International Development Studies BA

Overview

The curriculum introduces students to key theoretical debates around development and to detailed case studies of successful and failed interventions; and provides methodological training. Core and elective courses illuminate the extent to which realities that affect people often arise owing to economic class, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, migrant status and other identities, and investigate the impact of policy solutions and forms of citizen engagement on communities and the environment. Students are trained to both think critically about these issues and explore ways to engage with development work at home and abroad through experiential learning, internships, immersive study abroad programs, independent faculty-guided research, and collaborative group projects.

The International Development Studies major is a designated capstone major. Seniors must complete an advanced seminar that provides unique opportunity to work closely with a faculty member on a focused topic of research. Students completing the capstone should be able to demonstrate skills and expertise acquired in earlier coursework; identify, analyze, and select relevant data from primary and secondary sources; acquire a working knowledge of broader scholarly discourse; conceive and execute an original research paper; and engage with a community of scholars, presenting their work to peers as well as providing feedback on peers’ work. The seminar culminates in a written paper or project and a formal class report.

Learning Outcomes

Demonstrated specific skills and expertise, including original research, data analysis, clear and cogent writing, and general knowledge/critique of majors issues in the field

Identification, analysis, selection, and use of relevant data from primary and secondary sources

Working knowledge and formation of an opinion about diverse perspectives and discourses

Design of an original research project that identifies, engages, and addresses a focused problem

Active engagement with a community of scholars by expressing viewpoints through robust and informed discourse

Requirements

Admission

Admission to the International Development Studies major is by application only. To be eligible to apply, students must have first completed all nonlanguage preparation courses and the foreign language courses through at least level 3 (elementary level). Any remaining language courses may be completed after students have been accepted to the major. Each preparation for the major course must be taken for a letter grade, and students must have a UC grade-point average of 2.0 or better in those courses.

The application period is once per year, and students must apply no later than the end of fall quarter of their junior year.

Meeting the above minimums does not guarantee admission to the program. Admission is on a competitive basis, using the above qualifications as minimum standards for consideration.

Premajor

Preparation for the Major

Required: (1) International Development Studies 1; (2) one course from Economics 1, 2, Geography 4, Public Affairs 30, or 40; (3) one methods course from Economics 41, Education 35, History 96W, Political Science 6, 6R, Public Affairs 60, Sociology 20, Statistics 10, or 12; (4) three social sciences/area studies courses, each from a different category, selected from (a) Anthropology 3, (b) Gender Studies 10, (c) Geography 3, 5, 6, (d) Global Studies 1, International and Area Studies 1, 31, 33, 50, (e) History 8A, 8B, 8C, 9A, 9D, 9E, 10B, 10BW, 11B, 12B, 12C, 22, (f) Political Science 20, 50, (g) Sociology 1, (h) Comparative Literature 4DW, Spanish 44; and (5) demonstrated proficiency in one modern foreign language equivalent to level 6 at UCLA.

Preparation for the Major Policies

Transfer Students

Transfer applicants to the International Development Studies premajor with 90 or more units must complete the following introductory courses prior to admission to UCLA: two introductory macroeconomics, microeconomics, and/or economic geography courses; one statistics course; three courses, each from a separate category, selected from sociocultural anthropology, cultural or economic geography, cultural area studies, world history, comparative politics, and introductory sociology; and demonstrated proficiency equivalent to level 3 at UCLA in one modern foreign language. Transfer students must apply for the major by the end of fall quarter of their junior year.

Refer to the UCLA transfer admission guide for up-to-date information regarding transfer selection for admission.

