Offered by the Harris School’s Career Development Office and the International Policy and Development (IPD) program, this course is designed to give you the tools, connections, and clarity to navigate the complex world of international development—and start turning your goals into action.

Industry Insight

Learn about key organizations, sectors, and roles in international development through targeted lectures and in-class discussions.

Career Preparation

Craft a professional resume, sharpen your interview skills, and develop a personalized strategy for internship and job searches.

Professional Networking

Connect directly with practitioners and alumni working in the field through structured networking opportunities.

Who Should Enroll

  • This course is ideal for Harris students interested in careers focused on international development, global policy, humanitarian aid, or multilateral organizations. No prior experience is required—just curiosity, commitment, and a desire to grow.
  • While not required, this course complements the International Policy and Development and Global Conflict Studies specializations.

Course Syllabus

Week

Category

Topic

1

Background

Industry Overview – Learn the landscape & impact of International Development and how Harris students are uniquely positioned to add value in the field.

2

Organizations & Career Paths – Discover diversity of job functions, organizations, role titles, and

3

Career Development

Effective uses of job seeking materials and interview preparation (resumes, LinkedIn, cover letters, STARs)

4

Fireside discussion with an alum working in ID on their career search, development, and where they see the field moving

5

Networking preparation– Who and how to reach out to grow your network, get a leg up in your job search, and build your own board of advisors

6

Networking

Exclusive virtual networking event with 15+ high impact individuals in international development

7

Networking

In-person networking event

 

Alumni and employer partners looking to get involved or request a resume book, contact us at harriscdo@uchicago.edu.  

Practical Experiences

Applied Experience
Internship Program
Summer internships are a critical component in your professional development — a chance to use your new skills towards real-world problems.
Learn more about the Internship Program
Experiential Learning
Harris Policy Labs
Harris Policy Labs is a unique initiative in which teams of second-year Harris students apply their rigorous core education to real-time public policy challenges facing client organizations.
Learn more about Harris Policy Labs

Opportunities & Resources

Specialization
International Policy and Development
The IPD specialization is designed to prepare students for careers in government, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, or multinational corporations.
Learn more about the IPD specialization
Support & Services
Career Development
At Harris, every student has the potential to shape the future through their career in public policy. Our Career Development Office is dedicated to supporting you in every step of your career journey, ensuring you are ready to make an impact from day one.
Learn more about Career Development at Harris

Faculty

Assistant Professor

Anjali Adukia

Anjali Adukia is an assistant professor at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and the director of the MiiE Lab (Messages, Identity, and Inclusion in Education). In her work, she seeks to understand how children from all backgrounds can have opportunities to realize their potential.

Read Anjali's Bio
Senior Research Associate

Maria Angélica Bautista

Maria Angélica Bautista is a Senior Research Associate at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. Maria’s research focuses on the political, economic and social consequences of state-led repression.

Read Maria's Bio
Professor

Christopher Blattman

Chris Blattman focuses on why some people and societies are poor, unequal and violent, and how to tackle these issues. In his day-to-day research, Blattman works with governments and civil society to design and test approaches to reduce violence and poverty.

Read Chris's Bio
Assistant Professor

Fiona Burlig

Fiona Burlig is an Assistant Professor at the Harris School of Public Policy and a Faculty Research Fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research. She studies energy and environmental economics, with a focus on the developing world.

Read Fiona's Bio
Professor

Oeindrila Dube

Professor Dube studies poverty, violence and crime in countries around the world. One strand of her research analyzes how economic shocks shape conflict dynamics. Another strand examines how cognitive factors give rise to violence.

Read Oeindrila's Bio
Assistant Professor

Amir Jina

Amir Jina is an Assistant Professor at Harris Public Policy and a Senior Fellow at the Energy Policy Institute of Chicago (EPIC). Amir's research in environmental and development economics focuses on the role of the environment in shaping how societies develop.

Read Amir's Bio