McGill.CA / ISID / Undergraduate

FAQs

1. I am majoring in IDS. What courses should I take in my first year?

Students pursuing a Major in International Development Studies (IDS) are encouraged to take:

  • ECON 208 in the Fall term
  • ECON 313 in the Winter term
  • INTD 200 during either the Fall or Winter term

Students should also complete the two introductory complementary courses from the following categories as early as possible, ideally during their first year (U1):

  • Cultures, Populations & Development
  • Politics, Society & Development

If you are combining the IDS Major with another program, you may need to prioritize courses based on program requirements, course availability, and your academic interests.

The IDS Major consists of 12 courses (36 credits) and is designed to be completed progressively throughout your degree. Most students spread these requirements over multiple years rather than concentrating them in a single year.

When planning your schedule, balance IDS requirements with courses required for your other program(s) and any elective courses to maintain a manageable and well-rounded course load.

https://www.mcgill.ca/oasis/academic/degree-planning-guide/requirements

2. Can a course count toward both the IDS Major and another Major (e.g., Political Science)?

No. A course cannot be counted simultaneously toward the requirements of two different academic programs.

If a course appears in both the IDS Major and another program, you must decide which program it will fulfill. You do not need to make this decision immediately. However, before graduation, you should inform the advisors for your programs how you would like overlapping courses allocated so your degree requirements can be assessed correctly.

3. Many IDS courses list recommended prerequisites. Do I need to complete all of them?

No.

In most cases:

  • Minerva will not prevent registration based on missing recommended prerequisites.
  • Students are generally still eligible to register.

If you are uncertain about your preparation for a course or whether you meet the requirements, you should contact the instructor and request permission before enrolling.

4. I want to pursue Honours or Joint Honours in IDS. What should I take in my first year, and when do I apply?

Students interested in Honours or Joint Honours should follow the recommended first-year course plan for the IDS Major. See FAQ #1.

At the end of U1, after completing and receiving grades for at least four IDS courses, students must submit the appropriate Honours application or Joint Honours application form.

After your application is received:

  1. The IDS Advisor will contact you to schedule an Honours advising appointment.
  2. Following the meeting, permission for Honours or Joint Honours will be granted if eligibility requirements are met.

Refer to the Honours and Jt Honours program for timeline for application and program GPA and CGPA requirements. 

5. What are Methods courses?

Methods courses teach students how to:

  • Collect data
  • Compile and organize information
  • Analyze empirical evidence
  • Evaluate research findings

These courses help students understand the strengths and limitations of different research approaches and provide the tools needed to interpret data used in large-scale research projects.

Methods courses develop the analytical skills required to assess research objectives, outcomes, successes, and challenges.

The Major Concentration in IDS and the IDS Honours and Jt Honours programs require students to take a minimum credit amount of Methods courses.

6. What is the Faculty of Arts policy on course overlap, and how does it apply to the IDS programs?

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

Methods courses are generally social science research or statistics courses. Because many of these courses cover similar material, course overlap may occur.

Examples of approved methods courses include:

  • POLI 210
  • SOCI 350
  • ANTH 358
  • INTD 356
  • INTD 358

However, these courses may overlap with methods courses taken for other programs, such as:

  • PSYC 204
  • MATH 203

Students should consult the IDS Advisor before selecting a methods course to ensure that it does not create a course overlap issue. Credit will not be granted for overlapping courses.

Important Note for CEGEP/IB/French Baccalaureate Students

Students who received a MATH 203 exemption through prior studies cannot use the following courses to satisfy the IDS Methods requirement:

  • SOCI 350
  • SOCI 461
  • SOCI 477
  • ECON 227D1/D2

Recommended IDS Methods Courses

To avoid course overlap concerns, students are encouraged to consider:

  • INTD 356 – Quantitative Methods for Development
  • INTD 358 – Ethnographic Approaches to Development

These courses were specifically developed for IDS students.

7. Can I take the Topics courses in INTD more than once (ex. INTD 397, 398, 497)?

Yes.

Courses such as:

  • INTD 397
  • INTD 398
  • INTD 497

may be taken multiple times, provided the topic differs each time.

