Bachelor of Art in (Honours) International Development Studies

at Trent University Peterborough Canada

With so many of the world’s species currently at risk, there is an essential need for experts who are capable of creating innovative solutions to counteract the growing loss of wildlife and their habitat. In Conservation Biology you’ll study the science behind the decline of biological diversity to better understand the solutions to this worldwide crisis.

Resume Boosters

• Complete the competitive five-year co-op option: graduate with experience through completing three paid work terms working with leading conservation organizations and agencies
• Choose the four-year placement option: spend the last eight months of your degree gaining practical, real-world experience in the field of Conservation Biology
• Benefit from access to state-of-the-art labs and facilities in Trent’s DNA, Life & Health Sciences Building

Trent’s B.E.S.S. degree is perfect for students who want to bring science and arts together to understand and solve key environmental issues. You’ll gain an understanding of the scientific aspects of contemporary environmental issues, how they’re linked to policy and planning decisions, and how that can lead to an environmentally sustainable future.

Climate Change Science & Policy (Specialization):-
Dive into the challenges and solutions for climate change—environmental, economic, political, social—and build a strong foundation of knowledge and skills that equip graduates for the growing number of climate-related careers.

Climate change is the leading global environmental issue, but its impacts extend beyond the natural world, into business operations, politics and policy development, social justice movements, law and more. If you find yourself trading the car for public transit, reviewing a company’s environmental initiatives or participating alongside millions of others in global Climate Marches, this specialization is for you.

Trent’s Climate Change Science & Policy specialization draws on faculty specialties in Trent’s School of the Environment (TSE) and from affiliated departments, providing students with a robust, well-rounded education that could lead to a variety of careers supporting climate solutions that can have profound impacts on societies for future generations.

Resume Boosters:-

• Graduate from one of only two climate change-focused programs in Canada
• Develop a broad-base of skills and background in the science of climate change and policy perspectives related to it
• Learn from and work alongside professors who are experts in their field and practicing climate change practitioners, such as the first-ever Canada research chair in environmental geoscience
• Study in the Trent School of the Environment, a research-intensive unit that nurtures collaboration with diverse faculty specialties and expertise as well as opportunities for applied learning
• Benefit from access to state-of-the-art labs and facilities in Trent’s DNA, Life & Health Sciences Building and Water Quality Centre

Knowledge in both arts and sciences is key to understanding and embracing the challenges and complicated issues of today’s ever-changing world. As a top student whose intellectual curiosity is fueled by both the sciences and the arts equally, you will be drawn to Trent’s unique B.A.S. degree program by the chance to blend creativity, scientific analysis and opportunities to discover new knowledge along the intersections of disciplines. This expansive yet tailored degree enables you to explore a variety of scientific, social, and humanist perspectives, applying them to a range of diverse issues such as healthcare, climate change, human rights, and law. You also have the opportunity to apply knowledge, gain career skills, and explore professional pathways through the B.A.S. co-op stream. Getting work experience directly linked to this degree gives B.A.S. graduates unique qualifications to advance careers, whether at medical or professional schools, post-graduate study and research, or interdisciplinary and growing fields such as scientific journalism. Challenge yourself through the examination of multiple topics in the arts and sciences, and maybe choose to explore how these diverse subjects intersect in interesting and exciting

Resume Boosters:

• Explore your strengths and career interests, and graduate with 12 months of work experience (and income) through the new four-year B.A.S. co-op option, giving you the competitive edge for future job prospects.
• Get hands-on in labs and think critically as you cross disciplinary boundaries that prepare you for career success
• Gain professional experience performing and presenting independent research for the Arts and Science Colloquium
• Participate in a community-based research project with guidance from faculty members in a variety of disciplines
• Choose a single or double major and up to two minors to create a program and set of experiences as unique as you are – a bonus for any Resumé!
• Learn the foundations for academic and career success in the unique first-year course UNIV1000H with just 20 students and led by an esteemed leading prof

Engage with dedicated faculty who are actively involved in research in areas like gender research, education, and advocacy – including the Canada Research Chair in Feminist and Gender Studies.

