international development phd usa

International Development - PhD

Although it has become an important focus of scholarship and a major global policy arena, there is not universal agreement on exactly what the field of international development encompasses. Generally speaking, there is consensus that it broadly focuses on policies and institutions involved in promoting certain core goals—economic growth, poverty reduction, better governance, quality of life improvements, and stronger human rights—in the poorer and less-developed countries of the world. The relative importance of these diverse, interrelated issues and how to approach studying and attaining them, however, has generated robust and evolving debates across disciplines and between academics and policymakers.

Since the end of World War II, an impressive volume of literature on what is known as development studies has accumulated. It can be argued that development, in itself, has gained the status of a field of study within, and beyond, the social sciences. From economics to anthropology, from sociology to environmental sciences, development has become a major intellectual concern.  Development issues are also a focus in the field of public management, and social entrepreneurship in emerging and developing countries has become a prominent interest of some business schools.

Some scholars consider development as a separate discipline, characterized by having its own epistemological stance, theoretical frameworks, methodologies, and even a unique terminology. In contrast, other scholars view development as inherently interdisciplinary, in which none of the traditionally established disciplines can satisfactorily explain the multidimensional and dynamic character of development. Therefore, development can be viewed both as a discipline in its own right, and as particular social phenomenon which can be approached from different disciplinary perspectives. Another relevant debate in the development literature refers to the inherent particularities of developed countries when compared to the developing world with respect to issues such as culture, social capital, institutional change, and so forth, which affect the development process.

The international development field prepares doctoral students to undertake research in this broad-based area. Given its expansive and interdisciplinary nature, International Development is a customized doctoral field in which students design their own areas of study with strong faculty guidance. The field includes an overview component that focuses on foundational ideas in development thinking and the empirical research that has examined it. Beyond that, some students have elected to take a more institutional/public administration perspective, while others have focused more on discipline based social science theory and methods (economics and political economy have dominated). Many have tried to bridge disciplines and approaches to some extent. 

Many students also focus on a particular aspect of development that brings together material drawn from multiple disciplines and methodological approaches as it relates to their focal research interests. Examples of more focused topics have ranged from the broad (poverty reduction, public finance, governance) to the more specific (access to financial services by poor households, fiscal decentralization, performance/outcome evaluation).

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Global Development

Ph.D. in Development Studies

Rigorous training for social scientists and development professionals.

The Ph.D. in Development Studies (previously known as Development Sociology) integrates diverse frameworks and methodologies with classical sociological theory to fuel investigation, analysis, and evaluation of social phenomenon. Our graduate students are at the frontlines of developing solutions to pressing issues — from agriculture and food systems to gender, economics and demographics — on the local and global scale. 

Explore more about the Ph.D. in Development Studies

Research spotlight

Discover more about development studies research from our current Ph.D. students.

Climate Justice and Blue Carbon Issues

Tamar Law's research examines the climate justice dimensions of climate mitigation. As the recipient of the 2023  Ronny Adhikarya Niche Award   (RANA) Prize, Tamar will examine blue carbon governance and low-carbon development in Indonesia.

“Climate management can exacerbate existing inequalities as countries in the Global South are increasingly forced to shoulder the burden of both climate shocks and responsibility for climate mitigation,” Tamar said. “With my research I hope to delineate mitigation pathways that promote climate justice and resilient climate futures for all.”

• Discover more about Tamar's research

Engaging Men in Gender Equality, Food Security & Sustainable Livelihoods

Emily Hillenbrand examines processes and implications of gender-transformative approaches and shifting masculinities in agriculture development programming. Her research is conducted in partnership with  Soils, Food, and Healthy Communities  (SFHC) in Malawi, a farmer-led non-profit organization that addresses the challenges of soil infertility, climate change, food insecurity, and gender inequality.

• Learn more about Emily's research

Social, political, and economic impediments to a green energy transition

Timothy Ravis explores how technological change affects the relationships between state, society, and nature, through the specific history and geography of Indonesia. Drawing on novel approaches in political ecology and geography, his research looks to analyze the social forces and structures which hinder the large-scale development of renewable energy sources, such as geothermal, in Indonesia. He is the inaugural recipient of the Cornell RANA Prize , which recognizes Global Development graduate students pursuing innovative thinking in their studies and careers.

• Discover more about Timothy's research

The Adoption of Decentralized Renewable Energy Technologies

Camillo Stubenberg examines the rushed adoption of off-grid and renewable energy technologies after the interlocking political and financial crisis that led to a total breakdown of the Lebanon’s electricity sector. By shedding light on the ongoing dynamics in Lebanon, this research provides insights both for the design of renewable energy systems as well as policies aimed at fostering energy transitions across the globe.

• Learn more about Camillo's research

Where are they now?

Learn more about our Ph.D. alumni and what they are currently working on.

Now a Ciriacy-Wantrup Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California Berkeley, Hilary recently earned the  J. Warren Nystrom Award  from the American Association of Geographers for her groundbreaking work on digital connections in rural Myanmar.

Holly Jean Buck is an assistant professor at the University of Buffalo and author of  After Geoengineering  and the forthcoming  Ending Fossil Fuels: Why Net Zero Is Not Enough . 

Fernando brings his expertise in environmental justice, the sociology of development, political ecology, critical agrarian studies, and indigenous and native nations as an assistant professor to the College of William and Mary. 

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Department of Global Development

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Director, Institute for African Development

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International Development - Doctorate

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Welcome to the International Development Doctoral Program

The International Development Doctoral (IDV) is dedicated to provide a hybrid doctoral program which encompasses the content and academic rigor of a traditional on-campus program, yet in a flexible delivery format. Our curriculum includes majors and minors in Economic Development, Political Development, Security Studies, and Social/Cultural Development. IDV faculty represent various academic disciplines, while the diverse IDV student body includes students from colleges and university faculties, the military, private and public sectors, and non-profits.

The International Development Doctoral (Ph.D.) Program accepts applications for both fall and spring admission on a rolling basis. The annual deadline for the fall semester start is June 15 of that year and the deadline for the spring semester start is November 15 of the previous year. Following application reviews by IDV faculty and various other University channels, the Graduate School will notify prospective students of their acceptance or non-acceptance.

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• The IDV program is delivered in a hybrid format.  Classes are online with in-person, mandatory attendance, sessions held seven times per calendar year (three sessions in spring and fall semesters each and one session in the summer semester). 
• Admission Requirements
• In addition to normal tuition and fees , the IDV program charges a flat program fee of $450/per semester of enrollment.  Additional funding resources are available.
•  Schedules and Course Offerings (under construction)
• Dates and Deadlines
• IDV Student Handbook (under construction)

What Will I Learn?

Students in the International Development Doctoral program learn a variety of skills which will aid them in furthering their career and life goals:

• You will learn to think like a scholar
• You will learn both quantitative and qualitative research skills
• You will learn critical-thinking research skills
• You will learn how to write and present an academic paper

The IDV program is dedicated to providing our students with an exceptional educational experience.

Faculty Engagement

The faculty of the IDV program comprises scholars from various disciplines whose research is published in national and international journals. We believe in a Teacher-Scholar-Mentor model of instruction. In addition to scholars who are passionate about teaching the IDV faculty sees mentoring as integral to our doctoral program. IDV faculty are engaged in co-authorship and academic conference participation with our students. Our graduates are well-rounded scholars and practitioners making a difference in our world.

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• Candace Forbes Bright, Ph.D. Graduated 2014 Associate Research Professor East Tennessee State University
• Prebble Ramswell, Ph.D. Graduated 2016 Mayor Pro Tem and Councilwoman, City of Destin Academic Program Director, Columbia Southern University
• Edward Bee, Ph.D. Graduated 2016 President and CEO Taimerica Management Company
• Dave Davis, Ph.D. Graduated 2017 Assistant Professor Director of Center for Research and Entrepreneurial Development William Carey University
• Madeline Messick, Ph.D. Graduated 2016 Analyst U.S. Government Accountability Office
• Matt Bluem, Ph.D. Graduated 2018 Program Director and Associate Professor International Development Master's Program St. Mary's University of Minnesota

How Do I Get Started?

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PhD in Sustainable Development

Ph.d. curriculum.

The distinctive and innovative nature of this program requires a core set of courses that provide an interdisciplinary grounding. Each of these courses is taught at the level expected of first- or second-year Ph.D. students in the affiliated departments. The course structure is designed to provide students with PhD-level training in economics and a natural science field, complemented by integrative courses in sustainable development designed specifically for this program and courses in social sciences. The course structure combines flexibility to pursue an individual field of study with broad-based skills and knowledge development. The core curriculum consists of around ten core courses, listed below. Students must also complete two social science electives and a coherent sequence of four natural science courses for a minimum total of 60 credits and should maintain an overall B+ average with no lower than a B- in any of the core classes. In addition to course work, students participate in integrative seminars  Sustainable Development Seminar I ( SDEV U9200 ) / Sustainable Development Seminar II ( SDEV U9201 ) throughout the first three years of the program, and complete the MA thesis and take an Orals Exam (leading to the MPhil Degree), in addition to presenting and defending a Ph.D. dissertation.

Due to the unique interdisciplinary content of the program, students entering with a master’s degree earned at Columbia University or elsewhere are still required to complete all MA and MPhil course requirements and examinations.

