Interdepartmental Programs
International Development Studies
About International Development Studies
The International Development Studies Program, founded in July 1987, offers UCLA undergraduates an interdisciplinary education on the critical issues, problems, and achievements common to developing regions of the world.
Applying to IDS
UCLA students interested in the IDS major are required to submit an online application
The application period will be Fall 2012. in order to apply students should:
- Complete all Preparation Requirements by the END of Fall 2012 with a minimum UC GPA in these courses of 2.00
- Complete at least level 3 of a foreign language. Level 6 of the foreign language is required to complete all preparation requirements, but can be done once accepted to the major.
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Complete online application during Fall 2012 (dates to be determined).
The application will be available under the Applying to the IDS Major link during Fall 2012. More information about the application process can be found under the Applying to the IDS Major link.
Students interested in applying to the IDS major should contact the IDS Advising Office.
IDS SUMMER 2012 COURSES
Note that there are no course restrictions or prerequisites for summer courses.
Students interested in taking IDS 191 must contact the office for a PTE number.
Check the Schedule of Classes for specific information about each course.
IDS Chair, Michael Lofchie talking to students at the Open House event hosted by the International Institute IDPs
Our curriculum emphasizes global- and regional- scale perspectives, as well as an array of themes to pursue (political- economy, cultural-aesthetic, and private sector development). This Bachelor of Arts degree is designed for students interested in careers or vocations requiring an understanding of the diverse development experiences of the world.
IDS students' educational experiences are balanced between applied, field case-study learning and theoretical, conceptual knowledge. We believe strongly that these two types of learning are inseparable, and are useful for work in academia, government agencies, private industry, or non-governmental and non-profit organizations. Most importantly, the program assists students in developing critical thinking skills with insight into, and knowledge of, the complex and diverse world community.
UCLA offers an undergraduate major leading to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in International Development Studies. Our interdisciplinary approach to the study of international development enables students to address urgent global issues from several different academic perspectives. Ranging from Anthropology to Economics, Public Health to Women's Studies, Geography to History, and Political Science to Sociology, our curriculum exposes students to the concerns of the developing countries of Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. An understanding of these issues is indispensable for both practical and scholarly purposes. While encouraging the acquisition of theoretical and conceptual knowledge, the program is equally concerned with their practical application to global realities. The program values field experience involving travel, study and/or work in regions in the Developing World. Thus a strongly encouraged (though not required) aspect of the major is study abroad, especially in a developing area, and an internship in a local, national, or international community development agency/organization. Common topics of concern to students in International Development Studies major include:
- The History of International Economic Expansion
- Development Theory & Aid Institutions
- The Consequences of Rapid Urbanization
- Population-Resource Issues
- The Transfer of Resources
- Conflict Resolution
- Human Migration & Refugee Relief
- War and Political Violence
- Health, Illness, and Health Services
- Food Security & Self-Sufficiency
- Human Rights & Environmental Justice
- Political Stability & Democratization
- Survival of Indigenous Societies
- Conflicts between Modernity & Tradition
- Inequalities of Wealth & Power at all Levels
- Relationships between Development & Underdevelopment
- Cultural Identity and Cultural Production
- Gender Disparities in Education, Health, Nutrition and Work
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