This field prepares students for careers that leverage the private sector and management skills as tools for social impact. Students build both topical knowledge and practical skills that will allow them to work in complex cross-sectoral environments, using the tools and resources of the private sector to promote social change. Graduates often pursue careers in inclusive finance, impact investing, social entrepreneurship, international development, and corporate social responsibility, and they work in the private, public, and NGO sectors.
Students should refer to the Field of Study Guide for definitive field requirements in a given academic year.
Managing an NGO requires making connections with fellow students; taking advantage of summer internships; linking with interested faculty; and taking courses in business, law, politics, and diplomacy, areas that are Fletcher's specialty and the hallmark of the school.
A Fletcher education is highly customizable, and each student may decide on a different academic trajectory to suit his or her own professional and academic goals. To get a better sense of how these individual curricular decisions can play out, we asked recent students in their final semester to talk about their goals, their classes, and the decisions made during their Fletcher career. Meet Nathan:
Pre-Fletcher Experience
Peace Corps Volunteer, Niger
Communications & Programme Assistant, Plan Niger
Fields of Study
Public & NGO Management
Human Security
Capstone Topic
Defining Success and Failure in Development NGOs
Post-Fletcher Professional Goals
Project, program, and policy work in international development
