Overview
The Sustainable Development Policy, Economics, and Governance (SDPEG) Ph.D. program offers a transdisciplinary doctoral education in the policies, practices and theories of sustainable development. By offering a core curriculum that includes applied policy and economic analysis, governance and process design, social science methods, and professional skills development, the program produces graduates capable of conducting original, applied research that is designed to support sustainability and resiliency across social, ecological, and technical systems.
This degree will prepare students to assume positions as policy leaders in government, higher education, public and private sector organizations, non-governmental organizations, and research institutes with the expertise and vision to inform local, state, national, and international policy.
Degrees
Sustainable Development Policy, Economics, and Governance Ph.D.
Aiyar, Anaka; Assistant Professor, Department of Community Development and Applied Economics; PhD, University of California-Riverside
Ament, Joseph; Assistant Professor, Department of Community Development and Applied Economics; PhD, University of Vermont
Barsky, Christina Sara; Associate Professor, Department of Community Development and Applied Economics; PHD, Northern Arizona University
Beckage, Brian; Professor, Department of Plant Biology; PHD, Duke University
Bose, Pablo; Associate Professor, Department of Geography; PHD, York University
Conner, David S.; Professor, Department of Community Development and Applied Economics; PHD, Cornell University
Doran, Elizabeth; Research Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; PHD, Duke University
Farley, Joshua C.; Professor, Department of Community Development and Applied Economics; PHD, Cornell University
Gleason, Kelsey; Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine-Public Health; SCD, Harvard University
Hatanaka, Maki; Associate Professor, Department of Sociology; PHD, Michigan State University
Heiss, Sarah Noel; Associate Professor, Department of Community Development and Applied Economics; PHD, Ohio University
Koliba, Christopher J.; Professor Emeritus, Department of Community Development and Applied Economics; PHD, Syracuse University
Konefal, Jason; Professor, Department of Community Development and Applied Economics; PHD, Michigan State University
Mays, Kate; Assistant Professor, Department of Community Development and Applied Economics; PhD, Boston University
McMahon, Edward; Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Community Development and Applied Economics; EDD, University of Vermont
Ramirez-Harrington, Donna; Associate Professor, Department of Economics; PHD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Reynolds, Travis; Assistant Professor, Department of Community Development and Applied Economics; PHD, University of Washington
Rowangould, Dana; Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; PHD, University of California, Davis
Rowangould, Gregory; Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; PHD, University of California, Davis
Seguino, Stephanie; Professor Emerita, Department of Economics; PHD, American University
Shrum, Trisha R.; Assistant Professor; Department of Community Development and Applied Economics; PHD, Harvard University – John F. Kennedy School of Government
Tobin, Daniel; Associate Professor, Department of Community Development and Applied Economics; PHD, Pennsylvania State University
Wang, Qingbin; Professor, Department of Community Development and Applied Economics; PHD, Iowa State University
Zia, Asim; Professor, Department of Community Development and Applied Economics; PHD, Georgia Institute of Technology
Community Development & Applied Economics Courses
CDAE 5990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
CDAE 6210. Econ of Sustainable Food Syst. 3 Credits.
Utilizes common economic tools, ideas and applications to analyze issues concerning the sustainability of food using a combination of readings, lectures and discussions. Cross-listed with: FS 6210.
CDAE 6260. Community Economic Development. 3 Credits.
Examines how rural and urban communities address poverty, unemployment and other economic problems through job creation and retention, workforce training and support, and other development strategies. Cross-listed with: PA 6260.
CDAE 6350. Qualitative Research Methods. 3 Credits.
Provides an overview of qualitative research methods and an opportunity to apply such research methods for topics focusing on food systems and health. Cross-listed with: FS 6350.
CDAE 6391. Master's Thesis Research. 1-18 Credits.
Research for the Master's Thesis.
CDAE 6510. Research & Evaluation Methods. 0 or 3 Credits.
Conceptualization, collection and analysis of primary and secondary data; interpretation, and communication of results of applied research and/or evaluation studies for decision makers. Separate lab required. Prerequisite: Three hours of Statistics. Cross-listed with: PA 6030.
CDAE 6540. Advanced Microeconomics. 3 Credits.
Principles and applications of advanced microeconomics: consumer and market demand, firm and market supply, perfect and imperfect markets, partial and general equilibrium, and policy analysis.
CDAE 6590. Applied Econometrics. 3 Credits.
Presents common econometric methods to perform regression analysis on empirical data. Upon completion, students will understand and apply econometric methods to conduct rigorous regression analysis. Students will also better read, interpret and discern research papers' quality using econometric methods.
CDAE 6760. Inclusive ScienceCommunication. 3 Credits.
Advanced exploration, application of science communication theories, contexts, practices with a focus on inclusion, equity, and intersectionality. Examine the relationship between science and society while learning communication skills that promote respect and shared understandings of science among researchers, extension professionals, journalists, public relations specialists, policy officials, and public.
CDAE 6920. Graduate Seminars. 1 Credit.
Report and discuss research projects and findings of Graduate students and faculty, and offer workshops on selected topics in community development and applied economics. May enroll more than once for up to three credits.
CDAE 6990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
Lectures or readings on contemporary issues in Community Development & Applied Economics.
CDAE 6991. Internship. 1-18 Credits.
On-site supervised work experience combined with a structured academic learning plan directed by a faculty member or a faculty-staff team in which a faculty member is the instructor of record, for which academic credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
CDAE 6993. Independent Study. 1-18 Credits.
