Global Development Studies enables students to apply an interdisciplinary and critical lens to analyze and address social, economic, political, and environmental issues, inequalities, and injustices. Global development scholars and practitioners are committed to the decolonization of mindsets, institutions, and practices, equitable partnerships, empowerment, activism, and transformative impacts.
A Bachelor of Arts in Global Development Studies (GDS) provides students with relevant skills, knowledge, and experiential learning experiences that can be applied to wide-ranging careers in global development, social justice, and sustainable development fields. Some issues that you will learn about and engage with include poverty, gender inequality, sustainability, global health, climate change, refugees and forced migration, and humanitarian action.
The program:
- Explores concepts and theories of global development and applies them to problems of power, inequalities, and oppression
- Develops competencies in research, advocacy, policy, communications, evaluation, and program management
- Encourages self-reflexivity, inter-cultural and ethical understandings, and critical perspectives
- Builds opportunities for experiential learning, globally and locally
View program outline in the UFV Academic Calendar
The Global Development Studies program provides a solid base for specialized post-graduate studies in development studies, law, media and communications, research, conflict and humanitarianism, migration, global health, economics, the environment, and politics.
The program can lead to careers in the well-funded global development sector with governments (e.g. Global Affairs Canada), international and regional organizations (e.g. United Nations, African Union, European Union), international and Canadian NGOs and charities, private foundations, and research institutes and think tanks.
Students in the Global Development Studies program are encouraged to add minors and extended minors to their degrees to further enhance opportunities for post-graduate study and careers.
The entrance requirements of the Bachelor of Arts degree will apply to the Global Development Studies program.
View entrance requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Global Development Studies in the UFV Academic Calendar.
This program is open to international students
Students who do not meet the entrance requirements can upgrade in order to meet prerequisites for university classes.
Book an appointment with an Upgrading and University Preparation advisor to discuss your upgrading needs.
