Interdisciplinary Program

International Development Studies, College of Social and Applied Human Sciences

The program in International Development Studies (IDS) explores the nature and impacts of economic and social development, in Canada and across the globe, from an interdisciplinary perspective. It equips students with the theoretical understanding and analytical and practical skills needed to bring about positive and inclusive change in the world. Students completing a degree in IDS have the skills to tackle complex global problems as needed to promote social justice as citizens and in careers across the public and private sectors and in civil society organizations.

The IDS program provides students with the opportunity to engage with international development practitioners in Canada and internationally. Furthermore, they are equipped with the skills needed for effective engagement whilst as students and in their life beyond university.

Students select an area of emphasis that enables them to explore an issue of particular interest using the skills they develop in the core part of the program. This area of emphasis is selected by the end of the 4th academic semester of study.

International Development Studies students are encouraged to learn another language and to participate in relevant learning experiences beyond the IDS program, including study, work or volunteering in Canada and internationally. In addition to the required core courses and the chosen area of emphasis, students are encouraged to take electives that complement their degree and enhance their analytical and communication skills. See the GIDS website for more information on these opportunities and students can get more information from their academic advisor.

Students with a minimum cumulative average of 80% in courses that constitute the IDS major may complete a thesis (IDEV*4100 Thesis in International Development Studies I and IDEV*4150 Thesis in International Development Studies II) under the supervision of an ID-affiliated faculty member. 

Major (Honours Program)

A minimum of 10.00 credits is required, including:

• 7.50 core course requirements
• 2.50 credits in one of five areas of emphasis

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Core Requirements
IDEV*1000	Understanding Development and Global Inequalities	0.50
IDEV*2000	The Development Landscape: Actors and Institutions	0.50
IDEV*2100	Research in International Development	0.50
IDEV*2200	Policy, Economy and Society	0.50
IDEV*2300	Theoretical Perspectives on Development	0.50
IDEV*2400	Development, Social Justice and Human Rights	0.50
IDEV*3000	Poverty and Inequality	0.50
IDEV*3100	Achieving Sustainable Development	0.50
IDEV*3300	Engaging in Development Practice	0.50
IDEV*3400	Managing and Evaluating Change in Development	0.50
IDEV*4000	Development in Action	1.00
IDEV*4600	Advocating and Effecting Change in Development Policy and Practice	0.50
Select 1.00 credits from the following:
GEOG*3050	Development and the City	0.50
PHIL*3230	Theories of Justice	0.50
POLS*3320	Politics of Aid and Development	0.50
POLS*3790	International Political Economy	0.50
SOAN*3680	Perspectives on Development	0.50
Areas of Emphasis
Select one of the following four Area of Emphasis:		2.50
Agriculture and Food Security
Development in the Canadian Context
Development in Fragile Contexts
Environment and Sustainable Development
Gender and Inclusive Development

Agriculture and Food Security

This area of emphasis focuses on the nature of food security from the local to global levels. It explores the role of agriculture and the wider agri-food system in promoting food security towards the eradication of hunger and improved nutrition and health. Throughout, this area of emphasis reflects critically on the role of diverse actors and alternative approaches through which food security can be enhanced, empowering students to bring about positive, inclusive and sustainable change in agri-food systems locally and globally.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
AGR*2150	Plant Agriculture for International Development	0.50
FARE*1300	Poverty, Food and Hunger	0.50
Select 1.50 credits from the following:
AGR*2500	Field Course in International Agriculture	0.50
ANTH*4550	Topics in the Anthropology of Health	0.50
ENVS*2130	Eating Sustainably in Ontario	0.50
FARE*3250	Food Security, Nutrition and International Development	0.50
GEOG*3320	Food Systems: Issues in Security and Sustainability	0.50
HIST*3240	Food History	0.50
IDEV*4100	Thesis in International Development Studies I	0.50
IDEV*4150	Thesis in International Development Studies II	0.50
OAGR*2070	Introduction to Organic Agriculture	1.00
SOC*4420	Sociology of Food	0.50

Development in the Canadian Context

This area focuses on development predominantly through the case of Canada. Issues that might be explored include: poverty, global migration, inequality, Indigenous-settler relations and food insecurity. It reflects the fact that development problems are found in all parts of the world and solutions to them must recognize the ways in which they are interconnected and distinctive. This area of emphasis aims to empower students to bring about positive, inclusive and sustainable change within Canada, and the rest of the affluent world.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
ANTH*2660	Contemporary Indigenous Peoples in Canada	0.50
POLS*2300	Canadian Government and Politics	0.50
Select 1.50 credits from the following:
GEOG*2510	Considering Canada: a Regional Approach A Regional Synthesis	0.50
HIST*2090	Indigenous Peoples of the Americas	0.50
HIST*3390	Governments and Indigenous Spaces	0.50
HIST*3660	Canadian Social History	0.50
IDEV*4100	Thesis in International Development Studies I	0.50
IDEV*4150	Thesis in International Development Studies II	0.50
POLS*3140	Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms	0.50
SOAN*4210	Indigenous-Settler Relations in Canadian Society	0.50
SOAN*4220	Gender and Change in Rural Canada	0.50
SOAN*4260	Migration, Inequality and Social Change	0.50