Advanced Standing for previously held degrees may occasionally be accorded at the discretion of the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) after successfully completing the first year.

Students must select an advisory committee before the end of the fourth semester, ideally earlier, with the help and approval of the DGS and Program Faculty. The committee ideally comprises 2 to 3 members, one of whom is the academic advisor and must be a member of the SIPA faculty. The remaining advisors can be from other Columbia University schools and departments or from other universities. An advisor from a different university cannot be the main academic advisor. The advisory committee should include faculty whose expertise covers both the social and natural sciences.

For the first year or (at most) two academic years, the DGS will have the role of academic advisor. The role of the advisor is to guide and monitor research progress, including reporting to GSAS on the progress of the student, sitting in on Orals and Defense committees, and other associated duties .

Service Requirements

In addition to completing the requirements for the MA and the MPhil, students have to fulfill a teaching and research requirement. This entails six semesters of work as a teaching fellow (TF) or a graduate research fellow (GRF), as assigned by the director of the program. Students typically serve as TFs in SIPA master-level courses as well as a few undergraduate courses. Students who secure external fellowship funding may reduce this requirement with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies. Still, in all cases, every student must TA at least two semesters .

The Ph.D. in sustainable development is designed and supported as a five-year program. It is recognized that some students may need to extend their studies for all or part of a sixth year. While this can be accommodated administratively, students cannot assume that funds will be available to support the sixth year of study, and they are urged to make efforts to secure fellowship support or obtain funds through their advisors or from outside sources. Sixth-year extensions may be granted as exceptions and must not be assumed.

John Mutter , Professor  Director of the Ph.D. in Sustainable Development [email protected]

Tomara Aldrich Program Coordinator for the Ph.D. in Sustainable Development  [email protected]

John Mutter , Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences and of International and Public Affairs; Director of the PhD in Sustainable Development program

Douglas Almond , Professor of International and Public Affairs and of Economics

Scott Barrett , Lenfest-Earth Institute Professor of Natural Resource Economics

Geoffrey Heal , Donald C. Waite III Professor of Social Enterprise in the Faculty of Business and Professor of International and Public Affairs

Cristian Pop-Eleches , Professor of International and Public Affairs

Jeffrey Sachs , Quetelet Professor of Sustainable Development; Professor of Health Policy and Management; Director of the Earth Institute

Wolfram Schlenker , Professor of International and Public Affairs

Jeffrey Shrader , Assistant Professor of International and Public Affairs

Rodrigo Soares , Lemann Professor of Brazilian Public Policy and International and Public Affairs

Joseph Stiglitz , University Professor

Requirements for the MA Degree

Sustainable development courses.

These courses are designed and taught specifically for the PhD students in Sustainable Development, although they may be open to students from other programs.

Core Economics Courses

All core economics courses are taught in the Economics Department and are drawn from the Economics PhD syllabus. More information about these courses can be found from the Economics department Web site .

Social Science Courses

Students must take at least 3 social science courses. 

Natural Sciences Courses

Students must also take 3 natural science electives drawn from the following departments:

Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology (E3B)

Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DEES)

Department of Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) at the Mailman School of Public Health

Department of Earth and Environmental Engineerin g (DEEE) at the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS)

The master’s thesis should be completed by May 1 in the fourth semester and should address a problem in sustainable development using data and methodologies from the four natural science courses completed in the first two years of the program. The thesis consists of an article (around 30 pages long), which would be publishable in an appropriately refereed academic journal reflecting the disciplinary orientation of the project.  Students should submit the Masters paper to their research advisor(s) with a copy to the DGS. The advisor later meets with the student and submits a pass/fail grade to the Assistant DGS for processing. For titles of MA thesis projects previously completed by students in the program please see here .

Requirements for the MPhil Degree

Completion of the MA requirements with a minimum of 60 credits and a B+ average.

Complete 4 out of 6 semesters of service requirements (Teaching Assistant, TA or Research Assistant, RA appointments) . Students with outside funding need to complete a minimum of 2 TA appointments.

Fulfillment of research tools requirement

Core courses in quantitative methods (Introduction to Econometrics I and II, and a third Quantitative Analysis course).

Either a two-course sequence in GIS or other analytic modeling systems or a proficiency examination in a non-English language, as selected with the approval of the academic adviser.

Submission of a final draft of the dissertation prospectus , approved by the adviser, to the MPhil Examining Committee three weeks prior to the MPhil examinations. The prospectus should:

be a single, 10-page document

be distinct from the Master’s thesis though it can build on similar research

cover the methods and objective of the research project

Two-hour long oral exam designed to examine the candidates’ formal learning and their capability to do independent research, including the presentation of a dissertation prospectus/proposal. The examination committee will consist of three faculty members, normally from the Sustainable Development core faculty, and will be chaired by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), who will lead the discussion of the prospectus. Examinations are conducted as follows:

5 minutes: the candidate will give a formal presentation of the prospectus

30 minutes: all members of the examining committee, led by the DGS, will ask questions.

30 minutes: examination of proficiency in fields most relevant to the proposed research, from within the following subjects:

Natural Science

Sustainable Development

(Optional) An elective field, such as study of a region

Each component will be graded on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest and 5 the highest. If the average grade is 3.5 or above the student receives a clear pass. If the average grade is below 3.0 the student will be required to leave the program by the end of the current semester. If the average grade is between 3.0 and 3.5 or if any individual grade is below 3.0 the committee require the student to take further courses, revise their prospectus, or provide a revised research paper.

Requirements for the PhD Degree

Phd dissertation.

The PhD dissertation will be on a social science topic in sustainable development. The social science research will be informed by an understanding of physical and natural science constraints and opportunities influencing economic development.

Students with a regional area of interest to their dissertation may wish to do research abroad, so as to conduct field studies, use archives, improve language skills, or confer with local experts. In order that students may complete the PhD program without delay, it is preferred that they make use of summers to conduct such research. Students who feel they require a longer period of field research or language training need the approval of their advisor, and of the DGS. Students may not receive extended residence credit for study or research away from Columbia before the completion of all course work requirements and comprehensive examinations.

PhD Defense

Complete the GSAS deposit application and pay the $85 processing fee;

Submit the required Survey of Earned Doctorates online;

Upload and submit a PDF copy of your dissertation;

Obtain a signed Approval Card that certifies you have made all required revisions and that the dissertation has been approved for deposit by your sponsor and by your doctoral program.

Open defenses (optional)

If both the candidate for a defense and the Advisory Committee choose to have an “open” defense, the following will apply:

The candidate will have a maximum of 40 minutes to present major conclusions of the thesis research, with at least half of the time devoted to a description of new findings or insights in the field discussed that directly resulted from research by the student.

 Any member of the University community or other interested parties can attend the first part of the thesis defense.

Questions following the initial presentation are permitted for a maximum of 10 minutes.

Following the oral presentation by the candidate and the brief period for general questions, the defense committee will question the candidate in closed session for a period of up to 90 minutes.

If either the candidate or the Advisory Committee prefer, the procedures for “closed defense” (i.e., 20-minute oral presentation followed by questions from the defense committee in closed session for a period of up to 90 minutes) will be followed.

Candidates must consult with their advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies about scheduling the defense. Every Ph.D. student must submit the Intent to Distribute and Defend form directly to GSAS.

The final examination will not be scheduled until the Director of Graduate Studies has recommended the dissertation for defense. A five-person examining committee will be appointed by the department and must be approved by GSAS. The DGS will then officially invite the examiners.

The Application for Defense must be completed by the Candidate and the Director of Graduate Studies and submitted by the program’s office to the GSAS Dissertation office.

Members of the PhD examining committee must be given a minimum of three weeks to read the thesis, so the defense may comfortably be scheduled after submission of the thesis to the Advisory Committee. Before being recommended for defense, the candidate must submit to his/her Advisory Committee draft copies of the thesis, including figures, plates and tables and obtain the Advisory Committee’s written approval of the draft. (Written approval by the Advisory Committee indicates only that the thesis as it stands or with revisions suggested by them is in good enough form to justify scheduling the defense.)

After the Advisory Committee has given its preliminary approval in writing, and the candidate has made any revisions suggested by them, he/she must distribute copies of the dissertation to the external readers. Instructions for the correct form for preparing the manuscript and information on publication options may be obtained via the Graduate School’s website ( http://www.columbia.edu/cu/gsas/ )

The candidate must see that outstanding fees or loans to the University are paid and make sure that he/she has fulfilled all other Departmental requirements. When these requirements have been fulfilled and the examining committee has been appointed by the DGS, the candidate is notified of the examination date, usually about two weeks in advance.

After passing the final examination, the candidate must see to any minor revisions and their approval by the examining committee before final deposit. If major revisions were called for (a defense-vote of “incomplete”), these must be made and submitted within a stated period (usually no fewer than three months and no longer than one year from the date of the defense) to the supervising committee, whose approval will have to be certified in writing before the candidate can be recorded as having passed the final examination. From the time of the “pass” vote, the student has a maximum of six months to deposit the thesis. There are four steps to completing your deposit -- the steps can be done in any order, but your deposit is only considered complete when all four steps are done.

Doctorate degrees are awarded in October, February, and May. Check the academic calendar for specific deadlines for the final deposit of the dissertation. (You may, however, call yourself “Dr.” as of the day of your deposit, since that date will appear on your official transcript.)

