Development Studies
Bachelor of Arts
(Faculty of Arts)
The Development Studies program emphasizes a global perspective on the processes of change and development, and a critical analysis of the impact of internal and external forces on nations, cultures and ecosystems. It spans many academic disciplines, including economics, political science, human geography, cultural studies and communication, and gives students an integrated survey of development issues from diverse fields. The Development Studies program at the University of Calgary is unique in that it looks beyond traditional economic development in the Global South (that is, the area once known as the "third world") to examine social issues here in Canada and in the circumpolar North.
In Development Studies, you will explore questions such as these:
- What does it mean to ‘develop’ or ‘modernize’?
- What are the obligations of richer countries to those who are economically worse off?
- How can social and economic inequities be redressed? How are basic needs to be met?
- How do we define what is environmentally sustainable or healthy for our communities? How do we define and protect human rights?
- What is the nature and role of culture as a context for these issues?
- How are environmental and social concerns interconnected?
- How can Canada respond to these challenges, both internationally and within our own boarders?
If you believe that it is important to understand how the global community is interconnected, and that it is important to make a difference in the world, Development Studies will be of interest to you.
The Co-operative Education version of the program will give you the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in up to four paid work terms of three months each. For details see our Co-op website.Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission applicants are required to present the appropriate high school subjects and a competitive average.
Application/Document Deadlines
Why take this program?
Making a difference
Do you want to make the world a better place? Are you interested in working in developing nations and in Canadian communities, especially in the North? The Development Studies program provides you with the conceptual and practical building blocks for careers in international and northern Canadian development. You can use your cultural understanding, practical experiences, and analytical skills in work with government and non-governmental organizations. These organizations could be involved in projects such as international relief assistance, improving access to basic necessities such as food, housing and sanitation, and literacy and agricultural initiatives.
Your global experience
Are you interested in experiencing other cultures? Do you have a desire to learn about different regions of the world? The Development Studies degree will enhance your cultural understanding and awareness. You can study several regions of the world, including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America and Native North America. The program also offers you opportunities to enroll in field schools and to participate in term-abroad, internship and co-op programs that provide first-hand research and practical experiences in Canada and abroad.
Your tool kit
An education in Development Studies can be used to advantage in many careers beyond the obvious one of working for a development agency. The program will equip you with research and communication skills and an understanding of global cultural issues that can be deployed in a wide variety of ways in businesses with international connections, with governmental agencies and non-governmental agencies, and local social development and not-for-profit agencies. The Development Studies degree also offers excellent academic preparation for professional careers in law, social work, education and public policy. The Co-op Education route will allow you to add relevant work experience to your portfolio without sacrificing the academic rigour of your coursework. An MA and PhD program is available if you wish to continue your studies.
Interdisciplinary education
As part of your degree you will become familiar with the deep roots of Western culture, with one or more non-Western cultures, and with the intersections of thought that knit together politics, science, religion, art and philosophy. This broad education can form the basis for a rich and varied range of careers.
What will I study in my first year?
In your first year you will take Development Studies 201, which provides an interdisciplinary introduction to the most important currents of thought in the field.
Development studies first year makes it an ideal time to explore a wide variety of courses in other areas that might interest you: Sociology, Art History, Languages, Philosophy. Literature -- try them all!What will I study in later years?
As you progress through the program, you will study issues such as gender and development (DEST 375), international and intercultural communication (DEST 485) and the role of indigenous knowledge in development (DEST 401). You will learn important research skills (GNST 313) and how to apply them to a wide variety of interdisciplinary problems. In the capstone seminar (DEST 591), you will bring your skills and knowledge together to solve a practical "real world" problem for a local development or social services organization. You will also study economics in order to learn about one of the primary forces driving -- and sometimes impeding -- development.
In addition, you will take a pair of courses that many students describe as life-changing experiences: General Studies 300 and General Studies 500. These courses integrate a breathtaking sweep of knowledge and culture from the Greeks and Romans to present-day thinkers and artists into a personal search for meaning and place in an uncertain world. The courses expose you to the evolution of modern ideas through some of the most influential thinkers of the past.
In your final year, you may wish to take an Honours program. Honours in development Studies is excellent preparation for graduate school, but you may also be interested in Honours for the opportunity to explore a topic in depth for eight months in close consultation with a supervisor. For details see http://www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/honours
In later years you may choose to enrich your educational experience and deepen your learning by acting as a peer mentor for junior students while you learn the theoretical background of knowledge building (GNST 507 and 509). Many Development Studies students participate in an African Studies field school in Ghana in which they meet international development issues and the people involved in them first hand.
What can I do with this degree?
Development Studies and other liberal arts degrees open doors to a wide range of professions and careers. Development Studies graduates have gone on to careers in the following areas and types of institutions:
- Foreign Affairs Canada
- Canadian International Development Agency
- Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
- International literacy programs
- Journalism
- Education
- International business
- Tourism
- Archivist
- Business or Government Consultant
- Economic Development Advisor
- Government Relations Advisor
- Intelligence Officer
- Policy Analyst
- Public Administration
- Public Policy Advisor
- Strategic Planner
To see a full list of potential skills, careers and industries available to you, take a look at the Career Services Development Studies Career Profile (PDF).
Additional Information
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