8. What is the difference between INTD 497 and INTD 498?

INTD 498 – Honours Seminar in International Development

  • Required for Honours and Joint Honours students.
  • Seminar-based course.
  • Honours and Joint Honours students may also take INTD 497 as a complementary thematic course.

INTD 497 – Advanced Topics in International Development

  • Required for students in the Major Concentration.
  • Lecture-based course.
  • Students may take multiple sections of INTD 497 provided each section covers a different topic.

9. I am interested in studying abroad or going on exchange. How does this work as an IDS student?

Students should first carefully review the OASIS Study Away/Exchange website.

Study Away and Exchange programs are administered by the Faculty, not by the IDS program. Before meeting with the IDS Advisor, students should:

  1. Review all exchange information available through OASIS.
  2. Attend any required information sessions offered by the Study Away Advising team.

After you have reviewed the Faculty of Arts information on Study Away or Exchange programs, consult the IDS Transfer Credit Policy .

10. Why can't I register for MGCR, MGMT, or SWRK courses?

Enrollment in these courses is controlled by their home units, including the:

  • Desautels Faculty of Management
  • School of Social Work
  • Other relevant faculties and departments

These units typically reserve seats for students in their own programs before opening any remaining spaces to students from outside their faculties.

As a result, you may encounter registration restrictions in Minerva (e.g., degree, program, or faculty restrictions) when registration opens.

In many cases, restrictions are lifted near the end of the Add/Drop period. However, some courses—particularly management courses—may never open to non-program students.

Because these courses are listed as optional thematic courses rather than required IDS courses, enrollment is not guaranteed.

We recommend that you:

  • Continue checking Minerva regularly.
  • Attempt registration throughout the summer (for Fall courses) or during the Fall term (for Winter courses).
  • Contact the offering department if you wish to request permission.

If you are unable to secure a seat, there are many other approved IDS courses available.

11. I can't register for some IDS-approved thematic or methods courses (e.g., SOCI 350, ANTH 358). Minerva shows a registration block. What should I do?

Many IDS-approved thematic and Methods courses are offered by other departments.

Although these courses are approved for the IDS program, enrollment is managed by the department offering the course—not by the IDS program.

 Common restrictions include:

  • Degree restrictions
  • Program restrictions
  • Level restrictions

If you encounter a registration block:

  • Continue monitoring Minerva.
  • Try registering again later.
  • Contact the department offering the course.
  • Consider contacting the course instructor to request permission.

A registration restriction does not necessarily mean that you will be unable to enroll.

12. I am pursuing both IDS and Economics. What should I do about ECON 208?

Major in Economics and IDS

Students pursuing a Major in Economics are generally not permitted to take ECON 208, unless it was completed during the Freshman Program.

Since Economics majors must complete ECON 230D1/D2, IDS students in this situation should replace ECON 208 with another approved IDS course selected from the complementary course lists.

Minor in Economics and IDS

Students pursuing a Minor in Economics should use ECON 208 toward their Economics Minor and replace the ECON 208 requirement in IDS with another approved IDS course from the complementary course lists.

Please notify the IDS Advisor through the checklist process outlined in FAQ 24.

Joint Honours or Double Major with Economics

Students in Joint Honours or Double Major Economics programs typically complete:

  • ECON 230D1/D2, or
  • ECON 250D1/D2

Since these programs do not include ECON 208, students should replace the ECON 208 requirement in IDS with another approved IDS course from the complementary course lists.

13. I am a Management or Agricultural and Environmental Sciences student and have already completed an equivalent of ECON 208 (e.g., MGCR 293 or AGEC 200). What should I do?

If you have completed an approved equivalent of ECON 208 through another program (such as MGCR 293 or AGEC 200), you should replace the ECON 208 requirement in the IDS program with another approved IDS course selected from the complementary course lists.

14. What are the differences between INTD 499, INTD 490, and INTD 491?

All three courses are independent project courses that require students to work under the supervision of a faculty member.

Important Notes for All Project Courses

Students must:

  • Maintain a minimum CGPA of 3.30.
  • Secure a faculty supervisor.
  • Submit a completed application form.