PhD in Sustainable Development Courses

SDEV U6240 Environmental Science for Sustainable Development. 3.00 Points.

Category: EE, EPD:Sustainable

This course provides a rigorous survey of the key areas of natural science that are critical to understanding sustainable development. The course will provide the theories, methodological techniques and applications associated with each natural science unit presented. The teaching is designed to ensure that students have the natural science basis to properly appreciate the co-dependencies of natural and human systems, which are central to understanding sustainable development. Students will learn the complexities of the interaction between the natural and human environment. After completing the course, students should be able to incorporate scholarly scientific work into their research or policy decisions and be able to use scientific methods of data analysis. This is a modular course that will cover core thematic areas specifically, climate, natural hazards, water management, public health/epidemiology, and ecology/biodiversity. To achieve coherence across lectures this course will emphasize how each topic is critical to studies of sustainable development and place-based case studies in recitation will integrate various topics covered. In the lectures and particularly the recitation sections this course will emphasize key scientific concepts such as uncertainty, experimental versus observational approaches, prediction and predictability, the use of models and other essential methodological aspects

SDEV U9200 Sustainable Development Seminar I. 1.50 Point.

This course is restricted to PhD in Sustainable Development

SDEV U9201 Sustainable Development Seminar II. 1.50 Point.

SDEV U9240 Human Ecology ＆ Sustainable Development. 4.00 Points.

Category: EPD:Sustainable, PhD in Sustainable Development Open to PhD Students Only

This course has two primary objectives: first, to provide a structured way to think about—and conduct research in—the field of sustainable development. Second, to introduce formal models of dynamic, coupled human and environmental systems

SDEV U9245 Environment ＆ Resource Economics. 3.00 Points.

This course aims to introduce you to the basic concepts of environmental economics

SDEV U9248 Collective Action for Global Sustainable Development. 3.00 Points.

Category: PhD in Sustainable Development Registration restricted to PhD Students

When externalities go uncorrected, and public goods go undersupplied, the reason is not that the market fails; the reason is that governments are unable or unwilling to intervene effectively. The biggest problem is with transnational externalities and regional and global public goods. This is partly because of the scale of these problems, but it is also because the institutional arrangements at this level make effective intervention difficult. There is no World Government. Instead, there are around 200 sovereign states. To support sustainable development globally, states must cooperate, and yet states' self-interests often conflict with their collective interests. This is why all countries agree that collective action must be taken to limit climate change, and yet, though they try and try again, countries seem unable to muster the individual action needed to meet their own collective goal. The aim of this course is to develop an apparatus for understanding international collective action for sustainable development. By an apparatus, I mean a theory, a structured way of looking at and understanding the world. Rather than just present the theory, my aim is to show you why theory is needed, how it has been constructed, and what its strengths and weaknesses are. Basically, in addition to teaching you principles and tools, I want you to come to see how this field has developed, what it has achieved, and where it has fallen short. Throughout the course, we shall also be looking at tests and applications of the theory-empirical and experimental papers in addition to case studies. The course draws from a number of disciplines, especially economics, game theory (analytical and experimental), and international relations-but also international law, philosophy, history, the natural and physical sciences, and engineering. The focus will be on institutions, and the way that they restructure the relations among states to cause states to behave differently-that is, to cause them to undertake collective action. In terms of applications, the course will address not only climate change but also depletion of the ozone layer, trans-boundary air pollution, pollution of the oceans, over-fishing, biodiversity loss, and the emergence and spread of infectious diseases

ECON GR6211 MICROECONOMIC ANALYSIS I. 4.00 points .

Prerequisites: the director of graduate studies' permission. Corequisites: ECON G6410. Consumer and producer behavior; general competitive equilibrium, welfare and efficiency, behavior under uncertainty, intertemporal allocation and capital theory, imperfect competition, elements of game theory, problems of information, economies with price rigidities

ECON GR6212 MICROECONOMIC ANALYSIS II. 4.00 points .

Prerequisites: the director of graduate studies permission. Corequisites: ECON G6410. Consumer and producer behavior; general competitive equilibrium, welfare and efficiency, behavior under uncertainty, intertemporal allocation and capital theory, imperfect competition, elements of game theory, problems of information, economies with price rigidities

ECON GR6411 INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMETRICS I. 4.00 points .

Corequisites: ECON G6410 and the director of graduate studies' permission. Introduction to probability theory and statistical inference

ECON GR6412 INTRODUCTN TO ECONOMETRICS II. 4.00 points .

Corequisites: ECON G6410 and the director of graduate studies permission. Introduction to the general linear model and its use in econometrics, including the consequences of departures from the standard assumptions

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Center for International Development

Housed at Harvard Kennedy School, the Center for International Development (CID) is a research center working across Harvard University and a global network of researchers and practitioners to build an international pool of talent, convene academic and practitioner networks, and deploy breakthrough research to address the world’s most pressing challenges. At CID, we believe that together we can design and implement policies that help everyone realize their full potential.

CID Begins New Chapter

Harvard University is taking a critical step forward in its commitment to international development this year. Effective as of January, CID, a research center based at the Harvard Kennedy School, is now an Interfaculty Initiative with oversight from the Office of the Provost.

Understanding and Upholding Democracy

For CID Faculty Affiliate Vincent Pons, the 2002 election marked the moment electoral democracy became “an ideal worth studying and fighting for.” He strives in his work to better understand the foundations of democracy in order to impact policy.

Watch CID's Global Empowerment Meeting

CID's annual Global Empowerment Meeting (GEM) was held on May 1-2, 2024. GEM24: Breaking Barriers for Women and Girls brought together leaders in international development to discuss ways to advance gender equity.

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CID has launched a new directory of our faculty affiliates across Harvard University. Search our 125+ faculty affiliates by name, sector, school, or geographic region. 

April 25, 2024 Harvard Center for International Development Takes a Front Row Seat at the United Nations

April 03, 2024 Harvard Faculty are Breaking Down Barriers for Women and Girls in Developing Countries

February 06, 2024 Exploring Innovative Approaches to Worker Wellbeing in India

January 16, 2024 How Can We End Poverty? Insights from CID's Seminar on Development Diplomacy

Larger lesson about tariffs in a move that helped Trump but not the country

January 09, 2024 Confronting Our Four Biggest Economic Challenges Dani Rodrik

Designing a public transit network: Evidence from Jakarta, Indonesia

Education markets and systems in low- and middle-income countries, how they found the work they were ‘meant’ to do, human capital affects religious identity: causal evidence from kenya.

March 29, 2024 An unexpected benefit from globalization: Improved corporate tax collection for developing countries

October 03, 2023 Progress in modeling dynamic systems for sustainable development William Clark

Social Sustainability and the Development Process: What Is It, Why Does It Matter, and How Can It Be Enhanced ?

Debt distress on china's belt and road.

April 21, 2023 A Stepping Stone Approach to Norm Transitions Eliana La Ferrara

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Building State Capability (BSC) researches new strategies and tactics to assist public organizations struggling with incomplete or ineffective policy implementation.

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The Growth Lab pushes the frontiers of economic growth & development policy research, collaborates with policymakers to design actions, and shares insights through teaching, tools and publications.

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The Jackson School Ph.D. program advances problem-focused graduate education that combines a new cross-disciplinary approach with intensive area studies in the face of contemporary global and local challenges.

Regions & Themes

The Jackson School of International Studies (JSIS) Ph.D. in International Studies provides a unique opportunity for candidates who seek a highly individualized graduate program grounded in applied area and global studies. The program reflects the Jackson’s School’s scholarly commitment to the centrality of history, culture, and politics in advancing the understanding of and engagement in world issues.

The program is designed to provide students with the flexibility to apply, and build on, their existing field connections, area knowledge, research questions, and language skills. Working with faculty with expertise in international and area studies, students design their studies in ways that will best support their career plans. Toward this end, students will have the opportunity to select a broad set of possible final products, from dissertation to policy papers, that best allows them to engage and share their research questions and conclusions.

Is the JSIS Ph.D. Program right for you?

Ph.d. program news.

Sharing our grief on the death of Hayim Katsman (Ph.D. ’21) in Israel

Doctoral candidate Yasir Zaiden pens article on recent US sanctions in Sudan // Foreign Policy

Saadia pekkanen co-edits special issue on space diplomacy in the hague journal of diplomacy.

Sarah Lohmann quoted in article on President of Finland’s trip to Washington // Seattle Times

Doctoral alum pens article analyzing turkey’s military response after the earthquake // foreign policy, saadia pekkanen on vigilance for military activities in space // newsweek, jsis ph.d. program, jesús hidalgo.

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The School of Social and Global Studies offers a doctoral degree in International Development (IDV) with emphasis areas: Economic Development, Political Development, and Security Studies.   

The purpose of the doctoral degree in International Development is to examine the related fields of International Development from an interdisciplinary perspective while providing our students with advanced research, analytical and writing skills in order to enable our graduates to continue to make enduring contributions, as professionals and academics, to the global community.   

Admission Requirements

In addition to meeting the requirements found in Academic Requirements and Procedures   , applicants to the Doctoral program must provide the following:

• Current Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Research Statement of 1000-1500 words explaining your research interests and how they relate to one of the emphasis areas
• Research paper, professional writing sample or published academic research
• Official GRE or MAT Test Scores
• Three Letters of Recommendation

Program Requirements and Academic Policies

The International Development Doctoral Program is a 54-credit hour program. The 54 hours are divided into 42 hours of coursework and 12 dissertation hours.

