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2024-2025 Academic Calendar | York University Faculty of Graduate Studies

Development Studies

Posted on 17 August 2022

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LocationEmail AddressProgram Website
South 744 Ross Buildingdsgrads@yorku.cayorku.ca/gradstudies/dvst/

The Graduate Program in Development Studies is a unique graduate program comprised of a set of interdisciplinary core courses that have been specifically designed to provide students with a full range of conceptual and methodological tools to engage the current issues and challenges of sustainable human development as it confronts us in our globalizing world. The program requires that students deal with this reality through literature and through fieldwork. The coursework and fieldwork together combine to provide students with the basis for an opportunity for sustained reflection on a particular aspect of the larger development problematic.

The course of study integrates critical theoretical exploration and practice, and incorporates contemporary discourses on development to better reflect the new realities of globalization and the recent developments in the field. Students gain real-world experience with a variety of internships and volunteer opportunities and through the fieldwork component.

Designed for persons who are either currently working or aspiring to work in the field (e.g., for multilateral organizations, government agencies, development NGOs or local community organizations), the program also serves as an excellent foundation for those intending to complete a specialized doctoral program in development studies.

Admission Requirements

Candidates must:

  • have a completed honours degree (with B average or equivalent) in a relevant humanities, social science, or related applied program;
  • submit a recent research paper or report to indicate ability in writing and research;
  • submit a statement of interest providing evidence of commitment to advanced work in studies in development. The statement should include a discussion of the applicant’s background, interests, skills, and career goals, with a proposed program of study;
  • submit three (3) letters of recommendation written by academic and/or non-academic referees; and,
  • for students whose first language is not English, have a minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language score of 600 (paper-based) or 250 (computer-based); or York English Language Test score 1.

Applicants are assessed on the basis of academic achievement and potential and/or demonstrated capacity for advanced work in International Development. Efforts are made to attain a balance among students who have significant work experience in the field and those that are relatively recent graduates of undergraduate programs.

Supervisory Committees

Each student’s area of study is taken in consultation with a faculty supervisory committee. Members of the supervisory committee act as academic advisors assessing the student’s work and progress, assisting with thesis or major research paper preparation and serving as professional mentors.

Degree Requirements

The program is offered on a full-time and part-time basis, with a recommended time of two years (five terms) for completion of the program. The program offers two options with respect to degree requirements, a thesis, or a major research paper.

The thesis option is completed within a two-year (5 term) timeframe.

Courses

Students are required to take 21 credits, as follows along with fieldwork and a thesis.

Five three-credit core courses (15 credits):
Development Studies 5100 3.0: Conceptual Foundations of Development
Development Studies 5101 3.0: Historical and Institutional Foundations of Development
Development Studies 5105 3.0: Graduate Seminar in Fieldwork and Professional Development
Development Studies 5120 3.0: Research Methods for Development
Development Studies 5122 3.0: Critical Reflections on Field Work and Writing

Two three-credit courses (6 credits) from among:
Development Studies 5110 3.0: Development, Political Economy & Policy
Development Studies 5111 3.0: Civil Society in Development Discourse and Practice
Development Studies 5112 3.0: Cultural Politics of Development
Development Studies 5121 3.0: Tools and Policy Analysis for Development

Note: One three-credit elective course may be selected from among current course offerings in other programs with permission of the Graduate Program Director.

Fieldwork and Work Placement

All students are required to undertake field work for a period of three to four months, preferably during the Summer semester. As part of their fieldwork experience, students also complete a placement with a relevant organization or research institution. Students are assisted in the selection of the site for their placement by the Graduate Program Director.

Thesis

Candidates must conduct a research study and report the results in appropriate thesis form. The research and results should demonstrate the Candidate’s independence, originality, and understanding of the area of investigation at an advanced level. There are no precise requirements for length, but a reasonable guideline would be 100 double-spaced typewritten pages. The thesis is written under the supervision of a thesis supervisory committee consisting of three faculty members, including one from outside the program. Upon completion, the thesis must be defended in an oral examination before a thesis examining committee, made up of at least two faculty members from the program and one faculty member at arm’s length from outside the program. The graduate program accepts theses in monograph format.

The major research paper option is completed within a two year (5 term) timeframe.

Courses

Students are required to take 24 credits, along with fieldwork and a major research paper.

Five three-credit core courses (15 credits):
Development Studies 5100 3.0: Conceptual Foundations of Development
Development Studies 5101 3.0: Historical and Institutional Foundations of Development
Development Studies 5105 3.0: Graduate Seminar in Fieldwork and Professional Development
Development Studies 5120 3.0: Research Methods for Development
Development Studies 5122 3.0: Critical Reflections on Field Work and Writing

Three three-credit courses (9 credits) from among:
Development Studies 5110 3.0: Development, Political Economy & Policy
Development Studies 5111 3.0: Civil Society in Development Discourse and Practice
Development Studies 5112 3.0: Cultural Politics of Development
Development Studies 5121 3.0: Tools and Policy Analysis for Development

Note: One three-credit elective course may be selected from among current course offerings in other programs with permission of the Graduate Program Director.

Fieldwork and Work Placement

All students are required to undertake field work for a period of three to four months during the Summer semester. As part of their fieldwork experience, students also complete a placement with a relevant organization or research institution. Students are assisted in the selection of the site for their placement by the Graduate Program Director.

Major Research Paper

The major research paper comprises the sustained exploration of a theoretical or empirical question. As a research project, the major research paper is generally less narrower in scope, less complex in methodology and/or less ambitious in data gathering and analysis than a thesis. Major research papers should be between 50 and 70 double-spaced pages in length. The paper is generally supervised by a core faculty member from the program with a second reader. Upon completion, the student is required to defend it orally before both readers. The graduate program accepts major research papers in monograph format.

The MA program can be completed on a full- or part-time basis. Entry is fall term.

The expected degree completion time for full-time master’s students is 5 terms. Students must register and pay fees for a minimum of the equivalent of 5 terms of full-time study. All requirements for a master’s degree must be fulfilled within 12 terms (4 years) of registration as a full-time or part-time master’s student in accordance with Faculty of Graduate Studies’ registration policies.