Online PhD in sustainability

Last Updated on December 17, 2022

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phd in climate change and sustainability

EUCLID (Pôle Universitaire Euclide | Euclid University), an international intergovernmental organization with university mandate, offers to intergovernmental and national civil servants (as well as select students from the general public) a specialized external degree program called the EUCLID Online Ph.D. in Climate Change and Sustainability (DCCS). This field of study or specialization covers the full scope of climate-related issues from a policy perspective.

It is the only fully online PhD program in this field organized by an intergovernmental (treaty-based) organization and officially used by diplomats and civil servants over 4 continents. Alumni, students and faculty include current and former ambassadors, minister-counsellors, etc.

Academic Presentation

EUCLID’s Ph.D. in Climate Change and Sustainability represents 90 US credits (120 ECTS) of coursework beyond the Bachelor’s. In practice, students may enter the program with a relevant Master’s degree, complete 30 to 35 US credits of core doctoral courses, followed by the actual writing of the dissertation in 5 phases. The resulting thesis should be a publishable book offering a clear contribution to the field and establishing the author as a subject-matter expert.

Focus & Specializations

Among the suggested areas of focus are:

– Climate Change diplomacy
– Small Islands / Small States issues
– Cosmic Cycle approaches
– International and treaty law
– Sustainable development
– IGOs and non-governmental organizations
– Nation-specific dissertations.

Employment Outlook

This EUCLID PhD program provides outstanding professional and academic preparation to its students for a successful career in academia and global knowledge leadership at the international, regional, national and local levels. Our alumni have been successful in securing employment and promotions in government service and international organizations.

Requirements

Applicants should have a relevant Master’s degree issued by an institution listed in the UNESCO-IAU handbook/database or otherwise duly recognized/accredited. Similar or related backgrounds with adequate professional experience may be considered for Government-sponsored applicants (who are already government staff) who may be admitted without the required educational credential if their level of education and experience is deemed sufficient. EUCLID may require these participants to complete bridge courses prior to enrolling in the program. Fluency in English (spoken and written) is required and will be tested. Students are expected to be in a position to dedicate 10 to 15 effective hours of study on a weekly basis.

Program Outline

PRIMARY COURSES
CodeCourse NameUSCH
ACA-401DInternational Academic Writing (Doctorate)2
TPH-499Argumentation and Critical Thinking2
CH-NRJGlobal Energy and Climate Policy3
SD-440Ecological Economics3
CH-MODScience and Modeling of Climate Change3
CH-MITClimate Change Mitigation in Developing Countries3
CH-DENClimate Science Denial3
CH-WATClimate Change and Water in Mountains3
CH-CHEDUClimate Change Education3
T-DDIA1DDIA Thesis 1/5 Bibliography + Outline5
T-DDIA2DDIA Thesis 2/5 Draft5
T-DDIA3DDIA Thesis 3/5 Completed Draft5
T-DDIA4DDIA Thesis 4/5 Editing5
T-DDIA5DDIA Thesis 5/5 Final Review5
Total Credit Hours (USCH):50

Online PhD In Sustainability

Online PhD in Sustainable Development

Because it is offered, and uniquely so, by an intergovernmental organization with a specialized mandate in sustainable development, the EUCLID online PhD in Sustainable Development and Diplomacy takes up the challenge of offering a comprehensive doctoral program at the junction of three specialized fields of knowledge and application: (1) economics development (2) sustainability, and (3) diplomacy and global governance. EUCLID’s online PhD in Sustainable Development and Diplomacy is also based on EUCLID’s MBA/SD which has been ranked in the Top 10 since 2016 for a good reason: it is offered by an international intergovernmental organization with a university mandate and specialized expertise in sustainable development. Historically, EUCLID grew out of the cooperation between universities and the International Organization for Sustainable Development (IOSD) which was the original SD international organization and which is now a EUCLID affiliated institute. It is therefore only PhD program in sustainable development and diplomacy organized by an intergovernmental organization and officially used by senior civil servants over 4 continents. It is also highly relevant to managers and executives working for multinational companies. EUCLID’s DSDD offers a comprehensive graduate study of the most relevant topics, including economic development, UN SD goals, international law, ecological economics, etc. Graduate can expect to complete the program transformed and enhanced in their ability to make a difference in global sustainability.

