International Development Studies is an interdisciplinary field of study focusing on the interconnected processes of social, political, economic, cultural, and environmental change taking place in poor countries and poorer regions of wealthy countries. Coursework in the minor emphasizes a global perspective on the process of change and development, critical analysis of the role of internal and external influences on the development process, and applications to local (including Montana) situations and challenges. The IDS minor takes advantage of existing faculty expertise and courses to offer an interdisciplinary experience for those students interested in either international or domestic development work. Students minoring in IDS will develop knowledge and skills appropriate for graduate study and for working in non-governmental organizations, international and bilateral government development organizations, the U.S. Peace Corps and other national/international equivalents, and /or community–development groups. The completion of the IDS minor also qualifies students for the UM Peace Corps Preparatory Program’s generalist certificate.
To earn a minor in International Development Studies the student must successfully complete a minimum of 21 credits (at least 7 upper–division). Of the 21 credits, 12 must be core courses and 9 must be content courses chosen from the following lists. Specialized independent study and internship credits can be counted for content credit when approved by the advisor.
With permission of a core faculty member, up to 6 credits of field experience in international development can be counted toward the content requirements.
Jill Belsky, Ph.D., Cornell University, 1991 (Professor, Society and Conservation)
Jeff Bookwalter, Ph.D., University of Utah, 2000 (Associate Professor, Economics)
Keith Bosek, Ph.D., University of Georgia-Athens, 2006 (Professor, Society and Conservation)
Janet Finn, Ph.D., University of Michigan, 1995 (Associate Professor, Social Work)
Paul Haber, Ph.D., Columbia University, 1992 (Professor, Political Science)
Sarah Halvorson, Ph.D., University of Colorado, Boulder, 2000 (Professor, Geography)
Peter Koehn, Ph.D., University of Colorado, Boulder, 1973 (Professor, Political Science)
Kimber Haddix McKay, Ph.D., University of California, Davis, 1998 (Associate Professor, Anthropology)
Phyllis B. Ngai, Ed.D., The University of Montana, 2004 (Adjunct Assistant Professor, Communication Studies)
Ranjan Shrestha, Ph.D., Ohio State University, 2006 (Assistant Professor, Economics)
Steve Siebert, Ph.D., Cornell University, 1990 (Professor, Forest Management)
Teresa Sobieszczyk, Ph.D., Cornell University, 2000 (Associate Professor, Sociology)
Daniel Spencer, Ph.D., Union Theological Seminary, 1994 (Associate Professor, Environmental Studies)