Farmers and Global Value Chains in Times of Crisis

ISID invites you to its upcoming public panel on "Farmers and Global Value Chains in Times of Crisis".  More information can be found here:

International Development Studies Program

The International Development Studies program is designed for those students who wish to take advantage of the resources available at McGill to pursue an interdisciplinary program of study focusing on the problems of the developing countries. IDS is the third largest program in the Faculty of Arts, with an enrollment of over 1300 students. Each year about 150 new students enroll in one of the undergraduate (Minor, Major, Honours) programs.

 

Major

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Major Concentration International Development Studies (36 Credits)

The B.A.; Major Concentration in International Development Studies focuses on the many challenges facing developing countries, including issues related to socio-economic inequalities and well being, governance, peace and conflict, environment and sustainability, key development-related themes, and training in research methods related to international development studies.

Course Selection Guidelines for the Overall Program

1. At least 18 of the 36 credits must be at the 300 level or above.
2. At least 9 credits must be from INTD courses.
3. Students cannot take more than 12 credits in any one discipline other than the INTD discipline.

Students who are pursuing a Field Studies program can have a portion of their Field Studies courses count towards their IDS program. See Advisor for details.

Note: Students interested in Management course options listed in the IDS program, must be aware of the credit limitations in place for Arts students taking courses outside of the Faculties of Arts and Science.

Note: Some courses listed in our program, namely the MGCR, MGMT, BUSA, ORGB, SWRK have limited spots open for IDS students. See FAQ.

* When selecting their Methods courses, students must consult with the IDS Adviser. They must also consult with the most recent Faculty of Arts policy on course overlap.

CEGEP students who have been given MATH 203 exemption from their CEGEP CANNOT take SOCI 350, 461, 477, or ECON 227D1/D2 as their Methods option.

IDS Major Concentration - 36 Credits: Program Structure


 

Minor

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Minor Concentration International Development Studies (18 Credits)

The B.A.; Minor Concentration in International Development Studies focuses on the many challenges facing developing countries, including issues related to socio-economic inequalities and well being, governance, peace and conflict, environment and sustainability, and key development-related themes.

Course Selection Guidelines for the Overall Program

1. At least 9 of the 18 credits must be at the 300 level or above.

Students who are pursuing a Field Studies program can have a portion of their Field Studies courses count towards their IDS program. See Advisor for details.

Note: Students interested in Management course options listed in the IDS program, must be aware of the credit limitations in place for Arts students taking courses outside of the Faculties of Arts and Science.

Note: Some courses listed in our program, namely the MGCR, MGMT, BUSA, ORGB, SWRK have limited spots open for IDS students. See FAQ.

IDS Minor Concentration - 18 credits: Program Structure

FAQs:

What do I do about ECON 208, if I am Majoring or doing a Minor in ECON? FAQ: 17

How come I cannot get into the MGMT/ORGB/MGPO courses on Minerva? FAQ: 15


 

Honours

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Honours International Development Studies (57 Credits)

The B.A.; Honours in International Development Studies focuses on the many challenges facing developing countries, including issues related to socio-economic inequalities and well being, governance, peace and conflict, environment and sustainability, key development-related themes, and training in research methods related to international development studies.

Honours students must maintain a CGPA of 3.30 in their program courses and, according to Faculty regulations, a minimum CGPA of 3.00 in general.

Course Selection Guidelines for the Overall Program

1. At least 30 of the 57 credits must be at the 300 level or above; 9 credits of these must be at the 400 level or above.
2. At least 12 credits must be from INTD courses.
3. Students cannot take more than 18 credits in any discipline other than the INTD discipline.

Students who are pursuing a Field Studies program can have a portion of their Field Studies courses count towards their IDS program. See Advisor for details.

Note: Students interested in Management course options listed in the IDS program, must be aware of the credit limitations in place for Arts students taking courses outside of the Faculties of Arts and Science.

Note: Some courses listed in our program, namely the MGCR, MGMT, BUSA, ORGB, SWRK have limited spots open for IDS students. See FAQ.

