International Development Studies majors are required to participate in an off-campus semester in a developing country.   Semester programs are also great options for IDS minors, though not a requirement.  Semesters in different regions of the world and with different emphases allow students to go on programs that meet their particular areas of interest.  All the programs below fulfill the off-campus semester experience required of IDS majors.  Click on the program name for more detailed information.

Calvin Sponsored Programs

These are programs that Calvin College manages and that allow Calvin students to apply 100% of their financial aid.

Honduras (Development Studies) - Spring
This semester program offers students an excellent opportunity to gain an up-close look at the developing world and hands-on experience with development issues.  STHO 212 fulfills the Community Development requirement of the IDS major, and the other two development classes, STHO 210 and 211, count as IDS electives.  

Honduras (Spanish Studies) - Fall
Though this semester is focused primarily on language rather than development, it still offers an excellent experience for students who desire to increase their Spanish fluency while gaining a close look at a developing country. SPHO 205 counts as the Introduction to Development and substitutes for IDS 201.  Courses in Latin American literature and culture are generally counted as IDS electives.

Ghana - Fall
The Ghana program provides students with courses in African culture, history and recent political economic development.   Excursions to important geographic and cultural regions allow many opportunities to encounter Ghana’s many peoples, their ways of life and their modern day challenges.  Courses taken in Ghana usually qualify as IDS electives.

China - Fall
This semester offers students the chance to take an in-depth look at one of the fastest-developing countries in the world. The courses offered on this semester focus on Chinese history and culture and usually count as IDS electives

Thailand - Spring
The Thailand semester focuses on the environmental side of development. Participants explore the interaction between human and natural ecology through interactive experiences with several of Thailand’s regions and peoples.  The first month of the program emphasizes language learning and cultural training.  This program fulfills the ENST 210/BIO 364 requirement of the IDS major as well as all three electives. 

Calvin Endorsed Programs

Calvin College does not directly manage these programs, but IDS students may apply 50% of their financial assistance to them.

Click on the links for more detailed information about these programs.

Creation Care Study Program

Day Star University Kenya

China Studies Program

Middle East Studies Program

Latin American Studies Program

Find out more financial information regarding all these programs.

CRWRC Internships
Students who have already completed their semester educational program may also consider doing a semester long Internship with CRWRC.  These internships offer students the opportunity to work with CRWRC or one of its local partners.  Here is where students can put development theory into practice and evaluate their own professional calling.   Such internships carry 12 credits and count for two of the IDS electives.