Social change has become a critical goal for engineers more than ever before. But how can engineers be trained to integrate social impact into their technologies from the very start of the design process? UC Berkeley has pioneered a new field called “Development Engineering,” which combines engineering principles with economics, entrepreneurship, design, business, natural resources, and social science. The aim is to develop technological interventions that are tailored to and beneficial for individuals living in low-resource settings. While these settings are often associated with “developing” or “low-income” countries, Development Engineering equips practitioners to address societal challenges wherever they exist, in the USA and globally.
Applications are now open! Impact Fellowship Deadline: January 12, 2025. Final application deadline: March 4, 2025.
UC Berkeley’s Master of Development Engineering (MDevEng) is a groundbreaking 3-semester, in-person program designed to equip professionals with the skills to create scalable, technology-driven solutions for complex societal challenges both globally and locally.
This interdisciplinary program combines design thinking, engineering methodology, and social impact to prepare students for impactful careers as intrapreneurs, entrepreneurs, nonprofit changemakers, or government leaders.
Why Choose MDevEng?
- World Impact: Gain hands-on experience addressing on-the-ground challenges through projects, coursework and internship guided by community partners and Berkeley’s world-class faculty.
- Collaborative Environment: Join a diverse cohort of peers passionate about driving social change through technology.
- Strategic Location: Study in the heart of California’s Bay Area, surrounded by innovation hubs and opportunities for collaboration.
- Tailored Expertise: Choose from five concentration areas and over 100 courses across campus departments to deepen your skills and align with your career goals:
- AI/Data Analytics for Social Impact
- Energy, Water, & the Environment
- Sustainable Design Innovations
- Healthcare Transformations
- If your career goals don’t align with these paths, choose the Self-Designed Concentration.
How to Apply
Schedule a meeting with an academic advisor at your convenience to learn more about the program or get your application reviewed.
Not Ready for a Master’s Degree?
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“This program has taught me that there’s way more than just solving problems using engineering toolkits. There’s more intricacies, there’s more context. We need to be considerate when we’re trying to so-called ‘solve a problem” – Pun Praphanphoj, Class of 2023, Engineer at Good Machine Studio
Development Engineering Professor Dr. Amy Pickering works in Kenya on a chlorine water doser developed in her lab with students at Berkeley.
“A development engineer asks more questions about who the technologies are for, where they are going to be implemented, and what kind of environmental and political situations are going to surround these technologies” – Rachel Dersch, Class of 2023, Engineer at the California Public Advocates Office
