Program Requirements: International Development and Social Change

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

Core Courses (5 units)

1. ID 125: Tales from the Far Side

2. Econ 128: Economic Development (or equivalent)

(NOTE: Econ 10: Issues and Perspectives (or an equivalent) is the prerequisite for ECON 128.)

3. Politics of development** (e.g., ID 136: Sub-Saharan Africa)

4. Resource management** (e.g., ID 126: Living in the Material World)

5. Socio-cultural issues** (e.g., ID 120: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology)

Area of Specialization** (4 units)

IDSC majors take at least four courses in an area of specialization. Students may follow

established specializations (e.g., Political Economy, Conflict and Development, Gender and

Development, Culture and Development, Participatory Development, Rural/Community-based

Development, Resource Management) or they may design their own area of specialization with

the approval of their IDSC advisor.

Methods (1 unit)

IDSC majors should take ID 132 Research Methods for International Development and Social

Change. With permission from your advisor, you may take an equivalent Methods course (e.g.,

Psych 105 Quantitative Methods; Govt 107 Research Methods in Politics; Soc 105 Sociology

Research Process, or Geography 141 Research Methods in Geography). Your Methods course

should be taken BEFORE you study abroad.

Skills courses (2 units)

IDSC majors will take two skills courses in computers, statistics, GIS,

cartography, conflict negotiation, upper-level cultural anthropology, or a foreign language at the

intermediate level (105 or above).

Internship or Field Research (1 unit) ID 298 or 299

Capstone (taken in the fall of your senior year): Senior Capstone Seminar (ID 290)

*IDSC majors must earn at least a C- in core and required courses to count toward the

major.

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.