A course which is tailored to fit the interests of a specific student, which occurs outside the traditional classroom/laboratory setting under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
CDAE 6995. Graduate Independent Research. 1-18 Credits.
Graduate student work on individual or small team research projects under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
CDAE 7000. Sustainable Dev PEG Doc Sem. 1 Credit.
Focus will rotate among three main themes: project resource development skills and techniques (e.g. grant writing and management); stakeholder engagement; and dissertation proposal preparation. Prerequisite: Sustainable Development Policy, Economics, & Governance Doctoral student.
CDAE 7491. Doctoral Dissertation Research. 1-18 Credits.
Research for the Doctoral Dissertation.
CDAE 7700. Political Econ of Sustain Dev. 3 Credits.
Introduction to the political economy of sustainable development from the theoretical perspective of complex adaptive socio-ecological systems. Political economy assesses relationships between the state, market, and civil society to understand how humans satisfy their material needs (human provisioning) through interaction with their social and natural environments.
CDAE 7710. Sustain Dev Policy & Gov. 3 Credits.
History, evolution and foundations of sustainable development policy at multiple levels of governance, ranging from the United Nations to local communities/cities. Learn about analyzing/evaluating wide range of sustainable development policies. Emphasis on understanding complex system dynamics modeling and adaptive management approaches to address sustainable development challenges.
CDAE 7990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
CDAE 7991. Internship. 1-18 Credits.
On-site supervised work experience combined with a structured academic learning plan directed by a faculty member or a faculty-staff team in which a faculty member is the instructor of record, for which academic credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
CDAE 7993. Independent Study. 1-18 Credits.
A course which is tailored to fit the interests of a specific student, which occurs outside the traditional classroom/laboratory setting under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
CDAE 7995. Graduate Independent Research. 1-18 Credits.
Graduate student work on individual or small team research projects under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
Public Administration Courses
PA 5990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
Current issues and new developments in public policy and public administration. Prerequisite: Permission.
PA 6010. Foundations of Public Admin. 3 Credits.
Survey of major elements of management in the public and nonprofit sectors with special attention given to problems arising from political imperatives generated by a democratic society.
PA 6020. Org Theory & Behavior. 3 Credits.
Examination of basic classical and contemporary theory, research on human relations, internal structures, environments, types, diverse workplaces, general properties of complex organizations and bureaucracies.
PA 6030. Research & Evaluation Methods. 0 or 3 Credits.
Conceptualization, collection and analysis of primary and secondary data; interpretation, and communication of results of applied research and/or evaluation studies for decision makers. Prerequisite: Three hours of Statistics. Cross-listed with: CDAE 6510.
PA 6050. Public and Nonprofit Budgeting. 3 Credits.
A focus on the budget as the primary policy and planning document in public and nonprofit organizations.
PA 6060. Policy Systems. 3 Credits.
The study and application of system-level public policy frameworks, theories and models to contemporary policy problems and solutions.
PA 6070. Administrative Ethics. 3 Credits.
Administrative behavior with a focus on ethical dilemmas that arise in the bureaucracy. An examination of a number of moral issues and ways to resolve them.
PA 6080. Decision Making Models. 3 Credits.
Explores and analyzes normative, descriptive and prescriptive decision making models. Focuses on systems-level thinking to impart problem-solving skills in complex decision-making contexts. Emphasis placed on imparting cutting edge skills, enabling students to design and implement multiple criteria decision analysis models.
PA 6110. Policy Analysis&Program Eval. 3 Credits.
A seminar providing hands-on knowledge in policy analysis and program evaluation using case studies of current analysis projects and problems. Specific techniques include planning, survey administration, forecasting, cost benefit analysis, and impact assessment.
PA 6170. Systems Anly & Strategic Mgmt. 3 Credits.
Students will be introduced to systems thinking and network dynamics with a particular focus on managing across organizational and sectoral boundaries, including public-private partnerships, intergovernmental arrangements, and strategic alliances. Tools to undertake strategic analysis and planning will be explored.
PA 6230. Non-Profit Administration. 3 Credits.
Course reviews the history of, and managerial challenges inherent to, the non-profit sector in the United States and explores sector's relationship to the governmental and business sectors.
PA 6260. Community Economic Development. 3 Credits.
Examines how rural and urban communities address poverty, unemployment and other economic problems through job creation and retention, workforce training and support, and other development strategies. Cross-listed with: CDAE 6260.
PA 6391. Master's Thesis Research. 1-6 Credits.
Research for the Master's Thesis. Thesis topic must be approved by faculty advisor.
PA 6750. Public Administration Capstone. 3 Credits.
The Capstone is designed to provide Master of Public Administration students with a summative experience that ties learning competencies to evidence drawn from their course of study. Pre/co-requisites: Core Master of Public Administration courses either prior to Spring semester or simultaneously.
PA 6990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
For advanced students within areas of expertise of the faculty. Varied course offerings. Contemporary topics. Instructor Permission.
PA 6991. Internship. 3-6 Credits.
Supervised administrative experience culminating in a written report.
PA 6993. Independent Study. 1-18 Credits.
A course which is tailored to fit the interests of a specific student, which occurs outside the traditional classroom/laboratory setting under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
PA 6995. Graduate Independent Research. 1-18 Credits.
Graduate student work on individual or small team research projects under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.