Students are required to take 4 core courses (12 hours), 4 courses (12 hours) of major electives, 3 courses (9 hours) of minor electives, 3 courses (9 hours) of general electives, and a minimum of 12 hours of dissertation. Note that within each elective area, two classes are required and the student may then select from the remaining classes in the elective to fulfill the rest of the requirement. Minor elective is to be selected from the remaining major areas of study.

Upon the successful completion the 42 hours of required coursework, the student will sit for the comprehensive examination. The comprehensive examination consists of questions pertaining to the major and minor elective area and has both a written and an oral component. Students are granted two attempts to pass the comprehensive examinations. Failure to complete the comprehensive examination, successfully, on the second attempt will result in dismissal from the program and the university. 

After successful completion of the comprehensive exam, students will then form their dissertation committee and begin the dissertation phase. Students are required to prepare, with the direction of their committee chair, and defend their dissertation proposal. Once the dissertation proposal is approved, students will work to complete their dissertation. A successful oral defense of the completed dissertation is required. Students are to enroll in dissertation hours (12 hours minimum) during their dissertation phase. 

Research Tools required to complete degree are as follows:

• Submission of a publishable peer-reviewed article or book chapter
• Presentation of an academic paper at an approved academic conference

See General Degree Requirements    and General Academic Information   , for other requirements and expectations.

Course Requirements (54 hours)

Economic development requirements.

• IDV 710 - International Development Theory 3 hrs.
• IDV 719 - Research Design I 3 hrs.
• IDV 721 - Statistical Methods in International Development Research 3 hrs.
• IDV 729 - Qualitative Methods 3 hrs.
• IDV 754 - Economics for International Development 3 hrs.
• IDV 854 - International Economics 3 hrs.
• Minor Field (9 hrs.) - see listings for other field areas for required and elective course options. 
• IDV Electives (9 hrs.) - from any IDV field, see field listings
• Dissertation (12 hrs.)

Economic Development Electives (Choose two courses):

• IDV 871 - Institutions in Development 3 hrs.
• IDV 874 - Ethnic Conflict and Civil War 3 hrs.
• IDV 892 - Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare 3 hrs.
• IDV 850 - Seminar on Current Issues in International Development 1-6 hrs.

Political Development Requirements

• IDV 711 - International Political Economy 3 hrs.
• IDV 851 - Comparative International Political Development 3 hrs.
• Minor Field (9 hrs.) - see listings for other field areas for required and elective course options
• IDV Electives (9 hrs.) - from any IDV field, see field listings.

Political Development Electives (Choose two courses):

Security studies requirements.

• IDV 795 - U.S. National Security Policy 3 hrs.
• IDV 890 - International Security 3 hrs.
• Minor Field (9 hrs.) - see listings for other emphasis areas for required and elective course options.
• Elective (9 hrs.) - from any IDV field area, see field listings.

Security Studies Electives (Choose two courses):

• IDV 872 - Nation/State Building 3 hrs.
• IDV 891 - Seminar in Homeland Security 3 hrs.

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Welcome to International Development Studies

The goal of the International Development Studies Program is to produce graduates who will become development practitioners - catalysts and facilitators for change in developing contexts. We approach the study of international development from a multidisciplinary perspective, combining theory, methods, practical application, and technical concentration. Students build upon a required core while specializing in one of five concentrations:

• Development and Environment
• Development and Gender
• Development and Health
• Development and the Social Sciences
• International Development and Conflict

Founded in 1977 as the Development Studies Program, the International Development Studies Program at Ohio University offers a diverse and stimulating atmosphere for students who have a background and interest in the social, natural sciences, and health sciences, and wish to apply this interest and learning to international development.

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APPLY TO IDS FOR 2023-2024

For earliest consideration for admission and funding, please submit your application by our January 15 priority deadline. Applications will be accepted until February 1.

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Expertise, rigor, & excellence

The challenges currently facing our world are numerous and varied. Successfully handling these issues requires the brightest and best-trained minds. The School of International Service's (SIS) PhD in International Relations provides qualified and dedicated students with the training, knowledge, and experience necessary to pursue careers in the scholarly and policy worlds and to contribute game-changing solutions in international affairs as emerging thought leaders.

With its large and diverse faculty, SIS offers a broad, interdisciplinary, and policy-relevant approach to the study of international affairs. We value theoretical diversity, intellectual breadth, analytical rigor, and scholarly excellence. SIS is committed to maintaining, both among its faculty and within its doctoral program, the expertise needed for the rigorous analysis of critical issues in international affairs.

The PhD program requires 39 credit hours of approved graduate coursework, plus the successful defense of a dissertation. The first year is devoted to core courses and methods training. In the second year, students complete one of the concentrations offered by SIS, or construct one of their own.

Students must also successfully complete two comprehensive exams - a qualifying exam at the end of their first year and a concentration comp at the end of the second year. Students are also asked to demonstrate competency in a modern foreign language .

The dissertation must advance knowledge in the field of international relations, broadly defined. Students select and design their own research project in consultation with a committee of at least three experts in their chosen field of study. Students advance to candidacy upon the successful defense of a dissertation prospectus, usually in their third year. A public defense of the dissertation is required for graduation.

The PhD degree Full degree and admission requirements

SIS has more than 120 full-time faculty from across the social sciences, including anthropology, economics, geography, law, political science, and sociology. Our faculty research and write on a variety of geographic and intellectual areas; many have extensive experience in the public and private sectors, both in the United States and internationally.  

SIS PhD students use rigorous training in both qualitative and quantitative methods to pursue a variety of research topics including:

• The sources of cohesion in alliance relations.
• The interaction between state and local fisheries management practices in Uganda and how this effects compliance and legitimacy.
• The role of public diplomacy in US-China relations.
• Transitional justice and its relationship to governance in Poland.

Unless students bring their own external funding, normally those admitted to the program are offered a Dean's Fellowship, which is renewable for up to four years for full-time students who maintain good progress toward completing the degree. The Dean's Fellowship provides full tuition remission plus a stipend that requires the student to work for a member of the SIS faculty as a either a Research or a Teaching Assistant for a maximum of 20 hours per week during both the Fall and Spring semesters.

Other sources of funding are available for summer research, travel for conference presentations, and additional methods training.

PhD Placements

SIS PhD Alumni hold appointments at top schools and organizations, including:

• Georgetown University
• University of Warwick, Britain
• Fudan University, China
• Towson University

More PhD placements

Challenging Oppressive Hierarchies

K. Melchor Hall, SIS/PHD '14

Doctoral Faculty, Fielding Graduate University

At SIS, I was transdisciplinary, challenging boundaries of borrowed traditions.

I lived in Chocolate City before attending SIS, the experience deepened my understanding of the layering of cartographies of struggle and imperial maps. It was both disorienting and transformative to arrive where I started and find myself un-mapped. Studying international relations has deepened my commitment to challenging the oppressive hierarchies of Borderlands.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should i apply and when are the application deadlines.

In order to be considered for admission, applications and all supporting materials are due by December 15. New students begin in the fall semester. The program is designed for full-time study only and is not offered online. Students may not defer admission into the program.

View required application materials

Where will a PhD from the School of International Service take me?

Our graduates go on to careers in university teaching and research, government, and non-government organizations in the United States as well as around the globe.

Recent PhD program graduates are now on the faculty at a wide range of colleges and universities, including Virginia Tech, the University of Warwick, and the University of Denver. Graduates also hold government and industry positions, including with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Foreign Service.

Looking for more information or help? The SIS PhD has a dedicated placement officer to assist current students and alumni.

Is there financial assistance available?

Applicants who are admitted to the SIS PhD program as full-time students and who maintain good progress towards completing the degree are granted a Dean's Fellowship, unless they have their own external funding.

Need-based aid is available through AU Central Office and generally takes the form of a federal low-interest loan package.

Federal loan and work study information for graduate students

Still have questions? Send us an email at [email protected]

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Graduate programs, phd in politics and international affairs.

The doctoral degree in politics and international affairs is an interdisciplinary program designed to prepare students to teach at the university and college levels and to conduct high-level research in the academic and nonacademic sectors. It combines a broad focus on international relations, comparative politics, American politics, and political theory with a critical understanding of institutions, rights, citizenship/identity, governance, global policy, and justice. Students work closely with faculty to frame their dissertation research and to advance their knowledge of their chosen fields of specialization. The program’s interdisciplinary approach to a variety of global issues provides a rich and open-ended opportunity to research current and past problems, movements, and transformations in politics.

We welcome your interest in our doctoral program. The department's deadline for fall admission is January 5. The School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies only admits for the fall semester. Students must apply online through the Office of Graduate Admissions. For a listing of the admission requirements, students should consult the Graduate Catalog . 

*Effective starting with the 2023-2024 admissions cycle, GRE test scores are no longer required for applications to our doctoral program in Politics and International Affairs*

*International students should review the Office of Admissions International Students website for additional information and requirements.

*International students are also encouraged to contact the Office of International Services for information on visas, international travel, etc. 

PLEASE NOTE: International students whose native language is not English and who want to be considered for a teaching assistantship must show proficiency in spoken English even if their TOEFL has been waived for admission to a graduate program. More information on the TOEFL requirement can be found under Admission Requirements in the graduate catalog.