Academic Presentation This unique PhD focuses on diplomatic practice and the actual application of theoretical knowledge, rather than the advancement of academic knowledge for its own sake. EUCLID’s programs are used by professional diplomats working for EUCLID Participating States and can be considered an excellent route to pursue a career within governmental bodies, NGOs and international organizations. Thanks to its low tuition and institutional relationships, it is of special interest to European and African students.

OVERVIEW:

The EUCLID DSDD (Ph.D. in Sustainable Development and Diplomacy) is an online program which combined required coursework followed by the elaboration and presentation of the policy-relevant doctoral dissertation. Its goal is to prepare recognized experts for high-level positions in the vast realm of sustainable development policy-making and implementation, with successful careers at intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as multinational corporations. It is of particular interest to students holding a relevant Master’s degree and aiming to achieve a doctoral level, which is increasingly necessary for academia and international institutions.

The EUCLID DSDD is also a unique program in the sense that it is the only doctoral program in Sustainable Development actually offered by a multilateral institution with a specialized SD institute (the International Organization for Sustainable Development, logo above), thus allowing direct interaction with practitioners as well as opening rare internship opportunities.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:

This program assumes a strong background in economics and global affairs. Students who do not have such a foundation or background will be required to complete a customized bridge program prior to being formally enrolled. The DSDD offers an in-depth examination of the vast field of Sustainable Development, including Ecological Economics, Public Policies, Climate Change, Sustainable Development Goals, Community Development, Cultural Aspects of Development, and National Developmental Strategies. Its capstone is the presentation, defense, and publication of a doctoral dissertation. This program was primarily designed to train government or IGO staff already working in the field, but it is also suitable to prepare general public professionals and students for careers with governmental bodies, NGOs and international organizations such as IGAD, the European Union, the African Union, OSCE, World Bank, etc.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

– Applicants must have a Master’s degree or its international equivalent, issued by an institution listed in the UNESCO IAU handbook / WHED database. – Government-sponsored applicants (who are already government staff) may be admitted without a Master’s degree if their level of education and experience is deemed sufficient. EUCLID may require these participants to complete bridge courses prior to enrolling in the program. – Fluency in English (spoken and written) is required and will be tested. – Students are expected to be in a position to dedicate 10 to 15 effective hours of study on a weekly basis.

CREDIT VALUES:

Credit values are expressed both in terms of USCH (US credit hour) and ECTS (European Credit Transfer System). Typically, 14 hours of classroom instruction over the course of 1 semester represents 1 USCH or 1.5 ECTS (plus self-study time), which is converted to the equivalent amount of study in the context of a distance program. The total credit value for the completed DSDD, according to international standards, is 90 USCH beyond the Bachelor.

PEERS AND ALUMNI:

Because EUCLID was established to train active diplomats and government staff, our students can be assured that their peers and fellow alumni will form a high-level network.

ACADEMIC APPROACH AND OUTCOME:

It is fair to say that EUCLID’s programs are better described as ‘distance’ rather than ‘online’ study programs. This means that students do not have to connect at a particular day and time to participate in bulletin board discussions as is often the case with ‘online’ programs. Rather, our programs emphasize the ability to absorb a vast amount of material on a personal basis, which makes them suitable for fast readers who on their own have a record of intense book reading and passionate interest in their field of study. EUCLID evaluates the applicant’ interpersonal and teamwork skills—which are essential for personal and professional success—on the basis of prior experience confirmed by means of an extensive personal interview. Because EUCLID was established to serve active diplomats and other government officials, it is expected that these professional skills will have been acquired and demonstrated in the course of the applicant’s career. In some cases, EUCLID may propose specific courses (which may not even be listed as electives) in order to bring inter-personal skills (including public speaking) to the executive level. Upon completion of the program, every student is expected to have become a subject-matter expert in a policy-relevant sustainability issue.

ENROLLMENT SCHEDULE:

EUCLID has ongoing enrollment (intake) for this program. It is acceptable to apply several months in advance but it is recommended to apply 60-40 days in advance. General public slots are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

About the School

EUCLID (Euclid University)

EUCLID is, like the European Central Bank, NATO or the African Union, an international intergovernmental organization (IGO).Washington , + 4 More.

Universities Offering Online Doctorate in Sustainability Degree Programs

  • Antioch University

Antioch University offers a Ph.D. in Environmental Studies. To graduate, students must complete 69 semester hours, including a dissertation.

Those interested in the program must submit an online portfolio with an application, an essay, a resume, official transcripts, 3 letters of recommendation, and a writing sample. Applicants must also complete an admissions interview.

