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Major in International Development and Social Change (B.A.)

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Analyze. Act. Achieve.

According to the International Monetary Fund, approximately 70 percent of all nations are “developing” — characterized by economic vulnerability and high levels of poverty. At Clark, international development and social change (IDSC) majors learn how to bring about positive change by thinking critically, acting collaboratively, and engaging responsibly.

Research and activism are hallmarks of the IDSC experience at Clark, from promoting sustainable development through local action to devising technological solutions to food shortages in developing nations. Our graduates — who have gone on to work for organizations including The World Bank, UNICEF, Care USA, Partners in Health, and the National Democratic Institute — work to create a better world every day.

Catalog Requirements for:

Major
Minor
Accelerated BA/Master's

Why Study International Development and Social Change at Clark?

  • If you want to make a difference in today’s fractious world, you can start by pursuing a degree in international development and social change at Clark, a longtime leader in the field, with thousands of alumni working for positive change across the world.
  • You will be active in the world; recent examples of student projects include working with an environmental activist organization in northeast Thailand, developing a social entrepreneur project in Colombia, and researching habitat encroachment in Myanmar.
  • Enjoy the benefits of being part of our renowned Department of International Development, Community and Environment, which is built on more than 35 years of collective field experience in North America, Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

International Development and Social Change

Featured Courses

ID 120

PLS

Introduction to Socio-Cultural Anthropology

Use anthropological observation and problem-solving to gain insight into other cultures — and your own; and explore the practicality of applying anthropological knowledge to further the cause of a more just world.

ID 235

Trafficking: Globalization and Its Illicit Commodities

Illegal trafficking — people, animals, and controlled substances — continues to thrive around the globe. Explore the opportunities and dilemmas faced by those who study and try to eliminate these shadow economies.

GEOG 107

PLS

Miracles of Asia: Economic Growth in Global Contexts

Why are many Asian countries (think China, India, and Japan) major players in global affairs? Through readings and class discussions, you’ll explore the reasons behind their rapid economic rise and sudden crises.

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The International Development and Social Change Path

In the classroom, IDSC majors develop critical analytical skills, explore links between local and global perspectives, and focus on the human and ecological dimensions of sustainability.

The major requires the completion of at least 12 courses. You’ll take five core courses and four in a subfield of international development and social change that interests you. You’ll also complete one methods course, two skills courses, one internship or directed research project, and a capstone seminar.

We encourage you to take courses across programs representing diverse perspectives, including undergraduate classes offered through Clark’s Graduate School of Geography and School of Management. This provides opportunities for you to gain the skills you need to work across the nonprofit, private, government, nongovernmental organization, and research sectors.

Skills you will learn include how to:

  • Read and interpret quantitative and qualitative data
  • Think critically about social, political, cultural, and economic dynamics and relationships
  • Work in teams to apply theory to real-world problems affecting vulnerable groups in Worcester and abroad
  • Address challenges on every level, from a village to the global policy arena
  • Problem-solve, evaluate, implement, monitor and communicate in a logical, organized way
  • Evaluate your own position and intentions to facilitate social change

Academic Achievement Award
The Academic Achievement Award is to an outstanding graduating senior in the IDSC honors program. Criteria for the award include overall GPA, GPA within the major, and quality of the IDSC honors thesis.

Impact Award
The Impact Award is given to a graduating senior in the international development major who has shown personal integrity and has demonstrated leadership and/or collaboration in community service and progressive change.

Theodore Von Laue Undergraduate Prize in International Development
The Theodore Von Laue Undergraduate Prize in International Development was established by Mrs. Theodore (Angela) Von Laue. The award goes to a junior majoring in international development, who has demonstrated accomplishment and commitment to the search for peace, equitable distribution of resources, human well-being, and environmental justice.

During your junior year, you might be accepted into the international development and social change honors program. Joining the program means you’ll work closely with a professor to create a thesis on a topic of your choice. Examples of recent honors theses topics are:

  • Immigrant Rights in the Climate of Economic Crisis: An Ethnographic Study on Native Public Opinion in Seville, Spain
  • Sex Work and Storytelling: Toward a Feminist Epistemology in Social Science Research
  • Access to and Utilization of Primary Healthcare Services by the African and Latino Immigrant Communities in Worcester, Massachusetts

Building your foundation

The Clark Experience

We structure our curriculum around Liberal Education and Effective Practice (LEEP), which connects classroom learning with action through world and workplace experiences.

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Explore the Department of International Development, Community, and Environment

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