發展實驗為期一年，包括一系列的課程和實地考察。秋季課程包含國際發展情況的基本背景，客座講者介紹適宜技術＊，案例研究和動手練習。學生還有機會參加前往海地、印度、巴西、洪都拉斯、尚比亞、薩摩亞群島或賴索托的獨立活動月實地考察，並在春季的設計課程中繼續學習。作為秋季課程的部份，學生與這些國家的團體組織合作，開發獨立活動月的實地考察計劃。另外，學生會學習東道國的文化、語言、經濟、政治和歷史。（＊譯註：適用技術又稱適用技術，合適技術，最早由諾貝爾經濟學獎得獎者Atkinson和Stiglitz在1969年提出，原意是localized learning by doing，也就是在當地邊幹邊學，說明發展中國家和地區不能一味照搬和模仿發達國家已經用過的技術，從而滿足自身發展的需要。）
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.
