Social Development is an area of study that provides an analytical understanding of development issues linked to social forces which influence the lives of multitudes of people. It is concerned with addressing social problems that influence economic progress, human security and well-being, and innovates and analyzes strategies for the enhancement of a people-centered development.

The Doctor of Social Development program puts emphasis on the development of knowledge from the ground, and theorizing from below, as bases for the enrichment of teaching, scholarship, research, and practice in social development.

It transcends disciplinal boundaries by taking the individual, the family, the community, organizations, and the larger society as the focal points for the analysis of development issues and as the fulcrum for programs and interventions aimed at the attainment of total human development.

The program is concerned with the analysis, reflection, formulation, and implementation of participatory processes in development strategies and responses, to promote human rights and attain social justice, gender equality, and people’s empowerment.

It aims to develop advanced competency among professionals, practitioners, and academics in Social Development. Its objectives are:

1. To equip field Social Development practitioners with the conceptual and methodological tools to synthesize their experiences, thus enabling them to theorize from below and contribute to the body of knowledge in social development.
2. To prepare Social Development graduates with competencies in conceptualizing, formulating, and evaluating social policies and programs, thus contributing to more relevant, effective, and efficient services for the poor and the marginalized sectors.
3. To produce top caliber Social Development educators in both formal and non-formal settings in the fields of social work, community development, women and development, and other related fields, thus enhancing the development of the disciplines and becoming partners in the promotion of academic excellence in the field of social development.
4. To enable Social Development researchers, particularly in applied, participatory, action-oriented and feminist research, to venture into the unexplored, to critique and identify potential sources of new ideas, at the same time working for changes in the lives of the people and communities.
5. To train other Social Development professionals in identifying and integrating social factors, community based approaches, gender and human rights dimensions in development initiatives, thus ensuring the social soundness of the programs and projects and the protection of people and communities from the adverse consequences of development.