Antioch University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

  • Prescott College

Prescott College offers a Ph.D. in Sustainability Education. Students must complete 72 credit hours through three different phases and a final dissertation to graduate. To be eligible for the program, applicants must submit a list of references, a current resume, official transcripts, and a personal statement.

Prescott College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

  • Saybrook University

Saybrook University offers a Sustainable Social Impact Doctor of Business Administration. Students must complete 51 credit hours to graduate. The program can be completed online and usually takes 3 years to complete. Those interested in the program may apply online through the school’s website. Admission counselors are available to help applicants.

Saybrook University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission.

  • University of Maryland Global Campus

The University of Maryland Global Campus offers an online Doctor of Business Administration program that focuses on sustainability. Students must complete a dissertation to graduate. Those interested in the program must submit official transcripts, a resume, 2 professional references, and a personal statement. A writing sample is optional but encouraged by the program’s admissions department.

The University of Maryland Global Campus is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

  • University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point

The University of Wisconsin—Stevens Point offers a Doctorate in Education in Educational Sustainability. Students must complete 54 credit hours to graduate. The program can typically be completed in 3 years. Applicants may apply online with all post-secondary transcripts, a letter of intent, a resume, and 3 references.

UW-Stevens Point is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Our Global Sustainable Development MPhil/PhD is for those driven to develop innovative approaches to complex challenges of sustainable development. With the support of a supervisory team, you will work on a transdisciplinary project addressing a sustainability challenge.

Through structured training, you will be equipped to integrate methods and perspectives from different academic and practice fields to address current and future sustainable development challenges. In the first year, you will have the opportunity to undertake a core module and establish a personal development plan in collaboration with your supervisors.

Throughout the programme, you will have the opportunity to gain methods training designed to broaden your research approach. Collectively, this training will prepare you to co-produce transformative, transdisciplinary research projects.

We are excited to welcome students with diverse backgrounds and skills to this programme.

Teaching and learning

Students on this course will be trained to have competence in a subject area that spans at least two disciplinary perspectives. You will be trained in transdisciplinary methods, enabling you to draw on skills from multiple disciplines to work effectively and equitably with non-academic partners.

In the first year you will normally be required to study one core module, ‘Global Challenges and Transdisciplinary Responses’ (20 CATS), equipping you with the core skills and knowledge of key principles of transdisciplinary research on sustainable development.

You will also agree a tailored personal development programme with your supervisors for your first year of training. For instance, your development programme may include taking other postgraduate modules from across the University to develop specific skills required for your research.

You may also decide to take researcher development training courses and workshops facilitated by the University’s Doctoral College as part of your development programme.

Research environment

You will join a community of postgraduate students and early career researchers in global sustainable development. IGSD is Warwick’s hub for transdisciplinary research on global sustainable development, committed to tackling global challenges and enabling transformative change of human-environment interactions.

Throughout your degree you will be encouraged to engage actively in research activities by forming reading groups, participating in workshops and guest lectures, and taking part in IGSD’s annual conference.

You will have opportunities to engage with research across the University, including research led by Warwick’s Global Research Priorities and other cross-cutting research centres across the University, such as the Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies (CIM), the Warwick Institute for the Science of Cities (WISC), the Warwick Interdisciplinary Research Centre for International Development (WICID), and the Centre for Digital Inquiry (CDI).

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

2:i undergraduate degree and a Master’s (or equivalent) in a related subject.

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirements. This course requires the following:

  • Band B
  • IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements page.

Additional requirements

There are no additional requirements for this course.

DPhil in Sustainable Urban Development

Oxford University

The Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in Sustainable Urban Development is a part-time doctoral programme that provides outstanding students an opportunity to pursue in-depth and rigorous research about the pressing challenges of urban sustainability and the processes of environmental, economic, and social development in urban environments around the world. 

Students admitted to the programme are usually motivated to undertake detailed research in preparation for an academic career and other research-intensive occupations; to have a substantial impact on future policy-making processes; or to pursue and/or advance their professional career at organisations and institutions operating in the field of sustainable urban development. The course provides support and an intellectual environment by leading scholars in the field to pursue your own independent research.

Pattern of teaching and learning

This is a part-time DPhil programme, taken over a minimum of four years and a maximum of eight years.

You are required to have a good general knowledge of the field within which research falls and of the methods appropriate to the study of this field. Throughout the period of study, you will be part of a thriving international graduate community of students engaged with sustainable urban development, including students on the part-time MSc in Sustainable Urban Development.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Department for Continuing Education and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Department for Continuing Education.

