发展实验为期一年，包括一系列的课程和实地考察。秋季课程包含国际发展情况的基本背景，客座讲者介绍适宜技术＊，案例研究和动手练习。学生还有机会参加前往海地、印度、巴西、洪都拉斯、赞比亚、萨摩亚群岛或莱索托的独立活动月实地考察，并在春季的设计课程中继续学习。作为秋季课程的部份，学生与这些国家的团体组织合作，开发独立活动月的实地考察计划。另外，学生会学习东道国的文化、语言、经济、政治和历史。
（＊译注：适用技术又称适用技术，合适技术，最早由诺贝尔经济学奖得奖者Atkinson和Stiglitz在1969年提出，原意是localized learning by doing，也就是在当地边干边学，说明发展中国家和地区不能一味照搬和模仿发达国家已经用过的技术，从而满足自身发展的需要。）
D-Lab is a year-long series of courses and field trips. The fall class provides a basic background in international development and appropriate technology through guest speakers, case studies and hands-on exercises. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in an IAP fieldtrip to Haiti, India, Brazil, Honduras, Zambia, Samoa, or Lesotho and continue their work in a spring term design class. As part of the fall class, students will partner with community organizations in these countries and develop plans for the IAP site visit. In addition, students will learn about the culture, language, economics, politics and history of their host country.
