Undergraduate Studies in International Development

International Development Studies is an interdisciplinary program involving the study of poverty, inequality, social change and justice in a global context. The IDS program is structured around two broad axes: development theory/practice, and the global/local. Areas of teaching expertise among the core faculty in IDS include development theory, gender, culture, human security, rural development, migration, health, Indigenous peoples, participatory development and global citizenship. However, additional areas of expertise are drawn from over 50 cross-appointed and adjunct faculty members who teach IDS approved courses and/or supervise our honours thesis and graduate students.

The department's areas of expertise include many of the key regions of the developing world, particularly Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. We take a broad view of development - including development issues within Canada as well as the developing world.

We offer a diverse set of opportunities for students to participate in experiential learning in both Canadian and international contexts. Experiential learning enables students to focus on skills development in a range of areas: language development, research, writing, managerial, etc. Through our experiential learning opportunities, students can volunteer or intern in Halifax, East Africa, Cuba, and many other locations. Students are encouraged to draw upon international development experiences from over twenty overseas linkage programs through Dalhousie and more than 50 local Halifax community organizations. Halifax is the main Maritime regional centre for official and non-governmental organizations active in international development, thereby offering opportunities for students to become engaged locally in development. Students normally participate in experiential learning programs (whether locally or abroad) in their third year of study.

The IDS program offers a study abroad option in Cuba (Winter) with FLACSO (Facultad Latino Americana de Ciencias Sociales Program Cuba) and the University of Havana as well as a summer program in Cuba.

As an interdisciplinary program, IDS recommends students consider combined degree programs. Students are therefore encouraged to enter the combined honours or double major programs, which provide opportunities that further integrate their IDS studies with those of an approved arts or science field, e.g., IDS and History, IDS and Biology. Double majors and combined honours degrees provide additional opportunities for students to pursue graduate studies in more than one area.

Students with backgrounds in sciences are also welcome in this program as topics in international development cut across all disciplines from anthropology to zoology.

The interdisciplinary nature of the program requires that students take a number of credits outside the IDS department as IDS approved courses in other departments. The first year of study at Dalhousie is dedicated to completing first year requirements. IDS students are encouraged to take a broad range of disciplines in their first year to prepare them for the interdisciplinary format of the program. First year students are encouraged to participate in a range of IDS non-course offerings including the Global Development Seminar Series and numerous student-led organizations related to International Development. Other events and activities are advertised on the IDS website and information can be obtained from the IDS office.

The IDS program offers a core course in the second year, “Introduction to Development Studies I and II,” in which students can apply their knowledge from first year courses in the context of development theory, history and practice. Several other core courses are offered in third and fourth year as are a number of elective course options. (Students are encouraged to acquire competence in a relevant language in addition to English (e.g., Arabic, French, Spanish). Research design and basic statistics courses (e.g., POLI 3492/3493 or SOSA 3402/3403) may also be useful skills to acquire throughout the IDS degree.)