Students admitted to this degree will conduct their own research under the guidance of a University supervisor, who will advise on all aspects of training, development and academic progress. In being admitted to the degree you must be prepared to work independently a good deal, and you will need considerable personal motivation.

In the case of students admitted to the DPhil who require specific help to adjust to an academic programme or to a new range of skills, the supervisor will work with them to ensure that they have additional support.

Students on the DPhil are required to attend a minimum of 30 days of university-based work each year for the duration of your studies, usually that involves meeting their supervisor once a term.

Assessment

You will be admitted initially as a Probationary Research Student (PRS), in line with University regulations on doctorates. During the probationary period, you will develop and begin work on the thesis topic. You will develop research skills through a range of training and skills development primarily offered via the Department for Continuing Education Graduate School, as well as across the University.

Students must apply for a Transfer of Status from PRS to DPhil status between the sixth and the eighth academic term after admission, each academic year at Oxford having three terms. This involves the submission of a piece of written work that is examined by two assessors, neither of whom will be your supervisors. This process is to ensure that your work is of potential DPhil quality and that the methodology of the research is appropriate and feasible. Upon successful completion of the Transfer of Status, you would usually undertake a period of primary fieldwork/data collection over one to two years.

You will also be required to apply for a Confirmation of Status as DPhil sometime between the twelfth and eighteenth term after admission. This will also involve the submission of a piece of written work that is assessed by two assessors, neither of whom will be your supervisors. The Confirmation of Status assessment is different to the Transfer of Status assessment as the assessors will be focusing on how the research is progressing, the quality of the draft chapters/papers, and on the plan for completion. The assessors will be looking to ensure that you are making the appropriate amount of progress in the development of your thesis, so that thesis submission will be achieved within the time limit.

You will be expected to submit a substantive academic thesis of around 100,000 words after the eighteenth or, at most, twenty-fourth term from the date of admission. To be successfully awarded a DPhil in Sustainable Urban Development you will need to defend your thesis orally (viva voce) in front of two appointed examiners.

Graduate destinations

It is expected that students will already be in employment, working within some area related to urban development. The DPhil may enhance professional practice, career prospects and help secure promotions and other opportunities.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made in circumstances of a pandemic (including Covid-19), epidemic or local health emergency. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.

Other courses you may wish to consider

If you’re thinking about applying for this course, you may also wish to consider the courses listed below. These courses may have been suggested due to their similarity with this course, or because they are offered by the same department or faculty.

Courses suggested by the department

Sustainable Urban Development MSc

All graduate courses in the social sciences offered by this department

Applied Landscape Archaeology MSc

Archaeology DPhil

Diplomatic Studies MSt

Diplomatic Studies PGDip

Sustainable Urban Development MSc

Sustainable Urban Development DPhil

Sustainability

University of Surrey

The University of Surrey is a global community of ideas and people, dedicated to life-changing education and research. An international outlook is at the heart of the University’s mission to solve global challenges, lead research and innovation.

The Sustainability programme at the University of Surrey allows you to pursue research studies at doctoral level while gaining invaluable research experience in a prestigious organisation external to the University, enabling you to apply your knowledge to real-life sustainability issues.

Environment and Sustainability PhD research course | University of Surrey

phd sustainable development harvard

Harvard’s Sustainability Science Program harnesses the University’s strengths to promote the design of institutions, policies, and practices that support sustainable development. The Program addresses the challenge of sustainable development by:

  • advancing scientific understanding of human-environment systems;
  • improving linkages between research and policy communities; and
  • building capacity for linking knowledge with action to promote sustainability.

The Program supports major initiatives in policy-relevant research, faculty research, training of students and fellows, teaching, and outreach.

Degree Programs in Sustainability Science

The Sustainability Science Program does not offer a degree program. Students interested in sustainability science are encouraged to pursue this work within relevant schools and departments at Harvard. Our host institution, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, offers a variety of doctoral and masters degree programs. An undergraduate concentration in Environmental Sciences and Public Policy is also available. As an indication of the range of topics studied by HKS students, and the faculty who advise them, we provide here a list of student theses that focus on environment and development concerns: doctoral dissertations, HKS Master in Public Administration in International Development “Second Year Paper Analyses”, and HKS Master in Public Policy “Policy Analysis Exercises.” A listing of faculty interested in the broad areas of environment and development are available on the web sites of the Sustainability Science Program and the Harvard University Center for the Environment. While the Sustainability Science Program does not offer any courses, course links are provided to help with your search.