* When selecting their Methods courses, students must consult with the IDS Adviser. They must also consult with the most recent Faculty of Arts policy on course overlap.

CEGEP students who have been given MATH 203 exemption from their CEGEP CANNOT take SOCI 350, 461, 477, or ECON 227D1/D2 as their Methods option.

Honours in IDS - 57 Credits: Program Structure

FAQs:

How do I get into the Honours/Jt Honours program? FAQ: 5


 

Joint Honours

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Joint Honours Component International Development Studies (36 Credits)

The B.A.; Joint Honours - International Development Studies component focuses on the many challenges facing developing countries, including issues related to socio-economic inequalities and well being, governance, peace and conflict, environment and sustainability, key development-related themes, and training in research methods related to international development studies.

Students wishing to study at the Honours level in two disciplines can combine Joint Honours program components in any two Arts disciplines. For a list of available Joint Honours programs, see "Overview of Programs Offered" and "Joint Honours Programs".
Joint Honours students should consult an adviser in each department to discuss their course selection and their interdisciplinary Honours thesis (if applicable).

Honours students must maintain a CGPA of 3.30 in their program courses and, according to Faculty regulations, a minimum CGPA of 3.00 in general.

Course Selection Guidelines for the Overall Program

1. At least 18 of the 36 credits must be at the 300 level or above. Nine credits must be at the 400 level or above.
2. At least 12 credits must be from INTD courses.
3. Students cannot take more than 12 credits in any one discipline other than the INTD discipline.

Students who are pursuing a Field Studies program can have a portion of their Field Studies courses count towards their IDS program. See Advisor for details.

Note: Students interested in Management course options listed in the IDS program, must be aware of the credit limitations in place for Arts students taking courses outside of the Faculties of Arts and Science.

Note: Some courses listed in our program, namely the MGCR, MGMT, BUSA, ORGB, SWRK have limited spots open for IDS students. See FAQ.

* When selecting their Methods courses, students must consult with the IDS Adviser. They must also consult with the most recent Faculty of Arts policy on course overlap.

CEGEP students who have been given MATH 203 exemption from their CEGEP CANNOT take SOCI 350, 461, 477, or ECON 227D1/D2 as their Methods option.

Joint Honours - 36 Credits: Program Structure

FAQs:

How do I get into the Honours/Jt Honours program? FAQ: 5


 

Old IDS program - Before Fall 2021 (Streams)

Students that have been admitted to McGill in the Faculty of Arts before Fall 2021 have the option of pursuing the Old IDS program - (Streams); or to pursue the New IDS program effective Fall 2021.

  • All Major and Honours Students in the Old IDS program must choose between one of the following streams.
  • If pursuing the Old program, refer to the eCalendar for Program rules of the year that you were admitted into McGill.
  • Students interested in Management course options listed in the IDS program, must be aware of the credit limitations in place for Arts students taking courses outside of the Faculties of Arts and Science. To consult this policy: https://www.mcgill.ca/study/2020-2021/faculties/arts/undergraduate/ug_arts_course_reqs

2020-2021 eCalendar - this site is showing incorrect information, so click on the pdf. version in the YELLOW BOX on this site for correct information.

2018-2019 eCalendar

2017-2018 eCalendar

2016-2017eCalendar

Stream 1: Economic Development and Living Standards

Experience has shown that development requires economic growth and is shaped by the distribution of economic resources. At the same time, the globalized economy has created new opportunities and new challenges for sustained growth. Courses in this stream revolve around the factors contributing to sustained economic growth, the trade-offs associated with different ways of achieving it, and the distributional issues development inevitably raises. More generally, this stream is also concerned with understanding what "development" actually entails in different contexts.

Stream 2: States and Governance

The courses in this stream focus on how political institutions shape developmental processes. Some courses analyze states and recognize how some promote development by providing diverse developmental goods while others impede development by preying on their peoples. Other courses focus on regimes and consider how political rights and participation, or their absences, affect developmental processes. Finally, several courses consider factors that make possible effective states and regimes.