Explore the way gender relations have  shaped culture, history and contemporary society. In this program, you will explore a broad range of feminist perspectives from a lens of social justice. Dive deep into conversations about labour, health, history, popular culture, law, the environment, social policy, literature, and globalization. At Trent, you will develop an interdisciplinary understanding of feminist thought and practice, and the ways that feminism intersects with critical race, disability, decolonial and critical sexuality studies.

Resume Boosters:

• Put your knowledge to the test through a community-based gender research project working with organizations like The Elizabeth Fry Society or the Ontario Public Research Interest Group
• Calibrate a skillset that includes a gendered lens on key issues, invaluable for those seeking careers in social work, teaching or policing
• Access awards and bursaries exclusive to Gender and Social Justice students
• Engage with guest lecturers, authors, and leaders in the field

Business & Arts (B.A.) - Joint Major
Combine your interests. Gain the competitive advantage.

Study at the only university in Canada to offer a wide range of joint majors in Business Administration.  Our unique joint major program allows you to enhance your B.A. degree by combining business courses with your other areas of interest – from Media Studies to Geography, Economics, History and anything in between. When you graduate, you’ll launch into the competitive workforce with an edge – a degree that combines the best of both worlds. 

Business & Humanities: Joint Major Options:-

• Ancient Greek & Roman Studies and Business
• Canadian Studies and Business
• Cultural Studies and Business
• English Literature and Business
• French Studies – Modern Languages and Business
• Gender & Women’s Studies and Business
• History and Business
• Journalism and Business
• Media Studies and Business
• Philosophy and Business

Business & Social Sciences: Joint Major Options:-

• Anthropology and Business
• Economics and Business
• Geography and Business
• Indigenous Studies and Business
• International Development Studies and Business
• Political Studies and Business
• Sociology and Business
• Environmental Resource Studies and Business

Study at the only university in Canada to offer a wide range of joint majors in Business Administration for more career choice and flexibility. 

Arts:-
Are you drawn to social sciences or humanities, but unsure which program you should apply to? The Honours Arts path at Trent is geared towards students like you, who want to explore a few different areas of study before declaring a major or joint-major in second year. Start your university experience through this first-year pathway and you'll have the flexibility to combine different disciplines and take courses from programs across the humanities and social sciences. 

Business:-
You want to become an innovative business leader or entrepreneur. No other program will help you get there better than Trent's exclusive Bachelor of Business Administration. By examining corporate, self-employment, online, small business, and other business models, you'll learn the fundamentals of leadership and management, gaining a deep understanding of the organization of business and its role in today's highly-digital world. Benefit from 100 hours of hands-on professional experience completing internships with business sector companies and organizations. Prepare for your CPA designation or springboard to an M.B.A., benefiting from the knowledge and expertise of a dedicated community of business leaders and mentors.

What does it mean to be an Indigenous person today? How do history and politics, the land and the law, culture and contemporary issues shape relationships amongst and between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities? Students in Trent’s Indigenous Studies programs develop a complex understanding and appreciation of Indigenous experiences in Canada and around the world.

For more than 50 years, Trent has been committed to advancing a multidimensional understanding through Indigenous Studies. Here - in the first program of its kind in Canada - you’ll explore the interdisciplinary nature of a program with a distinct sense of community as you immerse yourself in diverse Indigenous Nations, including all aspects of the Indigenous experience and their many contributions to Canadian society.

Resume Boosters:

• Explore your strengths and career interests, and graduate with 12 months of work experience (and income) through the new four-year B.A. co-op option, giving you the competitive edge for future job prospects.
• Build career connections by getting involved with annual events that take place on campus like the Elders Gathering, Pine Tree Talks, CINSA, and the Indigenous Women’s Symposium
• Develop your own Indigenous language skills as you study Nishnaabemowin or Mohawk
• Engage in hands-on research projects with agencies and organizations that make a difference in local communities
• Become an expert in the art of Indigenous performance as you take place in productions hosted in Nozhem: First Peoples Performance Space, the only publicly-funded space of its kind in Canada.
• Study abroad and learn about Indigenous peoples in the USA, China, Thailand, New Zealand or Mexico.