The Sustainability Science Fellows Program is an international competition to bring younger professionals, including in particular senior doctoral and post-doctoral students, to Harvard’s Center for International Development as well as a practitioner fellowships for individuals in governmental, non-governmental or private organizations with at least five years of professional experience doing work involved in linking science and practice for sustainable development. Fellows generally reside at Harvard for one year. Students enrolled in any of these programs are invited to participate in many of the seminars and other events organized by the Sustainability Science Program.

A list of sustainability science programs and a 2007 survey of programs is available from the American Association for the Advancement of Science. It provides a snapshot of a wide range of programs from across the globe that approach sustainability from the perspective of science, technology, and innovation, and the survey describes these programs’ structures, goals, and their respective challenges and successes. A 2009 survey of sustainability science in Europe is also available. The journal, Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy, provides a database of educational institutions offering degree granting sustainability programs generally, not just sustainability science.

What’s New

  •  Videos showcasing 40 speed talks from Boston-area research at the nexus of food, agriculture, health, environment, and society are now available on the Global Food+ website.  Held in February and March, Global Food+ 2021 was a joint webinar series run by researchers at Boston University, Harvard, MIT, and Tufts.
  • Videos and meeting materials  are now available for  the virtual public workshop, “Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities for Sustainability Science” which was convened by The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine November-December 2020 and co-chaired by SSP’s Bill Clark with Prof. Pamela Matson of Stanford University.  
  • New book Resetting the Table: Straight Talk About the Food We Grow and Eat by Robert Paarlberg (Research Associate ’21) noted as New & Noteworthy by New York Times (2/21)
  • Clark and Harley on Sustainability science: Toward a synthesis in Annual Review of Environment and Resources (10/20)
  • SustainabilityScience.org launch with dynamic Research Guide (9/11)
  • Book release by Blal Aden Esmail and Davide Geneletti (Fellow ’11), Ecosystem Services for Urban Water Security: Concepts and Applications in Sub-Saharan Africa. SpringerBriefs in Geography (Cham: Springer International Publishing) (5/18)
  • Prof. Ray Goldberg discusses  the impact of climate change on agriculture throughout history, using food as medicine, the pros/cons of GMOs, and business model innovations some consumer brands are implementing to improve the profitability and financial resilience of their farmers in developing countries on the podcast Agriculture Adapts by ClimateAi: The Father of Agribusiness: 60+ Years of Catalyzing Progress in Global Food Systems (4/23)
  • Molly Leavens (Goldberg Fellow ’17; College ’20) featured in Crimson’s  “Fifteen Most Interesting Seniors” [Profile] (12/12)
  • Seminar hosted on Deliberation Improves Collective Decision-Making: Experimental Evidence from Kenya, Tara Grillos, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Purdue University [Paper] (11/14)
  • Workshop on Transformation of Coupled Social-ecological and Socio-technical Systems: Defining the Contours of an Integrative Research Agenda cosponsored by the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG) and SSP in Kastanienbaum, Switzerland. The event was organized by Christian Binz (EAWAG; Ruffolo Fellow ’15), Alicia Harley (Harvard/SSP; Ruffolo Fellow), Helene Ahlborg (Univ. Gothenburg) and Manuel Fischer (EAWAG) (5/6-8)  
Doctoral Programs | Harvard Kennedy School

phd in sustainable development uk

MPhil/PhD in Global Sustainable Development (2022 Entry)

Our MPhil/PhD in Global Sustainable Development (GSD) offers you the opportunity to cross disciplinary boundaries to address complex challenges of global sustainable development. Working with experts from Warwick’s GSD Department and the Institute for Global Sustainable Development (IGSD), you will deliver impactful, lasting sustainable development research.

Course overview

There is a global need for researchers who are skilled in challenge-led, transdisciplinary methods to help close knowledge gaps around research and practice related to the sustainability of human-environment interactions.

Our Global Sustainable Development MPhil/PhD is for those driven to develop innovative approaches to complex challenges of sustainable development. With the support of a supervisory team, you will work on a transdisciplinary project addressing a sustainability challenge.

Through structured training, you will be equipped to integrate methods and perspectives from different academic and practice fields to address current and future sustainable development challenges. In the first year, you will have the opportunity to undertake a core module and establish a personal development plan in collaboration with your supervisors.

