The interdisciplinary GDS PhD program places a strong emphasis on original research that advances our understanding of the field. Political economy approaches to global development are the focus of the PhD program, and students are encouraged to specialize in one of the following subfields:

  • commerce, equitable commerce and trade policy, climate change, the environment, and environmental governance
  • Development, gender, and migration
  • worldwide relocation
  • Changes in agriculture, food sovereignty, and rights to resources
  • capitalism and race
  • work and advancement