Registration permission will only be granted after approval by the ISID Office.

Submit completed applications to:

ids [at] mcgill.ca ()

Students are responsible for:

  • Identifying a supervisor.
  • Developing a project proposal.
  • Maintaining communication with their supervisor throughout the project.
  • Completing the agreed-upon academic work.

Finding a Supervisor

When approaching a professor:

  • Research their areas of expertise.
  • Prepare a preliminary project idea.
  • Be open to feedback and suggestions.
  • Contact them well in advance of application deadlines.

Do not wait until the last minute to seek supervision.

INTD 499 – International Development Internship Project

This course is intended for students who:

  • Have secured a relevant internship experience.
  • Have a minimum CGPA of 3.30.
  • Wish to complete an academic project related to that experience.

Important notes:

  • Credit is not awarded solely for completing the internship.
  • Students must complete a substantial academic paper (approximately 20 pages).
  • A supervisor is required.
  • This course may count as a Complementary Thematic course.

Application Requirements

Two applications are required:

  1. One submitted to the ISID Office (ids [at] mcgill.ca ()).
  2. One submitted to the Arts Internship Office.

Documents:

  • Arts Internship Office Steps to Credit Approval
  • intd_499_internship_approval_isid_updated.docx
  • Internship Office Application Form
 

INTD 490 – Independent Research Project

This course is available to students in the Major or Minor programs who wish to undertake an independent research project.

Projects may include:

  • Research papers
  • Literature reviews
  • Comparative analyses

Requirements:

  • Topic must be relevant to International Development.
  • Maximum paper length: approximately 40 double-spaced pages.
  • Supervisor required.
  • May count as a Complementary Thematic course.

Application Form:

  • intd_490_application_form_-_last_updated_july_2019.docx
 

INTD 491 – Honours Research Project

This course is intended only for students in the Honours or Joint Honours programs.

Requirements are similar to INTD 490:

  • Independent research project
  • Supervisor required
  • Maximum paper length: approximately 40 double-spaced pages

This course may count as a Complementary Thematic course.

Application Form:

  • intd_491_honours_thesis_application_form_-_last_updated_july_2019.docx
 

15. MyProgress in Minerva/MyCourses shows incorrect information about my IDS program. Why?

Students should not rely on MyProgress (Degree Evaluation) for IDS program planning.

OASIS has indicated that MyProgress may not accurately reflect program requirements for many students, particularly in IDS.

How Do I Verify My Program Requirements?

  1. Maintain your own program audit or checklist. ISID does not provide one as our complimentary thematic list is too long. 
  2. Email the IDS Advisor with your proposed course allocations.
  3. Schedule an advising appointment for official program verification.
 

16. How do I submit my IDS course plan for review/approval?

Email the IDS Advisor a concise list of the courses you would like counted toward your IDS program.

Organize the courses under the following categories:

  • Required Courses
  • Introductory Complementary Courses (two sub-categories 'Cultures, Populations & Development' and 'Politics, Society & Development'.
  • Thematic Courses
  • Methods Course

The Advisor will review your proposed course selections and provide written confirmation by email.

Example (Major Concentration in IDS)

Required Courses (12 credits)

  • ECON 208 (or approved replacement - if counting credits towards ECON program, or completed the equivalent)
  • INTD 200
  • ECON 313
  • INTD 497

Introductory Complementary Courses (6 credits)

Cultures and Development

  • TBD will choose 

Politics, Society and Development

  • POLI 244

Thematic Courses (15 credits)

  • ANTH 222
  • GEOG 216
  • ANTH 339
  • To choose? TBD
  • To choose? TBD

Methods Course (3 credits)

  • Course to be determined (e.g., INTD 358)

Before Submitting, Confirm That:

  • You meet the 300-level credit requirements.
  • You meet the INTD credit requirements.
  • You do not exceed discipline limits within the IDS program.
  • No course is being counted simultaneously in another program.
  • All courses used toward IDS have grades of C or higher.
  • No IDS course is being counted on an S/U basis.

 

 

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