Program Requirements

For the Doctoral Degree in Politics and International Affairs degree requirements, students should consult the Graduate Catalog. Students should adhere to the requirements within the Graduate Catalog under which they were admitted.

• Degree Requirements Beginning 2023-2024 Catalog

*Students can elect another catalog following the one they were admitted under. More information on this policy, and other policies, can be found in the Graduate Catalog.

*Students must request approval from the graduate director for any course not pre-approved and listed under the degree in the Graduate Catalog.

Additional information on program requirements:

Student can also select POS 6933/6747 Advanced Topics in Quantitative Political Analysis or another graduate course approved by the graduate director for the methods requirement. The Capstone Seminar will be conducted with doctorial students in Sociology and History and focus on dissertation proposal. 

Research Fields

The Doctorate in Politics and International Affairs specializes in the following four fields of research:

International Relations In the School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies, the International Relations (IR) faculty focuses on four areas of study: international relations theory, global political economy, international security, and human rights. We stress the importance of cutting-edge scholarship in our teaching of the graduate seminars as well as bridging the many emergent gaps in theory and practice in the various subfields that comprise International Relations, including American foreign policy, international ethics, global governance, and international law and organizations. One of our central aims is to advance innovative applications of the central theoretical perspectives (and their variant strands) in International Relations, namely, realism, liberalism, critical theory, constructivism, Marxism, international political theory, and gender. These applications involve in-depth theoretical and empirical analysis of key global issues, such as Asian security, moral accountability, the enforcement of human rights, immigration, and political and economic inequality. The International Relations faculty have published numerous books and peer-reviewed articles on these issue areas. These include monographs on the political tensions on the Korean Peninsula or North Korea’s nuclear arms buildup, the political cosmopolitan character and shifting dynamics of the International Criminal Court (ICC), hegemony and inequality in the global political economy, and China’s rapidly increasing support of intervention in African states. Together our published research emphasizes the production of critical theoretic knowledge, or the advanced methodological analysis of the contradictions and tensions informing the substantive debates in International Relations. This not only requires the particular mastery of concepts, methods, and claims but also an open-ended and historical understanding of the changing social forces shaping the behavior of states and the relations among global and local actors. It is this scholarly approach that we adopt to train our graduate students specializing in international relations, particularly as they advance their dissertation research and empirical knowledge of the global and regional contexts of problems and issues. One of the outcomes we strive for, then, is to encourage our doctoral students to develop rigorous theoretical and contextual analysis from which they can devise solutions and prescriptions to global issues.

Comparative Politics Comparative Politics in the School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies is committed to theory-driven, empirical research from an interdisciplinary perspective that is situated in a political, historical, cultural, and economic context.  The Comparative Politics faculty employ a variety of methodological approaches from both the social sciences and humanities, which utilize qualitative and quantitative research methods to study the patterns of similarities and differences. In particular, we conduct comparative and case study research to inquire into these patterns and to develop our theoretical propositions. One of our aims is to produce knowledge about the changing social, political, and legal conditions affecting the lives, development, cultural practices, and customs of underrepresented peoples. In meeting this aim, our research focuses on several themes of comparative politics, including social movements, democracy/democratization, citizenship, decolonization, genocide, hegemony, race and identity, development, legal systems and customary law, social justice, and indigenismo or the political ideology focusing on the changing relations of state and local peoples. Much of our published research draws creatively on social, critical, and political theory to advance knowledge of the laws, changing social relations, and attitudes in several countries, which includes Brazil, Ecuador, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Iran. Our research strengths lie in the areas of race and citizenship, social movements theory, human security and law (or legal custom) in Eastern Africa, indigenous rights in various Latin American countries, and security relations in the Middle East. With these thematic foci, we encourage graduate students to create and develop their own research by selecting a region of the world as their emphasis and adopting theoretically informed research and comparative methods that allow them to analyze the changing social and political conditions in the countries of this region.

American Politics The study of American Politics in the doctorate program in politics and international affairs provides a comprehensive overview as well as an in-depth analysis of American politics. Our faculty focus on various aspects of American politics, including theoretical foundations, federalism, institutions (Congress, the executive branch, the bureaucracy, the judiciary), political behavior (political parties, the media, interest groups, social movements, and elections), and public policy (foreign and domestic), and employ a range of methodological approaches such as historical development, legal doctrine, institutional rules, and quantitative analyses of the behavior of political actors and the mass public, to advance the student's research skills.  Our core class, Seminar in American Politics, for instance, surveys the key foundations, institutions, and behavior in American politics, introducing students to both qualitative and quantitative methodological approaches for analyzing and testing the changing trends and outcomes in American politics. Special topics courses provide opportunities to gain in-depth knowledge on new research on a range of themes, including political development, the social bases of politics, and the global impact of American politics. The faculty in American politics have made important contributions in the areas of race and ethnicity, the judiciary, the presidency, Florida government, civil liberties, health care, environmental justice, economic inequality, and animal rights. Our strengths lie in economic inequality, animal rights, the Presidency, Judicial Behavior, Race and Ethnicity, and State and Local Government. In these specific areas, we have published several cutting-edge books and articles in leading peer-reviewed journals, which examine the emergence and implementation of nonhuman animals' regime of rights, the changing directions of the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank and its impact on world politics, and alternative strategies for natural disasters in the United States. Our scholarship is thus distinctive for the ways in which it addresses American government and politics in a global context. This is how we seek to train our doctoral students on the rapidly changing, nuanced linkages between local, state, federal and global institutional politics.  

Political Theory Political Theory introduces students to the core normative issues in the study of political science. These normative issues provide the bedrock assumptions on which much of the study of political science depends. For example, while nearly everyone agrees that democracy is the best form of government, why do we place such faith in it? In addition, the long tradition of political thought offers multiple versions of democracy, each with its own strengths and limitations. How are we to identify the best version for our needs? Similarly, while we might extol non-violence in politics, is it always the best path for political movements? How are we to justify its alternatives? Clarifying our moral commitments, sharpening our conceptual tools, and outlining pathways for transforming theoretical knowledge into action requires philosophical, historical, and conceptual capabilities. The political theory faculty at the School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies trains students to develop these capabilities. To that end, political theory classes not only familiarize students with many of the canonical texts that were read by generations of prominent political thinkers (from Aristotle to Martin Luther King Jr), they also teach students to read these texts critically and with an eye towards contemporary political developments. As such, training in political theory is a critical supplement to graduate work at School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies. The faculty’s expertise in feminist theory, postcolonial theory, the role of emotions in politics, environmental political thought, and Indian political thought complements the terminal degrees offered in American Politics, Comparative Politics, and International Relations.

Financial Assistance 

Most of our successful applicants qualify for funding offered by the department or the Office of Graduate Studies. Funded doctoral students will receive a graduate assistantship that includes:

• a stipend for the academic year (9 months)
• a tuition waiver (not including school fees)
• the option of health insurance mostly paid by the department (the student only pays a small amount towards insurance).

All applicants for the doctoral degree are considered for a graduate assistantship - they do not need to complete a separate form.

The graduate assistantship is guaranteed for four years but is based on maintaining satisfactory annual academic progress. It requires each student to work 20 hours per week, in which case the student would be first assisting professors of the department with their teaching and class preparations and later, after having passed the doctoral comprehensive exams and completed teacher training seminars, teach a class at the University of South Florida. 

Please visit the graduate assistantships page for further information. The department also provides funding for conference travel or the presentation of research at conferences upon approval.

Information on eligibility for graduate assistantships can be found on the Graduate Assistantships Resource Center website. 

We also strive to fund our students in the fifth year, though this funding is not guaranteed. Depending on additional funds that become available, students may have the opportunity to extend their graduate assistantship to one, possibly two academic semesters. Students in the fifth year are also encouraged to seek external funding. For more information on this, please consult our Graduate Resources Page .

Outstanding candidates may also be nominated by the school’s director and/or graduate committee for prestigious and highly competitive university fellowships, including the Presidential Doctoral Fellowship , the Dorothy Auzenne Fellowship , and the University Graduate Fellowship. There is also the opportunity for minority students to be awarded a McKnight Fellowship, which provides annual tuition up to $5,000 for each of three academic years, plus an annual stipend of $12,000. The program also offers travel grants and other forms of financial support. For additional information on this fellowship opportunity, please visit the McKnight Fellowship's informational page.

• Politics and International Affairs Doctoral Handbook 2022 - 2023
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• Admission to Doctoral Candidacy Form
• Graduate Student Supervisory Committee Appointment Form
• Dissertation Checklist
• Electronic Thesis & Dissertation Certificate of Approval Form
• Comprehensive Exam Reading Lists
• Research Conference Travel Award Request
• Dissertation Defense Announcment

Spring 2024 Course Offerings

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For further information or questions about the PhD in Politics and International Affairs, please fill out this form . 

International Development

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International & Development Economics, MS

The rapid pace of globalization has increased the demand for professionals with training in international economics and economic development. Our one of a kind Master of Science in International and Development Economics (IDEC) provides students with the knowledge and skills to understand how market forces can be harnessed to empower developing countries to break from cycles of poverty.

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Apply Now for 2024

Applications for Fall 2024 are open and we will continue to review for Fall admission on a rolling basis. We recommend you submit your application as soon as possible to be considered for Fall.

