Development Studies
The Development Studies major is intended to introduce students to historical, economic, political, geographical, social and cultural explanations of underdevelopment and modernization in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. Development Studies majors study actors internal to the regions of the world undergoing development, as well as the influence of international economic and political forces and institutions.
In addition to the course requirements below, International Studies majors must be proficient in a language other than English. To learn more about the language requirement, visit the World Language Requirement page.
To learn more about major requirements, check out the links below. Requirements and course offerings do change, so if you have any questions please reach out to internationalstudies@osu.edu or contact your academic advisor.
Development Studies Major Requirements
Bachelor of Arts
For students admitted to OSU prior to Autumn 2023, please schedule an appointment with an advisor.
World Language Requirement: All International Studies majors must be proficient in a language other than English (2000 level)
International Studies is an 11 course major (33 hours) (World Language does not count toward this total)
Embedded Literacies: 3 courses (9 hours)
Students must complete one course each in Advanced Writing (AW), Data Analysis (DA) and Technology (TECH) as part of the major.
Required Foundations: 2 courses (6 hours)
- INTSTDS 3850 - Introduction to Globalization (AW) - ideally taken sophomore year
- INTSTDS 4852 - Research in Globalization (AW) - ideally taken senior year
Methods & Analysis: Choose one course (3 hours)
- Geography 4103 - Introductory Spatial Data Analysis (DA)
- INTSTDS 3400 - The Analysis & Display of Data (DA)
- Political Science 3780 - Data Literacy & Data Visualization (DA)
- Sociology 5650 - Presenting & Communicating Quantitative Data (DA)
Primary Specialization: any 5 courses from list below (15 hours)
Secondary Specialization: any 3 courses from list below (9 hours)
- AEDECON/INTSTDS 4535 - International Economic Development
- AEDECON 4320 - Energy, the Environment & the Economy
- AEDECON/INTSTDS 4532 - Food Security & Globalization
- AEDECON/INTSTDS 4537 - Middle Eastern Economic Development
- AEDECON//INTSTDS 4597.01 - Food, Population, & the Environment
- AGRCOMM 5150 - Communication Strategies for Change & Development
- ANTHROP 3597.02 - Women, Culture & Development
- ANTHROP 5602 - Women’s Health in Global Perspective
- COMM 3554 - Social Implications of Communication Technology (TECH)
- CRPLAN 3400 - Planning for Sustainable Economic Development
- ENR/WGSST 3530 - Women, Environment & Development
- GEOG 3597.01 - World Urbanization
- GEOG 3800 - Geographical Perspectives on Environment & Society
- GEOG 3900 - Global Climate Change: Causes & Consequences
- GEOG 5700 - Geography of Development
- GEOG 5801 - Environmental Conservation
- GEOG 5802 - Globalization & Environment
- GEOG 3901H - Global Climate & Environmental Change
- HISTART / INTSTDS 3905 - The Developing World on Screen
- INTSTDS 2500 - Introduction to Development
- INTSTDS 3450 - Human Rights: An Introduction
- INTSTDS 3703 - Ethical Issues in Information Technology (TECH)
- INTSTDS 4701 - The Development & Control of Weapons of Mass Destruction (TECH)
- POLITSC 3220 - Politics of the Developing World
- POLITSC 3596 - Nationalism & Ethnicity
- POLITSC 4335 - International Environmental Politics
- POLITSC 4940 - Politics of Immigration
- RURLSOC 3580 - Social Groups in Developing Societies
- SOCIOL 3302 - Technology & Global Society (TECH)
- SOCIOL 3306 - Sociology of Poverty
- SOCIOL 3460 - Environmental Justice
Bachelor of Science
For students admitted to OSU prior to Autumn 2025, please schedule an appointment with an advisor.
World Language Requirement: All International Studies majors must be proficient in a language other than English (2000 level)
International Studies is an 11 course major (33 hours) (World Language does not count toward this total)
Embedded Literacies: 3 courses (9 hours)
These courses are part of the major - one course in Advanced Writing (AW); one in Technology (TECH); and complete a 3-course sequence in Data Analysis (DA).
Required Foundations: 2 courses (6 hours)
- INTSTDS 3850 - Introduction to Globalization (AW) - ideally taken sophomore year
- INTSTDS 4852 - Research in Globalization (AW) - ideally taken senior year
Data Analysis: 3 courses (9 hours)
Choose one 3-course Series, and complete the 3 courses from that one Series
- Series 1
- Geography 4103 - Introductory Spatial Data Analysis
- Geography 5103 - Intermediate Spatial Data Analysis
- Geography 5210 - Fundamentals of Geographic Information System
- Series 2
- INTSTDS 3400 - The Analysis & Display of Data or Political Science 3780 - Data Literacy & Data Visualization
- Political Science 4781- Data Literacy in Political Science I
- Political Science 4782 - Data Literacy in Political Science II
- Series 3 (check course catalog for prerequisites for 3301 and 3302)
- Statistics 2450.01 or 2450.02 Introduction to Statistical Analysis I
- Statistics 3301 - Statistical Modeling for Discovery I:
- Prerequisites: MATH 2568 and STAT 3202 and 3201
- Statistics 3302 - Statistical Modeling for Discovery II
Specialization: Choose 6 courses (18 hours)
- AEDECON/INTSTDS 4535 - International Economic Development
- AEDECON 4320/4320E - Energy, the Environment & the Economy
- AEDECON/INTSTDS 4532 - Food Security & Globalization
- AEDECON/INTSTDS 4537 - Middle Eastern Economic Development
- AEDECON/INTSTDS 4597.01/4597.01H - Food, Population & the Environment
- AGRCOMM 5150 - Communication Strategies for Change & Development
- ANTHROP 3597.02 - Women, Culture & Development
- ANTHROP 5602 - Women’s Health in Global Perspective
- COMM 3554 - Social Implications of Communication Technology (TECH)
- CRPLAN 3400 - Planning for Sustainable Economic Development
- ENR/WGSST 3530 - Women, Environment & Development
- GEOG 3597.01 - World Urbanization
- GEOG 3800 - Geographical Perspectives on Environment & Society
- GEOG 3900.01/3900.02 - Global Climate Change: Causes & Consequences
- GEOG 5700 - Geography of Development
- GEOG 5801 - Environmental Conservation
- GEOG 5802 - Globalization & Environment
- GEOG 3901H - Global Climate & Environmental Change
- HISTART/INTSTDS 3905 - The Developing World on Screen
- INTSTDS 2500 - Introduction to Development
- INTSTDS 3450 - Human Rights: An Introduction
- INTSTDS/GEOG 3650 - A World Divided? Place, Space, and Regions in World Affairs
- INTSTDS 3703 - Ethical Issues in Information Technology (TECH)
- INTSTDS 4701 - The Development & Control of Weapons of Mass Destruction (TECH)
- POLITSC 3220 - Politics of the Developing World
- POLITSC 3596 - Nationalism & Ethnicity
- POLITSC 4335 - International Environmental Politics
- POLITSC 4940 - Politics of Immigration
- RURLSOC 3580 - Social Groups in Developing Societies
- SOCIOL 3302 - Technology & Global Society (TECH)
- SOCIOL 3306 - Sociology of Poverty
- SOCIOL 3460 - Environmental Justice