Throughout the programme, you will have the opportunity to gain methods training designed to broaden your research approach. Collectively, this training will prepare you to co-produce transformative, transdisciplinary research projects.

We are excited to welcome students with diverse backgrounds and skills to this programme.

Teaching and learning

Students on this course will be trained to have competence in a subject area that spans at least two disciplinary perspectives. You will be trained in transdisciplinary methods, enabling you to draw on skills from multiple disciplines to work effectively and equitably with non-academic partners.

In the first year you will normally be required to study one core module, ‘Global Challenges and Transdisciplinary Responses’ (20 CATS), equipping you with the core skills and knowledge of key principles of transdisciplinary research on sustainable development.

You will also agree a tailored personal development programme with your supervisors for your first year of training. For instance, your development programme may include taking other postgraduate modules from across the University to develop specific skills required for your research.

You may also decide to take researcher development training courses and workshops facilitated by the University’s Doctoral College as part of your development programme.

Research environment

You will join a community of postgraduate students and early career researchers in global sustainable development. IGSD is Warwick’s hub for transdisciplinary research on global sustainable development, committed to tackling global challenges and enabling transformative change of human-environment interactions.

Throughout your degree you will be encouraged to engage actively in research activities by forming reading groups, participating in workshops and guest lectures, and taking part in IGSD’s annual conference.

You will have opportunities to engage with research across the University, including research led by Warwick’s Global Research Priorities and other cross-cutting research centres across the University, such as the Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies (CIM), the Warwick Institute for the Science of Cities (WISC), the Warwick Interdisciplinary Research Centre for International Development (WICID), and the Centre for Digital Inquiry (CDI).

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

2:i undergraduate degree and a Master’s (or equivalent) in a related subject.

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirements. This course requires the following:

  • Band B
  • IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements page.

Additional requirements

There are no additional requirements for this course.

DPhil in Sustainable Urban Development

Oxford University

The Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in Sustainable Urban Development is a part-time doctoral programme that provides outstanding students an opportunity to pursue in-depth and rigorous research about the pressing challenges of urban sustainability and the processes of environmental, economic, and social development in urban environments around the world. 

Students admitted to the programme are usually motivated to undertake detailed research in preparation for an academic career and other research-intensive occupations; to have a substantial impact on future policy-making processes; or to pursue and/or advance their professional career at organisations and institutions operating in the field of sustainable urban development. The course provides support and an intellectual environment by leading scholars in the field to pursue your own independent research.

Pattern of teaching and learning

This is a part-time DPhil programme, taken over a minimum of four years and a maximum of eight years.

You are required to have a good general knowledge of the field within which research falls and of the methods appropriate to the study of this field. Throughout the period of study, you will be part of a thriving international graduate community of students engaged with sustainable urban development, including students on the part-time MSc in Sustainable Urban Development.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Department for Continuing Education and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Department for Continuing Education.

Students admitted to this degree will conduct their own research under the guidance of a University supervisor, who will advise on all aspects of training, development and academic progress. In being admitted to the degree you must be prepared to work independently a good deal, and you will need considerable personal motivation.

In the case of students admitted to the DPhil who require specific help to adjust to an academic programme or to a new range of skills, the supervisor will work with them to ensure that they have additional support.

Students on the DPhil are required to attend a minimum of 30 days of university-based work each year for the duration of your studies, usually that involves meeting their supervisor once a term.

Assessment

You will be admitted initially as a Probationary Research Student (PRS), in line with University regulations on doctorates. During the probationary period, you will develop and begin work on the thesis topic. You will develop research skills through a range of training and skills development primarily offered via the Department for Continuing Education Graduate School, as well as across the University.

Students must apply for a Transfer of Status from PRS to DPhil status between the sixth and the eighth academic term after admission, each academic year at Oxford having three terms. This involves the submission of a piece of written work that is examined by two assessors, neither of whom will be your supervisors. This process is to ensure that your work is of potential DPhil quality and that the methodology of the research is appropriate and feasible. Upon successful completion of the Transfer of Status, you would usually undertake a period of primary fieldwork/data collection over one to two years.

You will also be required to apply for a Confirmation of Status as DPhil sometime between the twelfth and eighteenth term after admission. This will also involve the submission of a piece of written work that is assessed by two assessors, neither of whom will be your supervisors. The Confirmation of Status assessment is different to the Transfer of Status assessment as the assessors will be focusing on how the research is progressing, the quality of the draft chapters/papers, and on the plan for completion. The assessors will be looking to ensure that you are making the appropriate amount of progress in the development of your thesis, so that thesis submission will be achieved within the time limit.