An International Development Economics Program That Prepares You for the Future

Graduates are prepared to pursue PhD programs or professional work as development researchers, program analysts, policy makers, practitioners for government agencies, international business, nonprofits, and NGOs in developing countries.

A Career in International & Development Economics

The intersection of international development and economics provides a wide range of opportunities in both the public and private sectors, as well as within non-governmental and international organizations. Here's a list of job roles you might pursue with this degree.

Read the Article

Learning Development Economics Through International Fieldwork

During the summer, you’ll form a small group with fellow students to collect primary data and access secondary data as part of an internship or partnership with an international institution. Your research will be the basis for your master’s thesis, which you’ll develop under your adviser’s supervision.

STUDENT RESEARCH

A Development Economics STEM Program

We are designated as a STEM program (science, technology, engineering, and math). Eligible international students may apply to work in the United States for up to three years after graduation via the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program and STEM extension.

STEM Program

Summer Bridge Program

The Summer Bridge program is uniquely offered to non-economics, non-math students. The Summer Bridge option allows for flexibility in prerequisites and provides students a refresher in calculus and statistics.

Summer Bridge Option

Faheema Eissar MS '23

Turning development economics theory into action.

I came to USF because I want to learn to do things that will actually help not just in theory but in action — to have a specific focus and to know how to tackle a specific problem.”

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Get your questions answered by our student ambassadors. Read their stories and connect with them to get the student experience first-hand.

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USF Offers a Related Economics Program

Learn to acquire, visualize, and analyze data. Use data to understand consumers, to solve problems, to make smart decisions, and to land a job you love.

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• International & Development Economics

The Department of Economics offers a one-year program of study in International & Development Economics, leading to the Master of Arts degree. IDE students are diverse in terms of their nationalities and their career paths. Many of our students now come directly from their undergraduate school or a few years of work experience, although we do not exclude any candidate on the basis of work experience or country of origin. After completion of the program, IDE students have gone into various paths, including working in research for academic and nonacademic agencies such as the World Bank, the United Nations, and the Poverty Action Lab. Other students have gone on to further academic work such as law school and to Ph.D. programs in economics, environmental sciences, public health, and similar programs. Many students have returned to their home countries to work for their government or for funding agencies there.

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• MA - Master of Arts

Michael Boozer

Director of Graduate Studies

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Anna Groesser

Departmental Registrar

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• 203-432-3610

Admission Requirements

Standardized testing requirements.

GRE is required.

English Language Requirement

TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic is required of most applicants whose native language is not English.

You may be exempt from this requirement if you have received (or will receive) an undergraduate degree from a college or university where English is the primary language of instruction, and if you have studied in residence at that institution for at least three years.

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The Graduate School's academic calendar lists important dates and deadlines related to coursework, registration, financial processes, and milestone events such as graduation.

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Registration Information and Dates

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Students must register every term in which they are enrolled in the Graduate School. Registration for a given term takes place the semester prior, and so it's important to stay on top of your academic plan. The University Registrar's Office oversees the systems that students use to register. Instructions about how to use those systems and the dates during which registration occurs can be found on their registration website.

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Master's funding.

While Master's programs are not generally funded, there are resources available to students to help navigate financial responsibilities during graduate school.

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Alumni Insights

Below you will find alumni placement data for our departments and programs.

Master of International Development Policy Program

Do Development Differently; Do Development Better

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Shape the future of international development policy.

The Master of International Development Policy program from the McCourt School at Georgetown University is not your typical international development studies program. Instead, its curriculum focuses on economics and the rigorous analytical and technical skills needed to tackle complex challenges in developing and emerging economies. Outside the classroom, you’ll gain valuable professional experiences collaborating with passionate development practitioners who share your passions and recognize and value your new skills. With funding for summer placements, travel opportunities and engaging client-capstone projects, you’ll graduate as a different kind of development professional, one with an easily recognized set of advanced technical skills and real-world experience.

Admissions Links

Equipped for success in development policy.

Our STEM-eligible Master of International Development Policy program is ranked #4 in International Global Policy and Administration by U.S. News & World Report. It provides the necessary technical and analytical skills to make a real impact in developing countries. We incorporate courses and professional work experiences to enhance your understanding of politics, management and ethics.

This comprehensive approach prepares you to navigate the challenges commonly faced in the public sector and international institutions. With a highly structured curriculum, including core and elective courses, a summer experience and a client-capstone project, you’ll gain the professional experience and technical skills that employers value, spanning economics, quantitative research, management and leadership. You’ll also develop vital skills in collaboration, critical thinking, economic analysis, ethical leadership, policy analysis and more through McCourt’s Foundational Skills .

Learn About the Curriculum >

Bridge the Gap Between Theory & Practice: A Program-Funded Summer Experience

Hands-on learning is essential to preparing you for the policy world, especially in development policy. You’ll spend the summer after your first year in a program-relevant professional placement and put what you’ve learned in the classroom into practice. We provide funding for living and travel expenses, enabling you to identify and secure placements that best fit your interests. In 2023, our students worked in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Colombia, Ghana, Jordan, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania and Washington, DC.

Faculty Who Practice What They Teach

Jishnu Das, Ph.D.

Distinguished Professor

Professor Das focuses on health and education in low and middle-income countries. He has co-developed one of the largest and longest-running cohort studies on learning outcomes in low-income countries and led an agenda on quality of healthcare in low-income countries. His research led to the widespread adoption of a training program for informal providers, health facility inspections, networks for private sector providers, the scale-up of quality measurement tools in health and the development of financial products for private schools.

Nada Eissa, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Professor Eissa’s research examines how tax and transfer policy affects work and family formation decisions, and what these behavioral responses imply for how programs should be designed. Her current research has expanded into education, including evaluating the Washington, DC, Scholarship Program, the first federally-funded school voucher program in the U.S. and the impact of school choice on academic performance in public schools.

Andrew Zeitlin, Ph.D.

Professor Zeitlin’s research uses field and lab experimental methods to study how individual decision-making shapes state effectiveness, through the design of transfer programs, incentives in public service provision and tax policy and administration. He examines the recruitment effects of pay-for-performance in the public sector, the impacts of cash versus in-kind transfer programs and the design of audit policies to reduce retail tax evasion in Rwanda.

Putting Your Knowledge into Practice

You’ll gain the skills and expertise needed to work in a variety of fields, including international development organizations, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and more. No matter where you apply your skills, we’re confident our program will give you the tools and expertise you need to make a meaningful difference. Within six months of completing their degrees, 95% of 2022 graduates were employed or had secured job offers.

Discover Career Outcomes >

U.S. News & World Report

Meet Our Changemakers

As a diverse group of problem solvers, we’re dedicated to turning bold ideas into action. At the McCourt School at Georgetown, you will not only learn from your professors, but also from your classmates. Our students come from all walks of life and backgrounds, offering a rich community of experiences and perspectives. Together, we engage in policy-relevant research and strive to make the world a better place

Student Life Links

A testimonial.

“I wanted a graduate program that would equip me with the knowledge and analytical skills to help me become a more conscientious and effective practitioner in order to design more sustainable and effective programs and policies. Ultimately, I chose McCourt because of its evidence-based approach to development, the strength of its rigorous quantitative sequence, and its proximity and many connections in the International Development hub within DC.”

Request More Information

We know you have a passion for development work; you know that is not enough.

The MIDP Program is different from most other development studies programs. It is a professional program with a skills-based curriculum in economics and quantitative methods that are essential for any development practitioner, and it delivers valuable opportunities for experiential learning, as well.

Thank you for your interest in our program. Please complete this form and we‘ll contact you with more information.

26 Top International Development Masters in the USA

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The United States has some of the leading universities in the world and many of the top master’s degrees in international development. With some of the most prestigious development studies masters, as well as masters specialising in community development, agriculture development and migration studies, the USA is one of the best countries in the world to study for a career in international development.

Master of Arts in International Development Studies – George Washington University

George Washington University, in Washington D. C, USA, offers a master’s degree in international development. The masters aims to equip students with the theories, skills and knowledge needed to work on the front-line of international development. Students focus particularly on the cultural contexts and moral considerations of development work, as well as on field-based research and innovation within the development sector. The masters drives to provide students with marketable skills and professional experience to begin careers in international development.

Applicants to the masters in International Development Studies at George Washington University, USA, are likely to require a relevant bachelor’s degree. Full entry requirements, including English language requirements, can be obtained from the university. Also contact the university for information on fees for US and non-American students as well as scholarship information.

MA in Global Development Economics – Boston University

Boston University, based on the East Coast of the USA, has a master’s degree in Global Development Economics. One of the leading masters of its kind in America, students on the master’s degree receive extensive training in economic theories and practice. The masters has modules on politics, international relations and public health. Students also explore how infrastructure and the environment can impact economic development. The master’s degree is ideal for students who want to study in America and focus on the economic development of low- and middle-income countries.

Entry requirements for the Global Development Economics masters at Boston University, USA, are likely to include the completion of a relevant undergraduate degree and a high-level of English language ability. Full-time tuition for the Global Development Economics master’s degree at Boston University is around 56,000 USD. The university has financial aid for both American and non-US students.

M.A. in Global Development and Justice – Multnomah University

Multnomah University, based in Portland, Oregon, USA, has a master’s degree in Global Development and Justice. The masters course combines a religious view of justice with practical techniques in international development. Students learn the knowledge needed to work on poverty alleviation and tackling injustice around the world. With a significant Christian focus, the master’s degree in Global Development and Justice and Multnomah University, in America, is ideal for those wanting to work in as community leaders, mission pastors and in humanitarian aid and development.

