Major in international development
The IDS major consists of eleven courses, eight required and three elective. The program is designed to give you strong core competency in development-related issues and the chance to specialize in a particular world region or discipline. Meet with an IDS advisor to explore areas that are of interest to you.
If you are interested in a particular world region, strongly consider becoming proficient in an appropriate language offered Calvin (Spanish, German, French, Dutch, Swahili, Chinese or Japanese).
Program requirements
- IDS 201: Introduction to International Development or SPHO 205: Poverty and Development
- SOC 253: Intercultural Communication
- IDS 351: Theories of International Development
- IDS 355 or STHO 212: Community Development
- ENST 210: Human Modifications of the Global Environment or BIOL 364: Global Health, Environment and Sustainability or the ISDSI semester program in Thailand
- POLS 272: The Global Resurgence of Democracy or POLS 309: International Organizations and Law
- ECON 337: World Poverty and Economic Development or ECON 237: Regional Economies of the World
- IDS 395: Senior Seminar in IDS
- Three electives from the list below
- Semester in a developing country (some courses from the semester program may qualify for required and/or elective courses)
Elective courses
- Biology 364
- Economics 237, 337, 338
- Environmental Studies 210, 302
- French 219
- Geography 230, 240, 242
- History 233, 235, 238, 242, 246, 273, 331, 338, 346
- IDS 359 (counts for two electives)
- Philosophy 226
- Political Science 271, 272, 276, 277, 279, 307, 309 , 319, 328
- Religion 252, 255, 353, 354, 355
- Sociology 153, 252, 303, 308
- Spanish 309, 361, 362, 363
- SPHO 313
- STHO 210, 211
- Approved courses from off-campus semesters
- One approved interim course
Honors in IDS
IDS students who meet the following criteria may graduate with honors:
- minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 and total of six honors courses (18 hours minimum) overall, including at least two honors courses outside the major;
- at least three honors courses that fulfill requirements or electives for the IDS major (honors work in IDS courses normally requires a minimum grade of B+ on all course components, exemplary attendance and participation, research and written work beyond normal class requirements, and a class presentation);
- either a thesis in IDS 390 (independent study) or honors work in IDS 395; it is also acceptable for students to do both of these courses for honors.