The Major

Required: (1) Three core courses selected from International Development Studies 110, M120, 130, and 140; (2) capstone seminar course: International Development Studies 191; (3) one research methodology course from Anthropology 138P, Asian American Studies 103, C142A, C142B, Chicana/o and Central American Studies M119, M122, 123, Economics 103, Political Science 170A, Public Affairs 115, 116, Sociology 113, Statistics 112, Urban Planning M122; (4) three social and critical theory courses, each from a different department, from Anthropology 130, 140, 143, 146, 147, Economics 111, 112, 134, Environment M125, M133, M161, Gender Studies 102, 103, Geography M125, M127, 130, 140, 141, 148, 150, 151, 158, International Development Studies 110 or M120 or 130 or 140 (if not taken under item 1), M150, Political Science 122A, M122B, 124A, 167D, 168, Public Affairs 110, Sociology 101, 102, M115, 122, 123, 182, 183, 191D, Urban Planning M110, 121, M160, CM166; (5) two regional courses, either from the same or separate developing regions of the world (East Asia and East Central Asia, Eastern Europe and West Central Asia, Latin America and Caribbean Basin, Middle East and North Africa, South and Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands, Sub-Saharan Africa) and one disciplinary elective listed below:

East Asia and East Central Asia: Anthropology 163P, Asian American Studies 171A, Chinese 152, Gender Studies M170C, Geography 175B, History M170C, 170D, Korean 154, 155, 180C, Political Science 135, 159A, 159B, Sociology 181A.

Eastern Europe and West Central Asia: Anthropology 163Q, Central and East European Studies 125, 126, Gender Studies M127, History 107C, 120B, 120D, 127B, 127C, Political Science 128B, 156A, Russian 120, 121, 122, M127, 131.

Global North: Asian American Studies 134, Chicana/o and Central American Studies M132, Education M108, English 106, Sociology 152, Theater 107.

Latin America and Caribbean Basin: African American Studies M154C, M178, Anthropology 161, 162, Art History C142B, Chicana/o and Central American Studies M125, M126, M144, CM147, 169, Community Health Sciences 132, Gender Studies 123, M144, M147C, Geography 172A, 172C, History 157B, 162A, Honors Collegium M145, Political Science 124C, 154A, 154B, M184A, Portuguese 142A, 143A, Sociology M178, 186.

Middle East and North Africa: Anthropology M166Q, 167, History 105C, M108C, 109B, 111C, Honors Collegium M157, Political Science 132A, M132B, 157, 165.

South and Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands: Anthropology 168P, Asian American Studies 122A, 122B, M171D, 171E, 172C, M173, Gender Studies M164A, Geography 176A, History M144C, 174B, 174C, 175A, 175C, 176B, 176C, 177B, Honors Collegium 184, Political Science 158, Southeast Asian 135, 157, Vietnamese CM155, 180B.

Sub-Saharan Africa: Anthropology 166P, Art History C145A, C145B, Comparative Literature 169, Geography 138, History 164D, 164E, 166B, 168B, Political Science 151A, 151B.

Disciplinary Electives: Anthropology M145R, M148, Community Health Sciences 100, Economics 121, 122, 137, 150, 151, Education 152A, English 130, 131, Environment 186, Film and Television 106C, 112, M124, Gender Studies M154Q, M154R, Geography M131, 139C, M142, Global Studies 102, 103, 104, History 131A, Honors Collegium M152, Political Science 116A, 123A, 126, 137A, 150, Sociology 154, 191F.

The Major Policies

Study Abroad

International Development Studies majors are highly encouraged to study abroad in developing areas of the world. Students can do so through a variety of programs with various lengths (summer or during the academic year). More information about study abroad programs is available through the UCLA International Education Office. Contact the office by e-mail, in person at 1332 Murphy Hall, or by phone at 310-825-4995.

Honors Program

Majors who have completed International Development Studies 110, M120, and 130 and who have a 3.5 grade-point average in all courses offered for the major are eligible to formally apply for the honors program. In addition to completing all courses required for the major, students must take courses 198A, 198B, and 198C, in which they research, write, and present an honors thesis. To receive honors at graduation, students must have at least a 3.5 GPA in courses applied toward the major (including 198A, 198B, 198C) and an overall GPA of 3.0.

Highest honors are awarded to students who complete the major (including courses 198A, 198B, 198C) with a 3.75 GPA and who produce an exceptional thesis.