Stream 3: Culture and Society

The courses in this stream focus on how the social structures, history, and culture of populations affect developmental processes. Associations, class, gender, religion, race, and ethnicity, for example, all shape development in multiple and diverse ways. Moreover, present developmental processes oftentimes cannot be adequately understood without considering history. Culture, in turn, is increasingly recognized within development studies as both a determinant and a constitutive element of development. In exploring all three, the courses in this stream provide important insight into the complex and varied relationship between social context and development.

Stream 4: Environment and Agricultural Resources

Within development studies, the environment has long been recognized as a vital determinant of development. More recently, many scholars have changed their environmental focus to emphasize sustainability. The courses in this stream recognize both: some courses consider how the environment can be exploited to promote human well-being while others consider how the environment must be respected to render development sustainable. Together, they highlight the delicate balance that must be attained between humans and their environments to make possible sustainable livelihoods.

FAQ on the OLD IDS Programs (Streams)

  1. Do I need to follow one stream?
    • Yes - for the Major, Honours and Jt Honours programs. Not the IDS minor.
  2. I am pursuing a Major or Minor in Econ as well as IDS, what do I do for ECON 208 which is required in the IDS program?
    • If you are pursuing a Major in ECON and a program in IDS, you are not permitted to take ECON 208, unless you took this during a Freshman year. In which case, you will simply replace the credits for ECON 208 in the IDS program with another IDS course, of your choice chosen from the Complimentary course lists.
    • If you are pursuing a non-expandable Minor in Econ, you should take ECON 208 towards your ECON Minor program, and then replace the credits for ECON 208 in your IDS program with another IDS course, of your choice, chosen from the Complimentary course lists.
  3. How come I cannot get into the MGCR/MGMT courses?
    • The Faculty of Management controls enrolment in those courses. They typically assign seat restrictions in their courses. Their priority is to allow MGMT students access in their courses before they allow NON-MGMT students into their courses. They lift the restrictions the last week of Add/Drop of the term you are intending to take the course.
    • We would advise you to keep trying to get a spot in the course. If you are unable, there are PLENTY of other IDS courses you can take.
  4. What is INTD 497?
    • INTD 497 - Advanced Topics in International Development is a lecture course, required for IDS Majors, Honours and Jt Honours students in the OLD IDS program. The course will have a specific topic assigned to it. Students will be expected to write a large research paper, and produce a group/solo presentation in class. Participation will be required in this capstone course.
    • It is required in the NEW IDS program - effective Fall 2021 as well.
  5. What are the differences between INTD 499, 490, 491, 492 (Project Courses)?
    • INTD 499 - This course should be considered if the student has secured an Internship experience over the summer months, relevant to IDS and has a minimum CGPA of 3.30. Students are expected to find a supervisor to work with to supervise the project which will be written the term following the Internship experience. A 20 page paper is expected. This course can count as a Complimentary course in the IDS programs.
    • INTD 490 - This course should be considered for Majors or Minors who are interested in pursuing an independent project paper. Students are expected to produce a large research paper, literature review, comparative analysis on a subject relevant to IDS. Secondary research sources should be used to produce a paper not exceeding 40 double spaced pages. A supervisor must be found by the student in order to supervise the project and grade it.
    • INTD 491 - This course should be considered for Jt Honours or Honours students who are interested in pursuing an independent project paper. Students are expected to produce a large research paper, literature review, comparative analysis on a subject relevant to IDS. Secondary research sources should be used to produce a paper not exceeding 40 double spaced pages. A supervisor must be found by the student in order to supervise the project and grade it.
    • INTD 492 - This course should be considered for Jt Honours or Honours students who are interested in pursuing an independent project paper. Students are expected in this course to incorporate an internship/volunteer/work experience which has produced some primary research into a large research paper, literature review, comparative analysis on a subject relevant to IDS. This course is worth 6 credits and as such the paper is expected to be between 40 - 60 double spaced pages. A supervisor must be found by the student in order to supervise the project and grade it. Students have the option to take this course over one term, or to span it over two terms.
  • NOTE: All project courses require a minimum CGPA of 3.30 and applications forms found on our website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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