International Development Studies (IDS)
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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:
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 |