International Development Studies

International Development Studies BA

Capstone Major

The International Development Studies major is a designated capstone major. Seniors must complete an advanced seminar that provides unique opportunity to work closely with a faculty member on a focused topic of research. Students completing the capstone should be able to demonstrate skills and expertise acquired in earlier coursework; identify, analyze, and select relevant data from primary and secondary sources; acquire a working knowledge of broader scholarly discourse; conceive and execute an original research paper; and engage with a community of scholars, presenting their work to peers as well as providing feedback on peers’ work. The seminar culminates in a written paper or project and a formal class report.

The International Development Studies major has the following learning outcomes:

• Demonstrated specific skills and expertise, including original research, data analysis, clear and cogent writing, and general knowledge/critique of majors issues in the field
• Identification, analysis, selection, and use of relevant data from primary and secondary sources
• Working knowledge and formation of an opinion about diverse perspectives and discourses
• Design of an original research project that identifies, engages, and addresses a focused problem
• Active engagement with a community of scholars by expressing viewpoints through robust and informed discourse

Admission to the International Development Studies major is by application only. To be eligible to apply, students must have first completed all nonlanguage preparation courses and the foreign language courses through at least level 3 (elementary level). Any remaining language courses may be completed after students have been accepted to the major. Each preparation for the major course must be taken for a letter grade, and students must have a UC grade-point average of 2.0 or better in those courses.

The application period is once per year, and students must apply no later than the end of fall quarter of their junior year.

Meeting the above minimums does not guarantee admission to the program. Admission is on a competitive basis, using the above qualifications as minimum standards for consideration.

Incoming freshman and transfer students may be admitted as International Development Studies premajors on acceptance to UCLA. Premajor students must apply for major standing at the end of fall quarter of their junior year; they are not automatically accepted into the major.

Required: (1) International Development Studies 1; (2) one course from Economics 1, 2, Geography 4; (3) one statistics course from Economics 41, Political Science 6, 6R, Statistics 10, or 12; (4) three social sciences/area studies courses, each from a different category, selected from (a) Anthropology 3, (b) Gender Studies 10, (c) Geography 3, 5, 6, (d) Global Studies 1, (e) History 8A, 8B, 8C, 9A, 9D, 9E, 10B, 10BW, 11B, 22, International and Area Studies 1, 31, 50, (f) Political Science 20, 50, 50R, (g) Sociology 1; and (5) demonstrated proficiency in one modern foreign language equivalent to level 6 at UCLA. Each course must be taken for a letter grade.

Transfer applicants to the International Development Studies premajor with 90 or more units must complete the following introductory courses prior to admission to UCLA: two introductory macroeconomics, microeconomics, and/or economic geography courses; one statistics course; three courses, each from a separate category, selected from sociocultural anthropology, cultural or economic geography, cultural area studies, world history, comparative politics, and introductory sociology; and demonstrated proficiency equivalent to level 3 at UCLA in one modern foreign language. Transfer students must apply for the major by the end of fall quarter of their junior year.

Refer to the UCLA transfer admission guide for up-to-date information regarding transfer selection for admission.

Each course must be taken for a letter grade. Students must earn a grade of C or better in International Development Studies 110, M120, and 130; no more than one of these three courses may be repeated. All three core courses must be taken prior to the capstone senior seminar 191 course.

Required: (1) International Development Studies 110, M120, 130, 191; (2) one research methodology course from Anthropology 138P, Asian American Studies 103, 104A, 105, M108, C142A, 187A, 191A, Chicana and Chicano Studies M119, 123, 129, Economics 103, Education C126, Geography 163, Political Science 170A, Sociology 106A, 110, 113, Statistics 112, Urban Planning M122; (3) three social and critical theory courses, each from a different department, from Anthropology 130, 140, 143, 146, 147, Economics 111, 112, Environment M132, M133, M161, Gender Studies 102, 103, 168, Geography 110, M115, M128, 132, 133, 140, 142, 148, 155, Political Science 122A, M122B, 124A, 150, 167D, 168, Sociology 101, M115, 116, 182, 183, 191D, Urban Planning 121, M160, CM166; (4) two regional courses, either from the same or separate developing regions of the world (East Asia and East Central Asia, Eastern Europe and West Central Asia, Latin America and Caribbean Basin, Middle East and North Africa, South and Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands, Sub-Saharan Africa) and one disciplinary elective listed below:

East Asia and East Central Asia: Anthropology 163P, Asian American Studies 171A, 171C, Chinese 152, Communication 183, Gender Studies M170C, Geography 186, History 169B, 170B, M170C, 170D, Korean C151, 155, 180B, 180C, Political Science 135, 159A, 159B, Sociology 181A.

Eastern Europe and West Central Asia: Anthropology 163Q, Central and East European Studies 125, 126, Czech 155, Gender Studies M127, History 107C, 107E, 120A through 120D, 127B, 127C, Political Science 128B, 156A, Romanian 152, Russian 120, 121, 122, 125, 126, M127, 131, Serbian/Croatian 154.

Latin America and Caribbean Basin: African American Studies M154C, M178, Anthropology 161, 162, Art History C142B, Chicana and Chicano Studies M125, M126, M144, CM147, Community Health Sciences 132, Gender Studies M144, M147C, Geography 114, 181, 182A, 182B, History 157B, 159, 160A, 160B, 162A, 162B, 162C, Honors Collegium M145, Political Science 124C, 154A, 154B, M184A, Sociology M178, 186.

Middle East and North Africa: Anthropology M166Q, 167, History 105C, M108C, 111C, Honors Collegium M157, Political Science 132A, M132B, 157, 165.

South and Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands: Anthropology 168P, Asian American Studies 122A, 122B, M164, M171D, 171E, M173, Gender Studies M164A, Geography 185, History M144C, 174B, 174C, 175A, 175C, 176B, 176C, 176E, 177A, 177B, Political Science 158, Southeast Asian 135, 157, Vietnamese CM155, 180B.

Sub-Saharan Africa: Anthropology 166P, Art History C145A, C145B, Comparative Literature 169, Geography 122, 135, History 164B through 164E, 166B, 167A, 167B, 167C, 168B, Political Science 151A, 151B, 151C.

Disciplinary Electives: Anthropology M145R, M148, Economics 121, 122, 137, 150, 151, Education M108, Environment 186, Film and Television 106C, 112, Gender Studies M154Q, M154R, M186B, Geography M109, 147, M153, 159C, History 131A, Honors Collegium M152, Political Science 116A, 123A, 126, 137A, Sociology 154, M175, 191F, Urban Planning M110, World Arts and Cultures 100A, 144.

Majors who have completed International Development Studies 110, M120, and 130 and who have a 3.5 grade-point average in all courses offered for the major are eligible to formally apply for the honors program. In addition to completing all courses required for the major, students must take courses 198A, 198B, and 198C, in which they research, write, and present an honors thesis. To receive honors at graduation, students must have at least a 3.5 GPA in courses applied toward the major (including 198A, 198B, 198C) and an overall GPA of 3.0.

Highest honors are awarded to students who complete the major (including courses 198A, 198B, 198C) with a 3.75 GPA and who produce an exceptional thesis.

International Development Studies majors are highly encouraged to study abroad in developing areas of the world. Students can do so through a variety of programs with various lengths (summer or during the academic year). More information about study abroad programs is available through the UCLA International Education Office by e-mail, in person at 1332 Murphy Hall, or by phone at 310-825-4995.