Read about poverty, inequality, and injustice in a global context. Consider the dynamics that have brought the world to its current state. Evaluate what is being done in the name of international development. Topics may include war, debt, poverty, foreign aid, climate change, habitat destruction, food-security, hunger andmalnutrition, globalization and the rules of trade, rural and agrarian livelihoods, and urbanization and its consequences. Consider how these factors intersect as causes of global inequality, and how to rethink conventional solutions offered in the name of international development.

Compare the key actors in international development. Analyze the practices of states, international agencies, non-governmental organizations, and community-based groups, and their attempts to foster economic growth with social justice. Evaluate how social scientists, development practitioners, and community activists have assessed and critiqued the key institutions, practices, and theories of international development. Topics may include the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the development non-profit sector, corporate actors, as well as theories and critiques of international development, drawing on specific case studies.

This course integrates learning with a community based service project on an overseas international development initiative. The aim is to enrich students' education by providing a unique opportunity for acquiring first-hand skills and experiences. Students must consult with the IDS Co-ordinator to develop their Practicum prior to registration. The course is graded on a Credit/No Credit basis.

This course explores evolving perspective and schools of thought in the field of International Development Studies ranging from earlier modernization theory through to recent 'grassroots postmodernism.' Specific subjects covered may include the movement of peoples, the legacy of failed states and protracted regional conflicts, agrarian transformation, the impact of infra-structural projects, the question of sustainable development, global development organizations, and political resistance.

This course considers the practical and transferable management skills necessary to plan, implement, monitor and evaluate development projects, using group discussions, realistic project scenarios, and exercise simulations.

This course is compulsory for Honours students. The student conducts an independent research project on an important issue concerning international development studies under the direction of a member of the IDS program.