International Development Studies Program

Program Structure

The International Development Studies (IDS) program is designed for students who wish to take advantage of McGill’s extensive interdisciplinary resources to explore the complex challenges facing the Global South and other developing areas in the world. Grounded in the economic dimensions of development, the program combines courses in development economics with the study of the social, political, environmental, and cultural forces that shape development outcomes around the world. Through an interdisciplinary curriculum, students gain the analytical tools needed to understand and address contemporary global development issues.

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.

Core Foundations: Economics and Development

At the heart of the IDS program are required courses that introduce students to key concepts in economics and international development. These courses provide essential analytical tools for understanding issues such as poverty, economic growth, inequality, trade, public policy, and the distribution of resources. By grounding students in economic approaches to development, the program equips them to critically examine both the causes of global challenges and the effectiveness of development interventions.

Methods and Research Training

IDS students in the Major, Honours and Jt Honours programs complete a methods course(s) that develop practical research and analytical skills. These courses introduce students to quantitative and qualitative approaches used in development research, including data analysis, evidence-based evaluation, and social science research design. This methodological training prepares students to interpret research, assess policy impacts, and conduct their own investigations of development issues.

Complementary Thematic Courses

To complement the Required and Methods requirements, students select from a broad range of interdisciplinary courses that centrally engage with the processes, policies, and challenges of international development, with particular attention to the Global South. These courses allow students to explore development from multiple perspectives and tailor their studies to their interests.

Complementary courses typically focus on one or more of the following themes:

• Economic Development, Livelihoods, and Poverty Reduction
  Examining economic growth, labor markets, livelihoods, and strategies for reducing poverty and improving well-being.
• Governance, Institutions, and Development Policy
  Exploring how governments, institutions, and public policies shape development outcomes and social change.
• Inequality, Social Inclusion, and Justice
  Investigating disparities based on income, gender, race, ethnicity, and other dimensions of social identity, as well as efforts to promote equity and inclusion.
• Conflict, Security, and Peacebuilding
  Analyzing the causes and consequences of conflict, displacement, insecurity, and post-conflict reconstruction.
• Environment, Natural Resources, and Sustainability
  Considering the relationships between development, environmental change, climate challenges, and resource management.
• Health, Education, and Human Development
  Focusing on the social determinants of health, educational access, and broader measures of human well-being.
• Migration, Displacement, and Urbanization
  Examining population movements, refugee experiences, urban growth, and their implications for development.
• International Development Cooperation and Aid
  Exploring global development institutions, international organizations, foreign aid, and development partnerships.
• Cultural and Social Dimensions of Development
  Investigating how culture, identity, social norms, and community dynamics influence development processes and outcomes.

Together, the program’s economics-based core, methodological training, and interdisciplinary complementary thematic courses provide students with a comprehensive understanding of international development and the tools to engage with complex global challenges.

Program Options: