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 Majors 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
Embedded Literacies: 3 courses (9 hours)
Students must complete at least one course each in Advanced Writing (AW), Data Analysis (DA) and Technology (TECH). These courses are part of the major and courses which fulfill the requirements are indicated below.
Required Foundations: 2 courses (6 hours)
- INTSTDS 3850 - Introduction to Globalization
- INTSTDS 4852 - Research in Globalization (AW)
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 & Secondary Specialization
If Development Studies is your Primary Specialization, choose five courses (15 hours). You will choose an additional 3 courses (9 hours) for your Secondary Specialization.
If Development Studies is your Secondary Specialization, choose three courses (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
Embedded Literacies: 3 courses (9 hours)
Students must complete at least one course each in Advanced Writing (AW), Data Analysis (DA) and Technology (TECH). These courses are part of the major and courses which fulfill the requirements are indicated below.
Required Foundations: 4 courses (12 hours)
- AEDECON/INTSTDS 4535 - International Economic Development
- Geography 5700 - Geography of Development
- INTSTDS 2500 - Introduction to Development Studies
- Political Science 3220 - Politics of the Developing World
Critical Perspectives: Choose 4 courses (12 hours), must include one EL Technology, one EL Advanced Writing & one EL Data Analysis
- AEDECON/INTSTDS 4320 - Energy, the Environment & the Economy
- AEDECON or INTSTDS 4532 - Food Security & Globalization
- AEDECON or INTSTDS 4534 - Comparative Challenges to Economic Development
- AEDECON or INTSTDS 4537 - Middle Eastern Economic Development
- Agricultural Communication 5150 - Communication Strategies for Change & Development
- Geography 3900 - Global Climate Change: Causes and Consequences
- Geography 3901H - Global Climate and Environmental Change
- INTSTDS 3400 - Analysis & Display of Data (EL Data Analysis)
- INTSTDS 3450 - Human Rights: An Introduction
- INTSTDS 3703 - Ethical Issues in the Information Age (EL Technology)
- INTSTDS 4700 - Terror & Terrorism (EL Advanced Writing)
- INTSTDS 4701 - Weapons of Mass Destruction (EL Technology)
- INTSTDS 4852 - Research in Globalization (EL Advanced Writing)
- Political Science 3780 - Data Literacy & Data Visualization (EL Data Analysis)
- Political Science 4335 - International Environmental Politics
- Political Science 4940 - Politics of Immigration
- Sociology 5563 - Global Inequality & Poverty
Electives: choose 2 courses (6 hours)
For electives, students can choose any combination of two courses from other International Studies specializations, the list below and unused courses from the Critical Perspectives.
- AEDECON or INTSTDS 4597.01 - Food, Population, and the Environment
- Anthropology 3597.01 - Crisis! An Anthropological Perspective of Global Issues
- Anthropology 3597.02 - Women, Culture and Development
- Anthropology 5602 - Medical Anthropology: Women’s Health
- Earth Sciences 3411 - Water Security in the 21st Century
- Earth Science 4425 - Energy Resources and Sustainability
- Geography 3597.01 - World Urbanization
- Geography 3800 - Geographical Perspectives on Environment & Society
- Geography 5801 - Environmental Conservation
- Geography 5802 - Globalization and Environment
- INTSTDS 4195 - Selected Problems in International Studies
- INTSTDS 5191 - Student Intern Program
- Rural Sociology 3580 - Social Groups in Developing Societies
- Public Affairs 5700 - Rebuilding Failed and Weak States
- INTSTDS/Sociology 3306 - Sociology of Poverty
- Sociology 3460 - Environmental Justice
Required Foundations: 4 courses (12 hours)
- AEDECON/INTSTDS 4535 - International Economic Development
- Geography 5700 - Geography of Development
- INTSTDS 2500 - Introduction to Development Studies
- Political Science 3220 - Politics of the Developing World
Critical Perspectives: Choose 4 courses (12 hours)
- AEDECON/INTSTDS 4320 - Energy, the Environment & the Economy
- AEDECON/INTSTDS 4532 - Food Security & Globalization
- AEDECON/INTSTDS 4534 - Comparative Challenges to Economic Development
- AEDECON/INTSTDS 4537 - Middle Eastern Economic Development
- Agricultural Communication 5150 - Communication Strategies for Change & Development
- Geography 3900 - Global Climate Change: Causes and Consequences
- Geography 3901H - Global Climate and Environmental Change
- International Studies 3450 - Human Rights: An Introduction
- International Studies 5801 - Children and War
- Political Science 4335 - International Environmental Politics
- Political Science 4940 - Politics of Immigration
- Sociology 5563 - Global Inequality & Poverty
Electives: Choose 2 courses (6 hours)
For electives, students can choose any combination of two courses from other International Studies specializations, the list below and unused courses from the Critical Perspectives.
