Social Policy Concentration

The concentration in Social Policy appeals to students who are committed to the study of social issues of public importance, who would like to pursue careers analyzing social needs and policy impacts as well as advocating for improved policies and implementation. To that effect, the curriculum offers courses on pressing social problems both in the U.S. and other parts of the world, and highlights linkages between inequality and discrimination, conflict, poverty, political and community participation, and social mobility. Students are trained in essential methods such as policy analysis and other rigorous tools of social science to bear on these important policy questions.

This concentration enables International Development students to address core development problems in diverse contexts worldwide, including those highlighted in the UN Sustainable Development Goals, by taking courses on topics such as poverty and inequality, food insecurity, global health, gender and development, economic growth, human rights and the SDGs, and environmental sustainability.

Download Plan of Study beginning Fall '26 »

MID Core Classes (15 credits)

    Development Policy and Practice
PIA 2--- Social Innovation for Global Development
    Economics of Development
OR
    Political Economy of Development
    Qualitative Research Design & Methods
OR
    Program Evaluation
OR
    Quantitative Methods
    Capstone Seminar
OR
    Thesis
Internship Requirement: All students must complete an approved internship of at least 300 hours while enrolled at SPIA. The internship must be approved by the student’s career advisor in advance. Students with at least three years of relevant full‐time work experience may petition their career advisor for a waiver of this requirement during their first semester.

Concentration Core (12 credits)

Two of the following five courses:
    Poverty & Inequality
    Human Rights, the SDGs & Development
    Gender and Development
    Global Health Policy
    Local and Global Food Policy and Sustainability
PIA 2--- Approved SP Concentration Course
PIA 2--- Approved SP Concentration Course

Free Electives/Minor Courses (9 credits)

PIA 2--- Elective/minor course
PIA 2--- Elective/minor course
PIA 2--- Elective/minor course

Below is a sample of electives that may be offered depending on the semester. Please speak with your advisor to confirm availability and create your personalized plan of study.

PIA 2117: Program Evaluation
PIA 2219: Race, Gender, Law & Policy
PIA 2448: Political Economy of Development
PIA 2473: Strategies of Global Inquiry
PIA 2551: Gender & Development
PIA 2552: Managing Organizations in Development
PIA 2563: Planning & Designing Development Projects
PIA 2715: GIS for Public Policy
PIA 2740: Planning & Analysis for Sustainable Regions