You will be expected to submit a substantive academic thesis of around 100,000 words after the eighteenth or, at most, twenty-fourth term from the date of admission. To be successfully awarded a DPhil in Sustainable Urban Development you will need to defend your thesis orally (viva voce) in front of two appointed examiners.

Graduate destinations

It is expected that students will already be in employment, working within some area related to urban development. The DPhil may enhance professional practice, career prospects and help secure promotions and other opportunities.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made in circumstances of a pandemic (including Covid-19), epidemic or local health emergency. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.

Other courses you may wish to consider

If you’re thinking about applying for this course, you may also wish to consider the courses listed below. These courses may have been suggested due to their similarity with this course, or because they are offered by the same department or faculty.

Courses suggested by the department

Sustainable Urban Development MSc

All graduate courses in the social sciences offered by this department

Applied Landscape Archaeology MSc

Archaeology DPhil

Diplomatic Studies MSt

Diplomatic Studies PGDip

Sustainable Urban Development MSc

Sustainable Urban Development DPhil

Sustainability

University of Surrey

The University of Surrey is a global community of ideas and people, dedicated to life-changing education and research. An international outlook is at the heart of the University’s mission to solve global challenges, lead research and innovation.

The Sustainability programme at the University of Surrey allows you to pursue research studies at doctoral level while gaining invaluable research experience in a prestigious organisation external to the University, enabling you to apply your knowledge to real-life sustainability issues.

Environment and Sustainability PhD research course | University of Surrey

phd sustainable development columbia university

The sustainability of development presents some of the most important policy challenges concerning the future of our planet, and it requires an interdisciplinary approach involving the social, natural, engineering, and health sciences. The PhD in Sustainable Development includes a set of rigorous core requirements in the social and natural sciences designed to provide a deep understanding of the interaction between natural and social systems, and provides students with the flexibility to pursue in-depth research in a broad variety of critical policy areas. No other doctoral program produces graduates with the unique combination of diverse skills and deep insight into the most challenging problems of future human welfare. Together with experts and faculty at Columbia, you’ll conduct research in a wide variety of areas, including climate change and its social consequences, causes and solutions to extreme poverty, energy systems, agricultural transitions, water resources, and more.Who It’s For

The PhD program in Sustainable Development is for those looking to pursue rigorous scholarship and research at the boundary between social and natural sciences. Students should have an interest in pursuing academic careers in interdisciplinary graduate and undergraduate programs with a focus on policy and the environment as well as in the more traditional social science disciplines. This degree is also ideal for students interested in a variety of non-academic career paths, including leadership roles in government ministries throughout the world, creating environmental and sustainable development policy for NGOs, in international institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank, or in private firms engaged in environmental and development projects.Career Paths

Students have their choice of academic positions as tenure-track professors or post-doctoral fellows, as well as high-level positions in non-academic fields, such as the private or NGO sector, government, or finance, for example.

CURRICULUM

Students in the first two years of the program generally take a total of 60 credits in the areas of sustainable development, economics, qualitative analysis, natural sciences, and social science. This is followed by the planning and execution of research. In the third and fourth years, students may take electives as needed for ongoing research and preparation for the oral exam. The fifth year is highlighted by the dissertation defense.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Admission to the PhD program is processed by the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS); please refer to their website for basic admission requirements.

The PhD program requires the following:

  • Strong background in social science, including four courses in college-level social science with a minimum of two economics courses
  • Quantitative skills, including at least two courses in college-level calculus through multivariate calculus (Calculus III in the US) and at least one college-level course in linear algebra
  • Three or more college-level courses in natural science or engineering

TUITION & FEES

Full-tuition fellowships with stipends are available for all admitted students who are not already sponsored by their governments, employers, or a foundation.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Students must complete the following as part of this program.

  • At least 60 overall credits
  • Completion of an MA thesis
  • Completion of a dissertation prospectus and oral examination for the MPhil
  • Six semesters of teaching or research fellowships assignments
  • Defense of dissertation

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

  1. Complete the GSAS deposit application and pay the $85 processing fee;
  2. Submit the required Survey of Earned Doctorates online;
  3. Upload and submit a PDF copy of your dissertation;
  4. 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:

  1. 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.
  2.  Any member of the University community or other interested parties can attend the first part of the thesis defense.
  3. Questions following the initial presentation are permitted for a maximum of 10 minutes.
  4. 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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.)
  5. 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/)
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.)

