About

The Designated Emphasis in Development Engineering (DE in DevEng) equips UC Berkeley PhD students with interdisciplinary training to design, pilot, and assess technological interventions that support human and economic development in complex, low-resource settings. Open to doctoral students from any department across campus, the program is ideal for those whose dissertation research explores how technology can be applied to address pressing global challenges with and within underserved communities.

Through a combination of coursework, research mentoring, and professional development, students gain the tools and frameworks needed to work effectively at the intersection of technology, policy, and development practice.

Supported by USAID’s Global Development Lab, the DE in DevEng builds on Berkeley’s strengths in areas such as technological innovation, human-centered design, development economics, remote sensing, data science, and impact evaluation. Currently, the program also includes a fellowship opportunity in the Digital Transformation of Development (DToD).

Through the Graduate Group in Development Engineering, participants join a thriving community of scholars and practitioners—and gain access to a global network of partners and alumni dedicated to turning research into transformative, on-the-ground solutions.

What is a Designated Emphasis? A Designated Emphasis (DE) is an official UC Berkeley credential that allows doctoral students to gain advanced training and recognition in a specialized area outside their home department. The DE is noted on the doctoral diploma and transcript.