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Studies & Degrees in Social and Economic Development Studies

Social and economic development studies look at how societies and economies change, why some regions and countries grow richer or poorer, and which policies improve living conditions. The field draws on sociology, economics, political science and geography. It works at every scale, from a rural district that is losing population to the relations between rich and poor countries.

Two ideas frame most programmes. The first is that development is more than economic growth. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), whose first Human Development Report appeared in 1990, describes human development as expanding the richness of human life, rather than simply the richness of the economy, and treats income growth as a means to development, not an end in itself. The second is the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015, with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Students learn the main theories of development, the methods of social research (statistics, surveys, interviews, fieldwork), economics for non-specialists, and how public policies and development projects are designed and evaluated.

Qualifications and levels

Few degrees carry this exact name. The content is usually found inside a bachelor's degree in sociology, social sciences or economics, and as a named specialisation at master's level under titles such as development studies or international development cooperation.

  • Bachelor's level. The University of Akureyri in Iceland offers a BA in Social Sciences of 180 ECTS credits over three academic years, taught in Icelandic and English. One of its areas of emphasis is Arctic studies, which covers the social, economic, cultural and political aspects of development in the Arctic, including regional development issues; the programme also covers theories of the development of communities. All its undergraduate courses can be followed as flexible courses, without daily attendance on campus. Admission requires the Icelandic matriculation examination or an equivalent qualification.
  • Sociology degrees. At the Universidad de Salamanca the bachelor's degree (grado) in Sociología has 240 ECTS credits and prepares students, among other things, to plan social intervention programmes and to design and evaluate public policies. At the University of Northampton the Sociology BA (Hons) takes three years full-time, or four with an integrated foundation year; the fee listed for new international students in 2026-27 is £17,000.
  • Master's level. The Máster Universitario en Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo is organised jointly by the universities of Burgos, León, Salamanca and Valladolid, which coordinates it. It lasts one academic year (60 ECTS credits): twelve compulsory subjects, five optional subjects, an external placement of 9 ECTS credits and a master's thesis. Teaching is hybrid and in Spanish, and the programme cannot be taken fully online. It offers 40 places, nine of them at the Universidad de Salamanca.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists five schools for this subject: two in Spain and one each in Austria, Iceland and the United Kingdom. They are the Universidad de Salamanca and CIFF, Centro Internacional de Formación Financiera, in Madrid; the University of Graz in Austria; the University of Akureyri in Iceland; and The University of Northampton in England.

Because the name is rare, it helps to search under related subjects as well: sociology, economics, international relations and development cooperation. Compare the list of modules, not the title, and check the language of instruction of each programme.

Careers

Graduates work in international organisations, public administration at local, regional and national level, non-governmental development organisations, consultancy firms that specialise in cooperation, and social research. The Salamanca master's degree names these employers and places its students for their practical training in development NGOs and in regional and local government. The Akureyri degree gives access to graduate studies in sociology, anthropology and political science and in interdisciplinary fields such as development studies.

Jobs with the title of economist usually need a postgraduate degree. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics states that economists typically need at least a master's degree, and projects employment of economists to grow 5 percent from 2025 to 2035. These figures refer to the United States only.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a bachelor's degree in social and economic development?

Rarely under that name. The content is usually part of a degree in sociology, social sciences or economics, such as the BA in Social Sciences at the University of Akureyri, and becomes a named specialisation at master's level.

How long does a master's degree in development cooperation take in Spain?

The Máster Universitario en Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo of the universities of Burgos, León, Salamanca and Valladolid lasts one academic year and has 60 ECTS credits.

Can I study this subject at a distance?

Partly. The University of Akureyri offers all its undergraduate courses as flexible courses with study sessions on campus, and the Salamanca master's degree is hybrid but cannot be taken fully online.

Where do graduates in development studies work?

In international organisations, public administration, development NGOs, specialised consultancy firms and social research.