Development in Fragile Contexts

This area focuses on development in the context of institutionally weak and/or unstable countries and regions. It explores issues associated with state fragility and failure, institutional development, post-conflict rebuilding and social insecurity. It also considers issues of migration, conflict, social change, and post colonialism. An overarching theme is the need for, and role of, distinct development strategies in fragile contexts, with the aim of empowering students to bring about positive, inclusive and sustainable change in some of the most challenging development contexts globally.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
POLS*3490	Conflict and Conflict Resolution	0.50
POLS*2100	Comparative Politics	0.50
or POLS*2200	International Relations
Select 1.50 credits from the following:
ANTH*4440	Culture, Rights and Development	0.50
HIST*3270	Revolution in the Modern World	0.50
IDEV*4100	Thesis in International Development Studies I	0.50
IDEV*4150	Thesis in International Development Studies II	0.50
POLS*3000	Politics of Africa	0.50
POLS*3060	Politics of the Middle East and North Africa	0.50
POLS*3080	Politics of Latin America	0.50
POLS*4340	Nationalism, State-building and Identity	1.00
SOAN*3130	Protest, Resistance, and Collective Action	0.50
SOAN*4260	Migration, Inequality and Social Change	0.50

Environment and Sustainable Development

This area of emphasis focuses on the relations between environmental change and natural resources and sustainable development. It explores the ways in which the environment and natural resources impact development, and the development challenges posed by environmental change and natural resource use locally and globally. Topics might include urbanization, erosion, natural disasters, water, natural resource, land use and climate change. Particular focus is put on approaches to development that are sustainable and address challenges associated with environmental change and natural resource use. This area of emphasis aims to empower students to bring about positive change that promotes inclusive and sustainable development locally and globally.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
GEOG*2030	Environment, Justice and Society	0.50
SOC*2280	Society, Knowledge Systems and Environment	0.50
Select 1.50 credits from the following:
ENVS*2120	Introduction to Environmental Stewardship	0.50
GEOG*3020	Global Environmental Change	0.50
GEOG*3030	Media, Digital Technology and Environment	0.50
GEOG*3090	Gender and Environment	0.50
HIST*3460	Natural Disasters in Global History	0.50
IDEV*4100	Thesis in International Development Studies I	0.50
IDEV*4150	Thesis in International Development Studies II	0.50
PHIL*2070	Philosophy of the Environment	0.50
POLS*3370	Environmental Politics and Governance	0.50
SOAN*4250	Energy and Society	0.50

Gender and Inclusive Development

This area of emphasis focuses on the need for development to be viewed through the lens of inclusivity, most notably with respect to gender.  It explores the ways in which development often acts to exclude or negatively impact women and other marginalized groups, and the need for development policies and programs to be designed and implemented in a manner that promotes inclusivity with respect to gender. The notion of gender-inclusive development is examined through the perspective of intersectionality. Whilst particular attention is given to gender, there is also examination of sexuality, race, indigeneity and other dimensions of marginalization.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
POLS*3160	Global Gender Justice	0.50
SOAN*3240	Gender and Global Inequality I	0.50
Select 1.50 credits from the following:
ANTH*4440	Culture, Rights and Development	0.50
GEOG*3090	Gender and Environment	0.50
HIST*2930	Women and Cultural Change	0.50
IDEV*4100	Thesis in International Development Studies I	0.50
IDEV*4150	Thesis in International Development Studies II	0.50
PHIL*2060	Philosophy of Feminism I	0.50
POLS*2150	Gender and Politics	0.50
SOAN*4220	Gender and Change in Rural Canada	0.50
SOAN*4230	Gender and Global Inequality II	0.50
WMST*2000	Women and Representation	0.50

Area of Concentration (General Program)

A minimum of 5.00 credits is required, including:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
IDEV*1000	Understanding Development and Global Inequalities	0.50
IDEV*2000	The Development Landscape: Actors and Institutions	0.50
IDEV*2200	Policy, Economy and Society	0.50
IDEV*2300	Theoretical Perspectives on Development	0.50
IDEV*2400	Development, Social Justice and Human Rights	0.50
Select 1.00 credits from the following:
IDEV*2100	Research in International Development	0.50
IDEV*3000	Poverty and Inequality	0.50
IDEV*3100	Achieving Sustainable Development	0.50
IDEV*3400	Managing and Evaluating Change in Development	0.50
IDEV*4600	Advocating and Effecting Change in Development Policy and Practice	0.50
Select 0.50 credits from the following:
GEOG*3050	Development and the City	0.50
PHIL*3230	Theories of Justice	0.50
POLS*3320	Politics of Aid and Development	0.50
POLS*3790	International Political Economy	0.50
SOAN*3680	Perspectives on Development	0.50
Select a minimum of 1.00 credits taken from any of the four areas of emphasis of the Major, at least 0.50 being at the 3000 or 4000 levels.		1.00

Minor (Honours Program)

A minimum of 5.00 credits is required, including:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
IDEV*1000	Understanding Development and Global Inequalities	0.50
IDEV*2000	The Development Landscape: Actors and Institutions	0.50
IDEV*2200	Policy, Economy and Society	0.50
IDEV*2300	Theoretical Perspectives on Development	0.50
IDEV*2400	Development, Social Justice and Human Rights	0.50
Select 1.00 credits from the following:
IDEV*2100	Research in International Development	0.50
IDEV*3000	Poverty and Inequality	0.50
IDEV*3100	Achieving Sustainable Development	0.50
IDEV*3400	Managing and Evaluating Change in Development	0.50
IDEV*4600	Advocating and Effecting Change in Development Policy and Practice	0.50
Select 0.50 credits from the following:
GEOG*3050	Development and the City	0.50
PHIL*3230	Theories of Justice	0.50
POLS*3320	Politics of Aid and Development	0.50
POLS*3790	International Political Economy	0.50
SOAN*3680	Perspectives on Development	0.50
Select a minimum of 1.00 credits taken from any of the four areas of emphasis of the Major, at least 0.50 being at the 3000 or 4000 levels.		1.00