Minor program
By learning about different development theories and practices, as well as diverse cultural perspectives, students will gain a more comprehensive understanding of issues as well as build intercultural competency, which will serve them well in different local and international work places.
The minor is intended for students studying toward a major in the field of their choice. Global Development Studies (GDS) pairs extremely well with a range of different major programs in any faculty, especially the social sciences or humanities faculties.
Minor
The minor is intended for students studying toward a major in the field of their choice. Global Development Studies (GDS) pairs extremely well with a range of different major programs in any faculty, especially the Social Sciences or Humanities faculties.
You will also gain specialized knowledge in one of four global development issue areas in which UVic has expertise: environmental sustainability and public health; human rights, democracy, and gender; transnationalism, migration and mobility; or literature, culture and society.
Any course at the 200 level or above that constitutes part of a student’s Honours, Major or General program cannot be used to fulfill the requirements of the Minor in Global Development Studies.
To ensure interdisciplinary breadth of learning, GDS students are required to select electives from outside the academic unit in which they are completing a major or honours degree. None of the 9.0 upper-level units used for the GDS minor can be used to meet the requirements of another minor, major, or honours program. At least 6.0 units of the 9.0 units of 300- and 400-level coursework must be taken at UVic.
View electives on the Academic Calendar
Program requirements
The GDS Minor requires the successful completion of 13.5 units of coursework, consisting of four required core courses (6 units) and five elective courses (7.5 units) chosen from pre-approved course offerings of participating and collaborating programs.
Of the 13.5 units of coursework, 4.5 units must be at the lower level and 9.0 units at the upper level.
Lower level requirements
Lower level requirement (4.5 units) must include: GDS 201 and GDS 202; plus one of these approved history courses: HSTR 110, 112A, 112B.
Students majoring in History will be required to substitute 1.5 units of lower level history courses with 1.5 units in other fields relevant to global development from this list: ADMN 200; ECON 113; GEOG 101A; GNDR 100; LAS 200; PAAS 100; PHIL 236; SJS 100 or 200; SOCI 100B.
Upper level requirement (9.0 units)
Upper level requirements (9.0 units) must include: GDS 301 and GDS 400; 1.5 units in economics (see list); 1.5 units chosen from Cluster One (core disciplinary courses on global development or a specific region in the global south (see list); and 3.0 units of electives from one of the four themes listed in Cluster Two.
GDS202 - Contemporary Issues in Global Development Studies
GDS301 – Working in Global Development
GDS400 - Global Development Studies Capstone Seminar
Visit the Academic calendar for course descriptions.
Declare your minor or submit a program change
To declare your minor or submit a program change, you must have a minimum 12 units of completed course work, satisfied the University English Requirement and met all lower-level grade requirements for your program.
- Log into Online tools with your NetLink ID and password.
- Go to the Student services section.
- Select or hover over the Grades & records tab.
- Select Program declaration or change.
Advising
Send an email to acting GDS Program Director Reuben Rose-Redwood for help with GDS program requirements and course information.
For information specific to student degree requirements, contact Academic Advising for Humanities, Sciences and Social Sciences: 250-721-7567 or advising@uvic.ca.