- AECECON or INTSTDS 4597.01 - Food, Population, and the Environment
- Anthropology 4597.01 - Cultural Conflict in Developing Nations
- Anthropology 4597.02 - Women, Culture and Development
- Anthropology 5602 - Medical Anthropology: Women’s Health
- Earth Sciences 3411 - Water Security in the 21st Century
- Earth Science 4425 - Energy Resources and Sustainability
- Geography 3597.01 - World Urbanization
- Geography 3800 - Geographical Perspectives on Environment & Society
- Geography 5801 - Environmental Conservation
- Geography 5802 - Globalization and Environment
- INTSTDS 3400 - The Analysis and Display of Data
- INTSTDS 4195 - Selected Problems in International Studies
- INTSTDS 5191 - Student Intern Program
- INTSTDS 5616 - Challenges to Childhood: An International Perspective
- INTSTDS 5797 - Study Abroad (with department approval)
- Rural Sociology 3580 - Social Groups in Developing Societies
- Public Affairs 5700 - Rebuilding Failed and Weak States
- INTSTDS/Sociology 3306 - Sociology of Poverty
- Sociology 3460 - Environmental Justice
Bachelor of Science
Embedded Literacies: 3 courses (9 hours)
Students must complete at least one course each in Advanced Writing (AW), and Technology (TECH), and complete a 3- course sequence in Data Analysis (DA). These courses are part of the major and courses which fulfill the requirements are indicated below.
Required Foundations: 2 courses (6 hours)
- INTSTDS 3850 - Introduction to Globalization
- INTSTDS 4852 - Research in Globalization (AW)
Data Analysis: 3 courses (9 hours), Choose 1 3-course sequence
- 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
- Statistics 2450.01 or 2450.02 Introduction to Statistical Analysis I
- Statistics 3301 - Statistical Modeling for Discovery I
- C- or above in 3202; or 4202 and 5732. Prereq or concur: Math 2568; or permission of instructor.
- 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
Embedded Literacies: 3 courses (9 hours)
Students must complete at least one course each in Advanced Writing, Data Analysis, and Technology. These courses are part of the major and courses which fulfill the requirements are indicated below. The Stats 2450.01 prerequisite satisfies the EL Data Analysis.
Required Minor:
Students must complete one of the following minors, or a second major in the same field:
- Agribusiness: 4-5 courses (minimum 12 hours)
- Prerequisite: AEDECON 2001, or Econ 2001.01 or 2001.02
- Business: 5 courses (15 hours)
- Prerequisites: Econ 2001.01 or 2001.02, CSE 1110 or higher, Math 1130 or 1148 or math placement in M or L.
- City and Regional Planning: 4 courses (12 hours)
- Environmental Science: 5 courses (15 hours)
- Geographic Information Science: 6 courses (18 hours)
- Global Public Health: 5 courses (15 hours)
- Information Security: 6 courses (16 hours)
- Consult INTSTDS advisor for prerequisites and scheduling
- International Business: 6 courses (15 hours)
- Quantitative Economics: 5 courses (15-16 hours)
Required Foundations: 4 courses (12 hours)
- AEDECON/INTSTDS 4535 - International Economic Development
- Geography 5700 - Geography of Development
- INTSTDS 2500 - Introduction to Development Studies
- Political Science 3220 - Politics of the Developing World
Critical Perspectives: Choose 4 courses (12 hours), must include one EL Technology & one EL Advanced Writing
- AEDECON/INTSTDS 4320 - Energy, the Environment & the Economy
- AEDECON/INTSTDS 4532 - Food Security & Globalization
- AEDECON/INTSTDS 4534 - Comparative Challenges to Economic Development
- AEDECON/INTSTDS 4537 - Middle Eastern Economic Development
- Agricultural Communication 5150 - Communication Strategies for Change & Development
- Geography 3900 - Global Climate Change: Causes and Consequences
- Geography 3901H - Global Climate and Environmental Change
- INTSTDS 3450 - Human Rights: An Introduction
- INTSTDS 3703 - Ethical Issues in the Information Age (EL Technology)
- INTSTDS 4700 - Terror & Terrorism (EL Advanced Writing)
- INTSTDS 4701 - The Development and Control of Weapons of Mass Destruction (EL Technology)
- INTSTDS 4852 - Research in Globalization (EL Advanced Writing)
- Political Science 4335 - International Environmental Politics
- Political Science 4940 - Politics of Immigration
- Sociology 5563 - Global Inequality & Poverty
Electives: choose 1 course (3 hours)
For the elective, students can choose from the list below, unused courses from the Critical Perspectives, or a courses from other International Studies specializations.