Applicants to the masters in Global Development and Justice at Multnomah University are required to complete the application process including providing a ‘Christian character reference’. Applicants are likely to need a bachelor’s degree. Tuition fees for the Global Development and Justice masters in the USA at Multnomah University are around 700 USD per course credit. Financial aid is available for both American and for students from outside the USA.

International Affairs (MA or MS) – The New School

The New School is based in New York, USA. They have a master’s degree in International Affairs.  The flexible master’s degree is aimed at professionals already working in international affairs who wish to gain an additional academic understanding. One of the leading masters of its kind in America, The New School’s post-graduate degree in International Relations provides students with a theoretical understanding of global issues whilst also giving the option to gain practical field experience. The master’s degree has both an international field programme and the chance for students to do consultancy work within the United Nations.

Applicants to The New School’s International Affairs master’s degree need to be doing, or have completed, an undergraduate degree. Fees for the master’s degree in International Affairs at The New School, New York, USA, are around 1,750 USD per course credit. Scholarships are available for both American and non-US students.

International Development Online Courses

If you are looking to do a masters in international development, taking an online short course can be a great way to boost your application. We highly recommend the course Management of International Development: Towards Agenda 2030 . It looks at the current international development model as well as the trends that will be key to global development in the near future. Follow the link to the course’s page for more information.

We also think the online course Sustainable Development in the 21st Century by Yonsei University to be one of the best for those interested in international development. Delivered by former UN Secretary General Ban-ki Moon, the online course would be a great addition to the application of anyone looking to do a masters in international development. The link is to the course’s page.

If you are interested in the practical methods used on international development projects, we recommend the online course How To Design & Fund International Development NGO Projects . The course teaches students the tools needed to establish and run impactful development projects. Click the link to visit the course’s page for more information.

Master of Science in Global Studies – Northeastern University

Northeastern University is located in Boston, USA. They offer a master’s degree in Global Studies that can be taken on-campus in America or online. Students on the masters investigate the role of globalisation in the current worldwide context alongside developing practical solutions to the challenge’s globalisation has created. The Global Studies master’s degree offered by Northeastern University, USA, has five specialisms students can choose from. These include Global Student Mobility, Diplomacy, Conflict Resolution, International Economics and Consulting, Global Health and Development.

Applicants to the Global Studies master’s degree at Northeastern University in America need to have completed an undergraduate degree. They also need to submit a statement of purpose, professional CV and reference. Non-native English speakers must provide evidence of English language ability. Tuition fees at Northeastern University in the USA to study the master’s degree in Global Studies are around 35,000 USD. 8% of students receive some kind of financial aid, with scholarships open to American student and students from outside the USA.

Master in Community Development – University of New Hampshire, Carsey School of Public Policy

The University of New Hampshire, in the United States, has a master’s degree in Community Development. Students on the master’s course work to address real world scenarios to improve both community and economic development. Taught by some of the leading development professionals in America, the University of New Hampshire’s course is a unique master’s degree in the USA. Students on the masters learn practical tools and skills to develop communities locally and internationally.

The master’s degree in Community Development at the University of New Hampshire, USA, can be taken in 12 months full-time or 24 months part-time. Most applicants need to have completed previous ‘rigorous’ academic study and have some years of professional work experience. Information on tuition fees and financial aid should be obtained from the university.

Master in Migration Studies – University of San Francisco

The University of San Francisco offers one of the leading master’s degrees in America on migration. Students on the masters of migration studies at the University of San Francisco produce cutting-edge research into the historical background, ongoing trends and contextual scenarios at the root of migration. The master’s degree also explores the challenges and issues raised by migration and people on the move. The University of San Francisco master’s degree in Migration Studies works closely with NGOs, government agencies and civil society organisations and includes an optional student placement.

Admission requirements for the Migration Studies masters at the University of San Francisco, in America, are likely to include the completion of an undergraduate degree. Non-native English speakers are also likely to need to prove their English language proficiency. Exact requirements should be sought from the university. Tuition fees for the Migration Studies at University of San Francisco, USA, are around 1,225 USD per credit. The university has a wide range of scholarships including the Migration Program Scholarships and the Schmidt Family Foundation Fellowship.

Master of Arts in International Development – University of Denver

The University of Denver, in Colorado, United States, offers a masters in International Development. The master’s degree aims to prepare students to improve the social, economic, political and environmental conditions worldwide. The International Development masters at the University of Denver, USA, focuses on teaching students the keys to creating sustainable development solutions that have a meaningful impact. The masters is taught by some of the top development professionals in America.

Applicants to the masters in International Development at the University of Denver in the US are likely to require a bachelor’s degree. Contact the university for full admission requirements. Breakdowns of direct and indirect costs of studying at the University of Denver, USA, including for the International Development masters, can be found on their website.

Master of International Development – University of Pittsburgh

The University Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania, United States, offers a master’s degree in International Development. One of the leading international development masters in the United States, the post-graduate degree teaches students the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to design development interventions. Graduates from the University of Pittsburgh, USA, have gone on to work in leading humanitarian NGOs, national governments and international development organisations.

Entry requirements for the master’s degree in International Development at the University of Pittsburgh in the US are likely to include the completion of an undergraduate degree, probably in a relevant subject. Tuition fees for the International Development masters at the University of Pittsburgh, USA, are around 23,500 USD for American students and around 40,000 for non-US students. The university has a wide range of scholarships for both US and non-American students, including the Coca Cola Fellowship, the Michael Flack Award and Urban Affairs Fellowship.

MA in Global Studies – Liberty University

Liberty University is a Christian university based in Virginia, United States. They have a master’s degree in Global Studies. Ideal for those wanting a broad approach to learning about international development, the master’s degree focuses on teaching forward thinking skills and cutting-edge techniques in development. The master’s degree in Global Studies at Liberty University, United States, has modules including Global Studies Survey, Introduction to Islam, Cultural Anthropology and Orality: The Power of Story.

Fordham University is based New York, USA. The International Political Economy and Development master’s degree at Fordham University is one of the top development studies masters in America. Students cover key international development topics such as International Banking and Finance, International and Development Economics and Global Environmental and Resource Economics. There is also the option to study Finance and Development. The master’s degree in International Political Economy and Development at Fordham University is taught by some of the leading international development experts in the United States.

International Political Economy and Development – Fordham University

Entry requirements for the International Political Economy and Development master’s degree at Fordham University in New York, USA, include the completion of an undergraduate degree and the submission of a 500-1500 word written statement. Applicants also require a recommendation letter. Non-native English speakers need a minimum TOEFL score of 100. Information on fees for American and non-US students should be sought from the university. Fordham University, USA, advertises a wide range of financial aid for students.

Admission requirements for the Liberty University masters in Global Studies include a bachelor’s degree with 2.0 GPA or higher and a Christian pastoral recommendation. Tuition fees for the Global Studies masters at Liberty University in the US are 545 USD per credit. Information on scholarships for US and non-US students can be obtained from the university.

International Development and Social Change – Clark University

Clark University is based in Massachusetts, United States. They offer a masters major in International Development and Social Change. Focusing on the global south, the masters introduces students to developing countries vulnerabilities and addresses the root causes of poverty. Students are encouraged to think critically about how positive change in developing countries can be sustainably achieved. There is also an enthesis on creating collaboratory and engaging responses to international development issues. The masters is taught by some of America’s leading development practitioners.

Information on entry requirements, fees and scholarships should be sought from the university.

International Economics and Development – Eastern Michigan University

Eastern Michigan University in the USA has a master’s degree in Economics and Development. The masters provides students an overview of the theoretical foundations and key economic tools used to analyse economies. Students are prepared for a technical career in international development through rigorous teaching of the economic roots of unequal global development. The master’s degree in International Economics and Development at Eastern Michigan University in the United States includes modules on the International Monetary System, International Trade and Theory and Mathematical Economics.

Applicants to the International Economics and Development masters at Eastern Michigan University in the US need to have completed a four-year undergraduate degree with at least a GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale, or 3.0 in the last half of the undergraduate program. Fees for the master’s degree in International Economics and Development at Eastern Michigan University, USA, are around 12,000 USD. Financial aid is available including an alumni scholarship and women’s association scholarships.

International Development Studies – Ohio University

Ohio University, in the United States, has a masters major in International Development Studies. The masters aims to produce the next generation of international development leaders, equipped with the skills and expertise needed to address key development challenges. Students on the master’s degree at Ohio University, in America, combine international development theory, practice, methods and tools with a focus on their practical application in the field. The masters contains five core elements in Development and Environment, Development and Gender, Development and Health, Development and the Social Sciences and International Development and Conflict

Information on how to apply and requirements, as well as tuition fees and financial aid should be obtained from university directly.

Community and International Development – Andrew University

Andrew University is located in Michigan, USA. The Community and International Development masters at Andrew University is an interdisciplinary post-graduate degree aimed at equipping students with the skills needed to address social and economic challenges across the globe. The master’s degree is taught by some of America’s top community and development professionals. Graduates from the Andrew University, US, master’s degree in Community and International Development have gone to work in academic research, policy development, advocacy, development project management and administration.

