Social change is no longer a niche concern, it is a core responsibility for engineers across every sector. As organizations of all kinds work to transform society, they increasingly need engineers who can understand not only the technology they build, but also the social systems, power dynamics, and lived realities surrounding their work. Yet traditional engineering education rarely prepares students to integrate social impact thinking from the very beginning of the design process.
UC Berkeley has pioneered a new field—Development Engineering—to bridge this gap. Development Engineering is a truly transdisciplinary approach that blends deep technological training with insights from economics, entrepreneurship, public policy, design, and the social sciences. Students learn to design, build, and scale technological solutions that are grounded in real-world contexts and tailored to the needs of communities, particularly those historically left out of systems of opportunity.
Although the field originated in work with low-resource settings globally, Development Engineering prepares practitioners to address urgent societal challenges anywhere—across the United States and around the world. Whether in social enterprises, small startups, large corporations, nonprofits, or government agencies, DevEng graduates bring a unique skill set that is increasingly essential: the ability to build technology that is not only innovative, but just, sustainable, and socially informed.
UC Berkeley’s Master of Development Engineering (MDevEng) is a 3-semester, in-person program that trains students to become the engineers that today’s world requires. Through a rigorous curriculum that integrates engineering methodology, design thinking, and social impact frameworks, students gain both the technical depth and transdisciplinary fluency needed to work effectively across sectors.
Graduates are prepared to become intrapreneurs, entrepreneurs, social-impact leaders, and engineers who can navigate—and help reshape—the complex intersections of technology and society. In a moment when the world urgently needs engineers who understand the broader implications of their work, Development Engineering offers a pathway to meaningful, transformative careers.
Why Choose MDevEng?
World Impact from #1 Public university: Work directly with community partners and Berkeley faculty on hands-on projects, coursework, and internships that tackle real-world challenges.
Collaborative Environment: Join a diverse, mission-driven cohort committed to advancing social change through technology.
Study at the Center of Innovation: Benefit from Berkeley’s global reputation and its location in the San Francisco Bay Area, home to world-leading tech, social enterprises, and impact organizations.
Customize Your Expertise: Deepen your skills through one of five concentration areas—or design your own.
- AI & Data Analytics for Social Impact
- Energy, Water & Environment
- Sustainable Design Innovations
- Healthcare Transformations
- Community-Based Ecosystem Stewardship
- Self-Designed Concentration (for pathways beyond these areas)
How to Apply
Applications are now open. Fellowship awards will be determined through the application process.
Deadline: Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
Schedule a meeting with an academic advisor at your convenience to learn more about the program or get your application reviewed.
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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.’”
