International Development Studies 3+1 Program
Complete a Unique Pathway to a Career in International Development
Do you want to make a difference to the pressing issues facing the world? Do you see yourself working locally or somewhere around the world in a role like Economic Development Officer, International Aid Worker, or Policy Analyst?
The University of Guelph and Humber Polytechnic are excited to offer a new pathway for students to receive both a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in International Development Studies and an Ontario Graduate Certificate in International Development within four years.
This collaborative 3+1 program is open to students applying directly from high school, as well as University of Guelph students currently enrolled in the International Development Studies major.
If you are a current IDS student interested in transferring to the 3+1 program, speak to a Bachelor of Arts Academic Advisor. Note: students enrolled in a co-op program are not eligible for the 3+1 program.
- 5 Specializations
- to choose from to customize your degree
- 30+ Countries
- available as study abroad options to expand your horizons
- 2-6 Weeks
- of hands-on learning through field schools
- 12 Weeks
- of industry experience during your placement
Earn a Degree and Graduate Certificate in 4 Years
Years 1-3: University of Guelph
In the 3+1 program, you'll spend your first three years at the University of Guelph, completing your honours bachelor of arts degree.
Our expert-taught classes will give you a strong foundation to understand the complexities of economic and social development in Canada and around the world.
You'll study the causes, consequences, and solutions to significant social, political, and economic inequalities and develop skills to address them. Dive further into your specific interests with one of our five areas of emphasis.
Year 4: Humber Polytechnic
If you have met academic requirements by the end of third year, you'll move on to complete your fourth year at Humber Polytechnic's Lakeshore Campus.
The Ontario Graduate Certificate in International Development is a management program that will provide you with an opportunity to make a difference on a global scale.
The certificate will equip you with the hard and soft skills required by industry partners to develop and grow international development and disaster relief projects globally.
Five Areas of Emphasis to Choose From
Whether you're passionate about the environment, gender and inclusivity, food security, or development—whether in Canada or internationally—you can choose a specialization that will transform your interests into the knowledge and skills needed to create meaningful change. Our five areas of emphasis offer a variety of elective courses you can choose from, allowing you to design a program that aligns with your aspirations and goals. Your journey to creating meaningful change starts here!
Discover the critical role of agriculture and the agrifood system in combating hunger and improving nutrition and health, both locally and globally. By the end of this program, you will be empowered and equipped to drive positive, inclusive, and sustainable change while helping to alleviate food insecurity.
Sample Courses
- Eating Sustainably in Ontario
- Food Security, Nutrition and International Development
- Poverty, Food and Hunger
Development challenges exist worldwide, including within Canada. By focusing on development in the Canadian context, you will explore issues such as poverty, global migration, inequality, Indigenous-settler relations, and food insecurity right here at home. This program gives you the knowledge and tools to create real, inclusive change in Canada.
Sample Courses
- Gender and Change in Rural Canada
- Migration, Inequality and Social Change
- Governments and Indigenous Spaces
In places where institutions are weak or unstable, complex issues such as migration, conflict, social change, and the effects of colonization often come into play. By studying development in these fragile areas, you'll look at challenges like government failure, rebuilding after conflict, and social insecurity, all while learning how to create smart and effective strategies for positive change.
Sample Courses
- Culture, Rights and Development
- Revolution in the Modern World
- Migration, Inequality and Social Change
How can we make development sustainable for both our communities and the planet? Dive into the issues caused by environmental change and how we use natural resources. You will explore topics such as urban growth, consumerism, environmental policies, natural disasters, water use, land use, and climate change. Now is the time to take action and create positive, lasting change for a more sustainable future!
Sample Courses
- Environment, Justice and Society
- Global Environmental Change
- Media, Digital Technology and Environment
This area of focus emphasizes the importance of viewing development through an inclusive lens, particularly in relation to gender. You will examine how development often excludes or negatively impacts women and other marginalized groups and gain the skills to create policies that promote inclusivity, addressing not only gender but also sexuality, race, Indigenous communities, and other groups that have been overlooked or mistreated.
Sample Courses
- Global Gender Justice
- Women and Cultural Change
- Sexuality, Gender, Race, and Indigeneity
"We know the challenges facing our world can seem daunting, but in International Development Studies, we dive headfirst into exploring the difficult questions needed to really understand these issues. Our interconnected world needs passionate changemakers who can understand these challenges from multiple perspectives on a global scale, and that's exactly what we train our students to do."
Get Industry Experience with Fourth Year Field Placement
During the summer semester of your fourth year, you'll get 12 weeks of industry experience through a mandatory field placement, either in Canada or abroad.
Your specific field placement will be based on a combination of your unique interests as well as availability with industry partners in community development, international development, and the humanitarian sector.
Your opportunities for experience outside the classroom don't just start in fourth year – during your time at the University of Guelph, you can take advantage of other career-oriented experiences embedded into your degree. Learn more about study abroad, course-based experiential learning, field schools and volunteering.
What International Development Studies Graduates Say
"As an International Development Studies student, I knew that I needed to study abroad to get to know different cultures. Although going on exchange was one of the scariest things I've ever done in my life, it was also one of the most enriching. It has definitely broadened my horizons and made me more appreciative of different cultures."
"One course I took was about global food systems and security, and now I actually work alongside some of those authors whose work I read in that class... I also took a course where we went to the Yukon and studied northern food systems and food security, which is a key component to the work I do now. That definitely helped land this job."
Admission Requirements
Explore admission requirements for Canadian, international, transfer, and mature students. Start your journey today!
Scholarships & Bursaries
We offer a wide range of financial aid programs to assist with funding your education at the University of Guelph.
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