Entry requirements to the Andrew University, USA, masters in Community and International Development are likely to include the completion of an undergraduate degree. Tuition fees are around 1,160 USD per credit hour. Andrew University in America has a range of scholarships offered by the university and external fellowships.

Development Practice – University of California, Berkeley

The University of California, Berkley, is one of America’s top universities. They offer a masters major in Development Practice. Focusing on the practical implementation of development work, students engage with problem-solving, project design and management and decision-making tools for international development. The University of California, Berkley, in the USA is proud of the diversity of students on the Development Practice masters, with up to 50% of students from outside the US. Graduates of the masters have gone on to work in development NGOs, national governments and international development organisations.

The basic requirements to study the Development Practice master’s degree at the University of California, Berkley, in the US are the completion of a bachelor’s degree. Applicants need a bachelors result of usually a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 and some experience, academic or professional, in their chosen area of study. Information on fees can be found on the university’s website. The university of California, Berkley’s Graduate Fellowships Office has information on a wide range of financial support for both American and non-US students.

International Development Administration – Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University in the United States has a master’s degree in International Development Administration. The masters is aimed at those looking for a career managing NGO development projects. One of the leading masters of its kind in the USA, students on the post-graduate degree course explore foundational topics in international development theory, management and project implementation. The master’s degree in International Development Administration at Western Michigan University, in the US, includes a focus on areas such as the history of development, skills needed in development work and the specific methods of international development administration.

Entry requirements for the International Development Administration masters at Western Michigan University in the United States include holding a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.25 GPA in the last two years of the degree. Tuition fees for the International Development Administration masters at Western Michigan University in the US go up to around 1,000 USD per credit hour. The Western Michigan University, USA, has a wide range of financial aid options available to students.

International Development – Indiana University

Indiana University, in America, offers a top master’s degree in International Development. With a strong policy focus, students on the masters learn to address the key challenges in international development whilst taking advantage of the opportunities improved development can offer poorer nations. The master’s degree in International Development at Indiana University, USA, covers key development topics such as economic planning and programming, political development, conflict and post-conflict recovery and sustainable development.

Entry requirements for the International Development masters at Indiana University in America can be found on the university’s website. Exact course fees for the masters depend on circumstances but could be around 37,000 USD.

International Agricultural Development – University of California, Davis

The University of California, Davis, is based near Sacramento, in America. They offer a master’s degree in International Agricultural Development. A unique masters within the United States, the post-graduate degree aims for student to address the lack of resources, provisions and techniques needed to improve agriculture in developing countries. The master’s degree prepares students with the skills needed to produce real-world outcomes and improvements in agricultural development. This is an ideal master’s degree for those wanting to study in the US and interested in how developing countries can sustainably improve agriculture to assist rural communities.

Applicants to the International Agricultural Development master’s degree at University of California, Davis, USA, require a completed bachelors degree. Non-native English speakers will also need to prove their English language proficiency. Fees for the International Agricultural Development master’s degree as the University of California, Davis in the US are likely to be around 14,000 USD.

International Policy and Development – Middlebury Institute of International Studies

The Middlebury Institute of International Studies is based in Vermont, United States. They offer a master’s degree in International Policy and Development. The master’s degree trains students on the development of effective policies to address global inequality and improve development in low- and middle-income countries. Students on the masters learn how to research and create policy responses to contemporary development issues. The master’s degree in International Policy and Development at Middlebury Institute of International Studies, USA, is taught by some of America’s leading experts in policy and development.

Applicants to the master’s degree in International Policy and Development at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in the US need to have completed an undergraduate degree. If the applicants first language is not English, they need a TOEFL score of 80 overall, or an IELTS score of 6.5 overall. Information on fees and costs should be sought from the university. The Middlebury Institute of International Studies in America awards over 10,000 USD in scholarships each year.

Development Practice – Columbia University

Columbia University in New York City is one of the most prestigious universities in America. The Development Practice master’s degree at Columbia is a 21-month programme where students gain the skills, experience, networks and knowledge needed for the practical work of international development. The master’s degree at Columbia University in the US focuses on the practical implementation of development projects. Students on the masters also have access to leading work experience and internship opportunities in the development sector.

Entry requirements for the Development Practice masters at Columbia University, New York, USA, include having done an undergraduate degree as well as completing 2 years of related professional work experience. Tuition fees at Columbia University to study the masters in Development Practice are around 60,000 USD. Columbia University has a wide range of scholarship available for American and non-US students.

International Development Policy – Georgetown University

Georgetown University is located in Washington D. C, United States. Their master’s degree in International Development Policy aims to prepare the next generation of international development leaders with a technical background in policy. Students on the masters gain strong analytical and technical skills needed to work on economic, governmental and societal policy that can address global inequality. With an evidence-based approach to policy making the masters at Georgetown University, USA, provides a multidisciplinary and a broad focus to international development.

Entry requirements for the Georgetown University, USA, master’s degree in International Development Policy include the completion of a bachelor’s degree or international equivalent. Applicants also need to have done previous coursework on microeconomics and ideally have done some coursework at college-level in pre-calculus or calculus. Applicants without English as their first language require an IELTS score of 7.0. Information on fees and scholarships can be sought from the university.

Sustainable International Development – Brandeis University

Brandeis University is based in Boston, USA. They offer a masters in Sustainable International Development. With a strong focus on sustainability in development, the post-graduate degree instructs students on addressing the root causes of poverty, inequality and the marginalisation of communities. Students are taught by some of the leading development professionals with specialisms in sustainability in America. The Brandeis University masters in Sustainable International Development combines teaching with practice based-field placements.

Information on admission requirements, tuition fees and scholarships should be sought from the university.

Development Practice – Emory University

Emory University is in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Emory University has one of the leading master’s degrees in Development Practice in America. The masters focuses on sustainable development outcomes to address global poverty, natural disasters, climate change, conflict, insecurity and worldwide public health. Students learn through a combination of on-campus learning, independent research and practical field experience. The masters in Development Practice at Emory University, USA, also has workshops on key programmatic areas relevant to international development.

The Emory University, United States, requires applicants for their Development Practice master’s degree to submit a statement of purpose, a CV and a letter of recommendation. Entry requirements are likely to include the completion of a bachelor’s degree. Tuition fees to study the Development Practice masters at Emory University in America are around 43,800 USD.

International Studies – Texas State University

Texas State University, in the southern United States, offers a master degree in International Studies. Taking a broad and interdisciplinary approach, students on the masters are prepared for careers in government, global enterprises, NGOs or international development agencies. With a focus on giving students leadership skills, the master’s degree covers key current global challenges, as well as historical, cultural and contextual areas relevant to international development, such as regional inequality, the rise in technology, globalisation and industrialisation.

Applicants for the international studies masters’ degree at Texas State University in the US are likely to include the completion of an undergraduate degree. Non-native English speakers are also likely to need to provide evidence of their English language ability. Information on study costs and scholarships can be found on the university’s website.

International Community Development – Southeastern University Florida

Southeastern University Florida offers one of America’s top master’s degree in International Community Development. Taught online, the master’s degree is rooted in Christian teachings. Students on the master’s degree cover a wide range of core topics related to international community development. Modules on the International Community Development masters at Southeastern University Florida, USA, include Managing Change and Conflict, Strategic Missional Leadership and Human Services and the Community.

Southeastern University Florida, in the US, requires applicants for their International Community Development masters to have done a bachelor’s degree and got a GPA of 3.0, although a GPA of 2.9 will be considered. Applicants also need to submit a professional reference, academic reference and a Christian character reference. A written essay of one or two pages is also required. Fees for the International Community Development masters at Southeastern University Florida, USA, are 495 USD per credit hour. Scholarship opportunities can be explored on the university’s website.

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American association of university women (aauw) – international fellowships.

Posted by hagansa2 on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 in Announcements .

Deadline: November 15, 2024

URL:  International Fellowships – AAUW : Empowering Women Since 1881

Description:

AAUW International Fellowships support for women pursuing full-time graduate or postdoctoral study in the United States who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The overwhelming majority return to their home countries to become leaders in government, academia, community activism, and the arts and science. Both graduate and postgraduate studies at accredited institutions are supported. Fellowships are for one year; some are renewable for an additional year.

Eligibility: Applicants must:

• Have citizenship in a country other than the United States or possession of a non-immigrant visa if residing in the United States. Women holding dual citizenship in the United States and another country or who are permanent legal residents of the United States are not eligible.
• Hold an academic degree (earned in the United States or abroad) equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree completed by the application deadline.
• Intend to devote herself full-time to the proposed academic plan during the fellowship year at an accredited institution.
• Intend to return to her home country to pursue a professional career.
• Be proficient in English.
• Not have been previous recipients of any AAUW national fellowship or grant (not including branch or local awards or Community Action Grants).
• This fellowship program does not provide funding for distance-learning or online programs or for degrees heavily dependent on distance-learning components.
• A limited number of awards are available for study outside of the United States (excluding the applicant’s home country) to women who are members of Graduate Women International (see the  list of GWI affiliates ).
• Preference is given to women who show prior commitment to the advancement of women and girls through civic, community, and professional work.
• See website for additional eligibility criteria.

Award amount:

• Masters/Professional Fellowship: $20,000
• Doctoral Fellowship: $25,000
• Postdoctoral Fellowship: $50,000

If this information is out of date, please email [email protected] to let us know. 

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