The Major

The major in International Development and Social Change (IDSC) requires 14 units, as follows:

1. Core Courses (5 units)
ID 125 Tales from the Far Side: Development and Underdevelopment; ECON 128 Development Economics or an equivalent economics course; and three additional core courses (one each) in politics of development, resource management, and socio-cultural issues.

2. Area of Specialization (4 units)
With approval of their advisors, students select a specialization—such as community-based development, political economy, conflict and development, culture and development, resource management, or gender and development. A minimum of two of these courses must be at the 200-level.

3. Methods and Skills Courses (3 units)
ID 132 Research Methods and two courses from the following: computer science, cultural anthropology, cartography, statistics, geographic information systems (GIS), conflict negotiation, or a foreign language at the intermediate level.

4. Internship or Field Research (1 unit)
A one-credit internship or field research related to international development. This may be combined with a Study Abroad Program.

5. Capstone Seminar (1 unit) or Honors Thesis (2 units)
ID 290 Capstone Seminar is taken by all IDSC majors in the fall of their senior year. Students will complete a research project on the topic of their choice related to their specialization. Students doing a Senior Thesis will begin their thesis in the Capstone Seminar and complete it in the spring of their senior year under the supervision of their thesis advisor.
Grading for the Major

 

The lowest acceptable grade for all International Development major courses is a C- to have it count toward the major. You may NOT take any IDSC major courses for Pass/No Record. The internship is the only exception. You may take internship credits on a CR/NC basis. To take an internship for a letter grade, you must petition the Dean of the College.

The Minor

A minor in International Development and Social Change consists of six credits: one core course (ID 125: Tales from the Far Side, ID 120: Cultural Anthropology or ID 131: Local Action, Global Change), one skills course that is a social science research methods course, and at least four courses in an area of specialization, of which no more than two credits can be from an internship or directed research.

The Double Major

Many students double major in IDSC and related departments, such as economics, geography, government (especially international relations), psychology, and sociology. A major in IDSC and a minor in one of the related departments or programs, such Women’s Studies, is another popular option. Note that up to two courses are open for counting toward both majors.