- AEDECON/INTSTDS 4597.01 - Food, Population, and the Environment
- Anthropology 3597.01 - Crisis! An Anthropological Perspective of Global Issues
- Anthropology 3597.02 - Women, Culture and Development
- Anthropology 5602 - Medical Anthropology: Women’s Health
- Earth Sciences 3411 - Water Security in the 21st Century
- Earth Science 4425 - Energy Resources and Sustainability
- Geography 3597.01 - World Urbanization
- Geography 3800 - Geographical Perspectives on Environment & Society
- Geography 5801 - Environmental Conservation
- Geography 5802 - Globalization and Environment
- INTSTDS 4195 - Selected Problems in International Studies
- INTSTDS 5191 - Student Intern Program
- INTSTDS/PUBAFFRS 5700 - Rebuilding Failed and Weak States
- Rural Sociology 3580 - Social Groups in Developing Societies
- Sociology 3306 - Sociology of Poverty
- Sociology 3460 - Environmental Justice
Required Minor:
Students must complete one of the following minors, or a second major in the same field:
- Agribusiness: 4-5 courses (minimum 12 hours)
- Prerequisite: AEDECON 2001, or Econ 2001.01 or 2001.02
- Business: 5 courses (15 hours)
- Prerequisites: Econ 2001.01 or 2001.02, CSE 1110 or higher, Math 1130 or 1148 or math placement in M or L.
- City and Regional Planning: 4 courses (12 hours)
- Environmental Science: 5 courses (15 hours)
- Geographic Information Science: 6 courses (18 hours)
- Global Public Health: 5 courses (15 hours)
- Information Security: 6 courses (16 hours)
- Consult INTSTDS advisor for prerequisites and scheduling
- International Business: 6 courses (15 hours)
- Quantitative Economics: 5 courses (15-16 hours)
Required Foundations: 4 courses (12 hours)
- AEDECON/INTSTDS 4535 - International Economic Development
- Geography 5700 - Geography of Development
- INTSTDS 2500 - Introduction to Development Studies
- Political Science 3220 - Politics of the Developing World
Critical Perspectives: Choose 4 courses (12 hours)
- AEDECON/INTSTDS 4320 - Energy, the Environment & the Economy
- AEDECON/INTSTDS 4532 - Food Security & Globalization
- AEDECON/INTSTDS 4534 - Comparative Challenges to Economic Development
- AEDECON/INTSTDS 4537 - Middle Eastern Economic Development
- Agricultural Communication 5150 - Communication Strategies for Change & Development
- Geography 3900 - Global Climate Change: Causes and Consequences
- Geography 3901H - Global Climate and Environmental Change
- INTSTDS 3450 - Human Rights: An Introduction
- INTSTDS 5801 - Children and War
- Political Science 4335 - International Environmental Politics
- Political Science 4940 - Politics of Immigration
- Sociology 5563 - Global Inequality & Poverty
Electives: choose 1 course (3 hours)
For the elective, students can choose from the list below, unused courses from the Critical Perspectives, or a courses from other International Studies specializations.
- AEDECON/INTSTDS 4597.01 - Food, Population, and the Environment
- Anthropology 4597.01 - Cultural Conflict in Developing Nations
- Anthropology 4597.02 - Women, Culture and Development
- Anthropology 5602 - Medical Anthropology: Women’s Health
- Earth Sciences 3411 - Water Security in the 21st Century
- Earth Science 4425 - Energy Resources and Sustainability
- Geography 3597.01 - World Urbanization
- Geography 3800 - Geographical Perspectives on Environment & Society
- Geography 5801 - Environmental Conservation
- Geography 5802 - Globalization and Environment
- INTSTDS 4195 - Selected Problems in International Studies
- INTSTDS 5191 - Student Intern Program
- INTSTDS 5616 - Challenges to Childhood: An International Perspective
- INTSTDS/PUBAFFRS 5700 - Rebuilding Failed and Weak States
- INTSTDS 5797 - Study Abroad (with department approval)
- Rural Sociology 3580 - Social Groups in Developing Societies
- Sociology 3306 - Sociology of Poverty
- Sociology 3460 - Environmental Justice