About PhD Program,
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.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
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.
The degree for this program is conferred by GSAS, but program specifics, such as admissions, degree requirements, and financial aid, are administered by other schools of the university.
The PhD in Sustainable Development combines a traditional graduate education in the social sciences, particularly economics, with study in the natural sciences and engineering, to prepare scholars who are uniquely situated to undertake serious research and policy assessments in furthering the goal of sustainable development.
Students who are admitted to and enroll in GSAS may request that coursework completed at Columbia or elsewhere be used in partial fulfillment of their GSAS degree requirements, subject to the Transfer Credit policies. Decisions to grant Transfer Credit are made solely by the department and GSAS.
PhD Funding Coverage,
The standard nine-month fellowship stipend for the 2024-2025 academic year is $35,353.
All admitted students are guaranteed full funding for six years. This includes the cost of tuition as well as a salary and stipend (fall, spring, and summer). More info on salary and stipends can be found on the GSAS Financial Aid page.
Application Requirement,
Resume
Writing Sample:
GRE General:
Letters of recommendation,
Transcripts,
Standardized tests.
Application Deadline,
Dec 12, 2024
Application Fee,
A nonrefundable fee of $120 will be required for the 2025 online application.
