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4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program
Illinois Institute of TechnologyA quantitative and policy-focused major addressing economic and social challenges in a global development context. Ideal for work with international organizations, NGOs, or development agencies.
Curriculum Structure
Years 1–2: Core Foundations
Principles of economics and quantitative methods
Intro to international development and public policy
Statistics and economic modeling
Years 3–4: Development Policy Focus
Poverty, inequality, and impact evaluation
Project design, management, and field methods
Electives in gender, health, education policy
Capstone practicum or international internship
Focus Areas
Development economics and policy evaluation
Evidence-based program design
Quantitative and field research skills
Learning Outcomes
Assess social and economic development strategies
Design and evaluate effective programs with data
Prepare for international development careers or graduate studies
Accreditation & Reputation
Accredited by HLC; housed in College of Science and Letters; known for applied technical approaches to policy and development
Focused on tackling global poverty, inequality, and sustainable growth through a policy and data lens.
Experiential learning includes:
Work with real-world development datasets and case studies, using tools like R, SPSS, and STATA.
Capstone projects in collaboration with NGOs and international development organizations.
Fieldwork components and partnerships with urban policy labs and IIT’s Institute for Food Safety and Health.
Research assistantships and student fellowships for international-focused policy analysis.
Participation in conferences on sustainable development and public policy.
This unique, interdisciplinary program focuses on creating sustainable, inclusive development across global contexts. It prepares students to become development specialists, NGO program officers, international policy researchers, or social impact consultants. Illinois Tech equips you with the tools to make a global difference:
The Career Services team offers internship connections with NGOs, government agencies, and international organizations, plus personalized coaching for policy-focused roles.
Graduates enter high-impact careers in global development, international nonprofits, or policy institutes, with starting salaries typically ranging from $50,000 to $65,000 depending on role and region.
Illinois Tech’s urban Chicago location and partnerships with organizations such as UN Habitat, USAID, and World Chicago give students rich internship and networking opportunities.
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the program offers long-term value and credibility for public, nonprofit, and academic career paths.
Courses combine economics, political science, urban planning, and data analysis—emphasizing hands-on problem-solving for real-world global challenges.
Further Academic Progression:
Graduates are well-positioned to pursue master’s programs in Development Studies, Public Policy (MPP), Global Affairs, or Urban Planning, and many continue into international law or doctoral research in development economics.
Counselor/Teacher Evaluation, Letter of recommendation, High school/Secondary school transcripts, Either the SAT I or ACT test scores, TOEFL or IELTS score report.Development Policy Analyst – Evaluate and design policies to reduce poverty and boost growthNGO Program Officer – Manage economic development projects in underserved regionsSustainability Advisor – Align development goals with economic and environmental planningHumanitarian Policy Analyst – Assess international aid strategies through an economic lens
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