and focuses.