Have a passion for dismantling patriarchal systems and structures, and a desire to lead the creation of a more equitable future? This Gender & Social Justice specialization supports students to gain a deeper understanding of intersectional feminism exploring theory, principles, ethics and activism, and decolonization, and courses that cross disciplinary boundaries. Students gain the skills and expertise needed to lead the way forward and succeed in careers in a diverse range of fields – everything from policy and psychology to advocacy and academia.

Resume Boosters:

• Gain a foundational understanding of feminist theory and principles and learn how to apply in real-world scenarios
• Develop expertise to become a leader in advocacy, activism and decolonization.
• Sharpen an analytical skillset and learn to articulate ideas and concepts in the workplace

Through a unique balance of Indigenous and Western knowledge, students in Trent’s one-of-a-kind Indigenous Studies program have the opportunity to learn how Indigenous peoples in Canada and around the world are shaping our globe. At the most established Indigenous Studies program in Canada, you’ll study the historical and contemporary interactions between Indigenous and non-Indigenous societies, exploring the cultural foundations of Indigenous life in areas such as performance, literature, politics, ecology, and governance.

Resume Boosters:-

• Study abroad and learn about Indigenous peoples in the USA or Mexico
• Develop your Nishnaabemowin, Cree or Mohawk language skills
• Engage in hands-on research projects that make a difference in local communities

Create a unique educational focus based on your passions and interests, with an interdisciplinary knowledge base
Trent’s joint major programs give you full license to create a degree that's uniquely your own, by combining courses in the arts, sciences, or professional programs. Have a passion for social justice? Combine your Politics degree with Gender & Women’s Studies. Interested in all things tech? Join Media Studies and Computing Systems. Mix and match programs that best appeal to your interests, preparing yourself for a future with more possibility.

Combine degrees. Expand your horizons.
At Trent, you have the flexibility to combine nearly any two programs of your choice. To help you narrow it down, here’s a list of some of our most popular combinations:

• Media Studies and Psychology 
• Anthropology and History 
• English and Media Studies 
• Biology and Psychology 
• Anthropology and Psychology 
• Environmental Studies and Biology 
• Anthropology and Sociology 
• Geography and Canadian Studies 
• Computing Systems and Media Studies 
• Economics and Philosophy 
• Economics and Psychology 
• English and Psychology 
• Psychology and Sociology 
• Computing Systems and Economics 
• English and Sociology 

You can also explore the popular joint major combinations within our professional programs like Business Administration and Forensic Science.

Psychology:-
Psychology is the study of human behaviour, the brain, and the mind. This program is perfect for students who wish to develop a better understanding of how and why people act, think, and feel the way they do. You’ll study the principles of psychology and a variety of specialized subjects ranging from personality, child development, and abnormal psychology in your first two years, to advanced subjects such as gender, emotions, and the psychology of evil in the latter half of your degree.

Business:-
You want to become an innovative business leader or entrepreneur. No other program will help you get there better than Trent’s exclusive Bachelor of Business Administration. By examining corporate, self-employment, online, small business, and other business models, you’ll learn the fundamentals of leadership and management, gaining a deep understanding of the organization of business and its role in today’s highly-digital world.

Resume Boosters:-

• Gain the diversity of knowledge today’s employers are looking by studying and specializing in not one, but two academic disciplines
• Hands-on learning experiences abound in all Trent programs – gain the competitive edge on your resume

Trent is the only university in Canada to offer students the chance to combine your study of forensics with one of several different academic disciplines. Choose a joint major in forensics in combination with a vast array of complementary areas of study in either the arts or the sciences. Interested in a career in forensics specializing in ballistics? A joint degree with Physics could come in handy. Want to analyze the mental state of criminals, or become a criminal profiler? Combine your Forensics degree with a B.A. in Psychology. The emerging field of computer forensics means a joint major with Computing Systems can help you stand out from the crowd. No matter what your forensic career ambitions are, you have plenty of options at Trent.

Law and Policing (Specialization)
A specialization in Law & Policing provides you with a greater focus on the application of forensic scientific principles and techniques within the Canadian legal system, crime scenes, and policing. As a Forensics major with this one-of-a-kind specialization, you’ll be ideally suited to meet the changing demands of forensic investigation in the law enforcement community.