Bachelor of Art in International Development Studies, with Specialization in African Studies

at Trent University Peterborough Canada

Studying History develops and refines your capacity for critical thinking in a complex, competitive, and changing world. One of the most established and versatile university majors, History paves the way for understanding the foundations and origins of society’s behaviour and institutions. At Trent, the versatility of skills gained through your History degree can be applied to the real world through the dynamic co-op stream, where you will explore a variety of political, social, and cultural themes in the classroom and out in the workforce in a variety of sectors. At the end of your degree, you’ll have valuable research, analytical, and communication skills to launch your career.

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.
• Our small group teaching environment means you’ll know your profs and they will know you – a great advantage for that personal reference after graduation
• A world of job opportunities await graduates with the analytical and writing skills that only history can provide
• Study history firsthand with the opportunity to study abroad in one of 35+ countries around the world
• Take advantage of a unique pathway to pursue the Museum Management and Curatorship postgraduate certificate program offered in partnership with Fleming College

Biology is central to comprehending today’s most pressing concerns, from managing the spread of infectious diseases to how to sustainably feed a planet of seven billion people. In this leading program, you will study and research alongside faculty in cutting-edge labs and collaborate with leading scientists in the field.

Health Sciences Specialization
If your interest in wellness, illness, and medicine begins at the cellular level, Health Sciences is the specialization for you. Ideal for students who want to focus on the research and lab-based side of healthcare, Trent's Specialization in Health Sciences offers you the distinct opportunity to study the theoretical aspects of medicine and apply your knowledge through an internship with a collaborating agency or individual sponsor in a health-related setting.

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.

Anthropology:-
Anthropology is the study of the human experience, from our earliest ancestors to contemporary digital society. You will learn to see humankind as complex social and biological beings with the capacity for language and culture. Drawing on insights from archaeology, and cultural, linguistic, and biological anthropology, you will explore the extraordinary variability in human adaptation, organization and belief, and how the common circumstances we face unite us.

Forensics:-
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.

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

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.

Political Studies:-
Politics shape everything society touches, influencing what we believe, how we live and what we do to create order in a chaotic world. In this program, you’ll learn to make a positive impact through shaping and influencing social policy, focusing on Canadian politics, world politics and political theory. You’ll find yourself debating and exploring ideas surrounding democracy and global politics, closely examining power relations and relationships between state, business, and citizens.

Legal Studies (Option):-
Understanding the legal system in Canada is valuable for everyone, not just lawyers and policy makers. A complement to virtually any B.A. or B.Sc. degree, this option provides students with fundamental knowledge about Canadian law. You'll learn about rights and freedoms, what it takes to draft and pass new laws, and how the law influences and is influenced by society and culture.   

An option is a “mini-minor” – a set of courses in one discipline that can be completed in conjunction with any undergraduate degree program, allowing you to focus on an additional subject of interest.

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

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.

Philosophy:-
The study of Philosophy can shed light on some of the most fundamental and important questions we ask as human beings. At Trent, you’ll explore your place in the world, the nature of reality, the meaning of human existence, and the limits of knowledge. You will be encouraged to develop your own philosophical positions as you cultivate your ability to reason logically, question commonly held assumptions, and develop a worldview that does justice to the complexity of life.

Legal Studies (Option):-
Understanding the legal system in Canada is valuable for everyone, not just lawyers and policy makers. A complement to virtually any B.A. or B.Sc. degree, this option provides students with fundamental knowledge about Canadian law. You'll learn about rights and freedoms, what it takes to draft and pass new laws, and how the law influences and is influenced by society and culture.   

An option is a “mini-minor” – a set of courses in one discipline that can be completed in conjunction with any undergraduate degree program, allowing you to focus on an additional subject of interest.

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

Geography at Trent is more than learning in a classroom. It’s an expedition. You will learn about real-world issues and critical perspectives related to both human and physical geography. You will explore complex issues such as the causes and impacts of climate change, health geography, water resources, and the historical roots of geopolitical conflicts. At Trent, we believe the best way to learn geography is through an interactive environment. Small group learning and experiences outside of the classroom are pillars of the program.

Resume Boosters:-

• Participate in a capstone or community-based research project
• Work alongside leading faculty as a research assistant, even in your undergrad
• Write and defend an undergraduate Honours thesis

The economy is about far more than dollars and sense. At the local, national and global level, the most significant societal issues involve an understanding of economics. Through your studies in Economics, you’ll gain a complete skillset including the methods and tools required to analyze complex economic issues such as unemployment, inflation, economic growth, and market regulation. Your studies will enable you to use national and international data to explore trends and tendencies, test economic models, and will give you the ability to recommend policies addressing inadequacies with market outcomes.

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. or B.Sc. co-op option, giving you the competitive edge for future job prospects.
• Benefit from a new partnership with Aspire, linking you directly to work placement opportunities in the financial services sector
• Gain research skills as you work with faculty and fellow students on hands-on and theoretical research projects
• Dive deep into data and sharpen your analytical skills as you explore the story behind statistics
• Meet business leaders and top economic thinkers, including Trent alumnus and chancellor emeritus Don Tapscott through guest speaker series and events

Discovering new ways to grow our food sustainably has become an increasingly crucial global challenge. By studying sustainable agriculture, we can work together to create food systems that are responsible, justice-oriented, efficient, effective, and viable. In this program, you’ll examine the links between farm and table and their implications for people, the economy, and the planet. Learn about the challenges and benefits of producing and distributing healthy, affordable food in sustainable ways, while preparing for a career in which you can affect change and positively impact your community.

Resume Boosters:-

• Make your mark in our engaged student community by joining the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Society, Trent Apiary, or Food Services Sustainability Committee
• Join a new crop of entrepreneurs working in the Trent Market Garden, which provides fresh vegetables to cafeterias right here on campus, or volunteer with the student-run organic café The Seasoned Spoon
• Work alongside leading experts in the field and complete impactful community research projects

International Development Studies at Trent aims to equip students with the tools to understand and analyze societal transformation, and to act in ways that contribute to progressive social and political change. Here, you will learn from a range of experts, including anthropologists, political scientists, and economists, as you take courses that fuse theory and practical learning. You’ll explore wide-ranging themes such as global poverty, food systems, hunger, conflict, ecological degradation, industrialization, and cultural identity, as you better understand the sources and consequences of human development around the world. Your studies will pay particular attention to the world’s most vulnerable populations and their complex relations with states, corporations and international organizations.

African Studies
Gain international experience and deepen your understanding of international development by living, studying, and working abroad in a third-world country through Trent’s respected Trent-in-Ghana program.

Africa is a continent of great historical and contemporary global importance. Gain international experience and deepen your understanding of international development by living, studying, and working abroad in a third-world country through Trent’s respected Trent-in-Ghana program.

Graduating students who have fulfilled the requirements for an Honours degree in International Development Studies may apply for a Specialization in African Studies, if they have successfully completed the following credits from area studies and the Ghana year abroad program:

Resume Boosters:

• Gain an immediate sense of how development theory applies in practice through classes and field trips
• Build your intercultural communication skills and in-depth knowledge of another society through cultural immersion
• Complete a field placement and gain work experience in an area that is directly related to your interests and career objectives.