Given that a large part of the program’s curriculum is dedicated to a unique set of required core courses, credit for previous work is very rarely granted. However, credit for previous graduate work done elsewhere, at a GPA of 3.5 or higher, may be granted on a case-by-case basis and at the discretion of the program directors after a student has been admitted to the program, and cannot exceed a total of 30 credits.

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

  • Official Transcripts
  • GRE Test Scores (should you have access issues due to Covid, please contact the Program Coordinator)
  • TOEFL Scores
  • CV
  • List of and grades received for economics, math and other quantitative coursework
  • Statement of Purpose
  • 3-4 Letters of Recommendation
  • Application Fee

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

TermSectionCall NumberInstructorTimes/Location
Fall 202100116668John MutterT 11:00am – 12:50pm
404 International Affairs Bldg
Fall 2021R0116669T 4:10pm – 6:00pm
501a International Affairs Bldg

SDEV U9200 Sustainable Development I. 1.5 Point.

This course is restricted to PhD in Sustainable Development

TermSectionCall NumberInstructorTimes/Location
Fall 202100116672Douglas AlmondM 4:10pm – 6:00pm
801 International Affairs Bldg
Fall 2021R0116673F 10:00am – 11:30am
823 International Affairs Bldg

SDEV U9201 Sustainable Development II. 1.5 Point.

This course is restricted to PhD in Sustainable Development

TermSectionCall NumberInstructorTimes/Location
Spring 202200110675John MutterM 4:10pm – 6:00pm
Room TBA
Spring 2022R0110676F 10:00am – 11:30am
Room TBA

SDEV U9240 Human Ecology & Sustainable Development. 3.00 Points.

Category: EPD, 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

TermSectionCall NumberInstructorTimes/Location
Spring 202200114919Jeffrey ShraderT 11:00am – 12:50pm
Room TBA
Spring 2022R0114920W 2:10pm – 4:00pm
Room TBA

SDEV U9245 Environment & Resource Economics. 3 Points.

The goal of this course is to introduce you to the basic concepts of natural resource and environmental economics in about 14 weeks. It should hence be seen as a survey class that introduces the basic ideas of the field. Prerequisites: Graduate level classes in micro-economics and econometrics as well as some knowledge of optimal control theory. Furthermore, you should know the basic commands in STATA and either MATLAB or R (for some of the problem sets, but they are easy to learn).

TermSectionCall NumberInstructorTimes/Location
Fall 202100116674Wolfram SchlenkerTh 2:10pm – 4:00pm
823 International Affairs Bldg

SDEV U9248 Collective Action for Global Sustainable Development. 3 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.

TermSectionCall NumberInstructorTimes/Location
Fall 202100116675Scott BarrettW 2:10pm – 4:00pm
801 International Affairs Bldg

ECON GR6211 Microeconomic Analysis I. 4 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.

Fall 2021: ECON GR6211
Course NumberSection/Call NumberTimes/LocationInstructorPointsEnrollment
ECON 6211001/10900T Th 2:40pm – 3:55pm
703 Hamilton Hall
Evan Sadler, Pierre-Andre Chiappori424/50

ECON GR6212 Microeconomic Analysis II. 4 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.

Spring 2022: ECON GR6212
Course NumberSection/Call NumberTimes/LocationInstructorPointsEnrollment
ECON 6212001/15459M W 8:40am – 9:55am
Room TBA
Yeon-Koo Che, Elliot Lipnowski40/45

ECON GR6411 Introduction To Econometrics I. 4 points.

Corequisites: ECON G6410 and the director of graduate studies’ permission.

Introduction to probability theory and statistical inference.

Fall 2021: ECON GR6411
Course NumberSection/Call NumberTimes/LocationInstructorPointsEnrollment
ECON 6411001/10928M W 1:10pm – 2:25pm
520 Mathematics Building
Simon Lee, José Montiel Olea423/45

ECON GR6412 Introduction To Econometrics II. 4 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.

Spring 2022: ECON GR6412
Course NumberSection/Call NumberTimes/LocationInstructorPointsEnrollment
ECON 6412001/14681T Th 8:40am – 9:55am
227 Seeley W. Mudd Building
Bernard Salanie, Serena Ng40/45

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