GRADUATE STUDIES

Masters of Arts in International Development Studies

This degree, available on a full or part-time basis, is an interdisciplinary program of study

Ugandan children sell bananas near Lake Bunyonyi. (CIDA)

Candidates study theory, research methods and design, development practice and write a thesis. They must satisfy thesis readers from at least two departments and one of the three-member thesis supervisory committee may come from IDS at Saint Mary's University or elsewhere.

Students are encouraged to participate actively in the non-credit seminars held by the IDS Department, Global Studies Seminar Series,  other development study centres on campus and the Pearson Peacekeeping Training Centre at Cornwallis.

Full-time students are able to complete their MA in 12 months, but it typically takes between 18 and 24 months.

Admission requirements

The Graduate Admission Committee for IDS accepts students who have a minimum of a A- (GPA 3.7) average or higher over their last two years of full-time study in a relevant degree program, preferably an honours degree.

Approximately 15 students are accepted to the program each year.

To learn more about the admission process and deadlines, please check the IDS Graduate Program Handbook.

A MA in International Development Studies involves five full credits, including classwork and a thesis.

A typical course of study includes:

• a thesis (worth two credits)
• a half-credit in theory (usually POLI 5340 or INTD 5006)
• a half-credit in methods/research design (INTD 5002)
• a half-credit in development practice (INTD 5005)
• three half credits of elective courses

Please check the list of graduate IDS and IDS-approved classes offered in the academic year 2009-10.

Financial assistance

MA students can obtain financial assistance in the form of Dalhousie Graduate Fellowships and Teaching and Research Assistantships. Students are automatically considered for this form of assistance by the Graduate Admissions Committee; no separate application is necessary. But funding is limited and not available to all students.

MA candidates should investigate SSHRC and NSERC funding before applying. You must be recommended by the university where you're completing your undergraduate degree. In some cases, you can apply directly to SSHRC for a non-renewable, one-year award of $17,500. It's available only to Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada.

For other awards, contact the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Teaching Assistants  — you should indicate your interest on your application — aid instructors in second-year introductory and third-year classes in International Development Studies. For some students, depending on their background, there may be opportunities to assist in other departments at Dalhousie, such as Sociology and Social Anthropology or Spanish.

Research Assistantship funding is available in those cases where faculty members have research grants and funds allocated to research assistance. Consult with the graduate coordinator or department chair for information.  

For further information

Questions regarding the application process should be addressed to Dr. Owen Willis, graduate co-ordinator (owillis@dal.ca), or  graduate secretary, Nicole Drysdale, (idsgrad@dal.ca).

For an idea of MA theses completed in recent years, the research interests of faculty members, and other questions you might have about the MA program, please refer to the  IDS Graduate Program Handbook.

For downloadable application forms, contact Dalhousie's Registrar's Office.

For the description of the MA program and full list of classes offered, check out the graduate calendar and university timetable.

For information about being a graduate student at Dalhousie, check out Dalhousie Association of Graduate Students and the Faculty of Graduate Studies.