PhD in Sociology - Economic Change and Development in Madison United States | University of Wisconsin-Madison

The SECD program explores the political economy of global inequality, analyzing how corporations, governments, international organizations, activist groups, and ecological factors shape uneven development. Connections between SECD and other Sociology Department initiatives prove particularly valuable. Numerous students have secured funding from institutions like the Social Science Research Council and private philanthropies for preliminary research and doctoral fieldwork. Foundational courses introduce key concepts about developmental disparities, their societal and population foundations, and essential research techniques. Core seminars examine principal theories of international political economy and major scholarly discussions. Advanced seminars enable focused investigation of specialized topics, including regional case studies. Professors collaborate with various University of Wisconsin research centers (focusing on Latin America/Iberia, Africa, Asian languages/cultures, Southeast Asia, East Asia, Europe, land tenure, development studies, international labor relations, and global studies initiatives).