University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee - Center for Economic Development

About this program

Are you passionate about urban economic and community development?  If YES, this may be the Fellows Program for you.  The objective of the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee (UWM) Economic Development Fellows is to contribute to the improvement of Milwaukee’s central cities.  Fellows in the UWM Economic Development Fellows Program become experts in community based economic development and issues facing the city of Milwaukee.  Our alumni are city and national leaders in their fields.

The Economic Development Fellows Program (ED) will add significant value to your Master’s degree.  You will work in a central city non-profit or community based organization for 21 months, while you are pursuing your Master’s degree.  Your community work placement will align with your academic and career interests.

The UWM Economic Development Fellows Program is a 21-month fellowship opportunity that combines work in a community-based organization with graduate level study at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Individuals with a strong interest in economic development issues will find this program to be excellent in both practical and theoretical training. 

The UWM Center for Economic Development houses the Economic Development Fellows Program.  One core objective of the Center for Economic Development is to assist local nonprofit organizations in achieving their neighborhood economic development goals.  Each year two to three new ED Fellows are selected in a competitive process.

• Year partnership began: 2002
• Fellowships awarded per year (average): 3

Application requirements

• GRE
  
• Undergraduate transcript
  
• Personal essay
  

Admissions process

Fellows candidates must apply separately to:

• UWM Graduate School
• Economic Development Fellows Program. 

Once a candidate has been admitted into UWM Graduate School, the application to the Economic Development Fellows Program will be reviewed.

Degrees awarded

Master’s Degree in Urban Studies, Urban Planning, Sustainable Peacebuilding

Benefits and opportunities

Net cost is equal to tuition/fees minus fellowship value. For some universities, the fellowship value includes non-tuition/fee benefits such as health insurance or housing. See cost savings details for more.

Estimated annual cost of living: $15,000

Cost savings details

100% tuition waiver plus paid community work placement.  Work placement is 20 hours per week during academic year and 30 hours per week during the summer.

Internship

Fellows are assigned to a participating community organization where they work side-by-side with agency leaders and staff in achieving their economic development objectives. Fellows work part-time at a single organization for the entire 21 months of their fellowship. 

During their fellowships, the students pursue studies in economic development-related fields while providing local organizations with much needed staff expertise on various initiatives. In the neighborhoods of Milwaukee's central city, there is a clear need for sustained economic development assistance, and ED Fellows can play a major role -during their graduate careers as well as after-in enhancing community economic development capacity in Milwaukee.

Other opportunities

• Health insurance coverage. 
• Book allowance/professional development allowance of $250 per year = $500 total

Jobs for alumni

• Executive Director, Solar Foundation
  
• Milwaukee River Watershed Conservation Partnership Director, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
  
• Chief Operating Officer, Riverworks Development Corporation
  
• Human Resources Director, YWCA of Milwaukee
  
• Head of refugee programming, International Institute of Wisconsin
  
• City planner, City of Milwaukee, Department of City Development
  
• Environmental Specialist, Walnut Way Conservation Corp
  

Nontraditional options