SPECIALIST (CO-OPERATIVE) PROGRAM IN INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT STUDIES (SCIENCE)

Enrolment Requirements
Enrolment in the Program is limited. The minimum qualifications for entry are 4.0 credits and a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5. Most students are accepted into the program directly from secondary school. Transfer students and current UTSC students may also apply for admission but require a minimum of 4.0 credits up to a maximum of 6.0 credits.

An interview is required. Interviews are normally held from January until May for students who pass the initial screening. Successful applicants will demonstrate strong academic performance, language skills, extra-curricular involvement, and demonstrated an interest in international development.

Current Co-op Students:
Students admitted to a Co-op Degree POSt in their first year of study must request a Co-op Subject POSt on ACORN upon completion of 4.0 credits and must meet the minimum qualifications for entry as noted above.

Prospective Co-op Students:
In addition to requesting the program on ACORN, prospective Co-op students (i.e., those not yet admitted to a Co-op Degree POSt) must also submit a Co-op Supplementary Application Form, which is available from the International Development Studies Co-op Office in HL410, or visit the International Development Studies Co-op Office website. Submission deadlines follow the Limited Enrolment Program Application Deadlines set by the Office of the Registrar each year. Failure to submit both the Supplementary Application Form and the program request on ACORN will result in that student's application not being considered.

Program Requirements
The program requires students to complete a total 15.5 credits, of which 4.0 credits must be at the C-or D- level including at least 1.0 credit at the D-level.

1. Introduction to Sciences and International Development Studies (4.5 credits):
IDSA01H3 Introduction to International Development Studies
BIOA01H3 Life on Earth: Unifying Principles
BIOA02H3 Life on Earth: Form, Function and Interactions
CHMA10H3 Introductory Chemistry I: Structure and Bonding
CHMA11H3 Introductory Chemistry II: Reactions and Mechanisms
EESA01H3 Introduction to Environmental Science
EESA06H3 Introduction to Planet Earth
[MGEA01H3 Introduction to Microeconomics or MGEA02H3 Introduction to Microeconomics: A Mathematical Approach]
[MGEA05H3 Introduction to Macroeconomics or MGEA06H3 Introduction to Macroeconomics: A Mathematical Approach]

2. Core Courses in International Development (At least 2.0 credits from the following):
IDSB01H3 Political Economy of International Development
IDSB02H3 Development and Environment
IDSB04H3 Introduction to International/Global Health
IDSB06H3 Equity, Ethics and Justice in International Development
IDSB07H3 Confronting Development’s Racist Past and Present
Note: We highly recommend students enroll in IDSB07H3 as part of their core B-level courses. Students in the IDS co-op program must complete IDSB07H3 prior to enrolling in IDSC01H3.

3. Core courses in Environmental Biology (2.5 credits):
BIOB50H3 Ecology
BIOB51H3 Evolutionary Biology
EESB03H3 Principles of Climatology
EESB05H3 Principles of Soil Science
EESB16H3 Feeding Humans - The Cost to the Planet

4. Methods for International Development Studies (1.5 credits):
IDSC04H3 Project Management I
STAB22H3 Statistics I or equivalent
and
0.5 credit from the following:
GGRA30H3 Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Empirical Reasoning
EESC03H3 Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing

5. Advanced Courses in Environmental Biology (2.0 credits of which 0.5 must be at the D-level):
Choose from:
BIOC37H3 Plants: Life on the Edge
BIOC58H3 Biological Consequences of Global Change
BIOC61H3 Community Ecology and Environmental Biology
BIOC62H3 Role of Zoos and Aquariums in Conservation
BIOC63H3 Conservation Biology
EESC04H3 Biodiversity and Biogeography
BIOD54H3 Applied Conservation Biology
EESD06H3 Climate Change Impact Assessment

6. Environmental Science in Practice (0.5 credit):
Choose from:
EESC13H3 Environmental Impact Assessment and Auditing
(GGRC22H3) Political Ecology Theory and Applications
GGRC25H3 Land Reform and Development
GGRC26H3 Geographies of Environmental Governance
GGRC44H3 Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Development
IDSC02H3 Environmental Science and Evidence-Based Policy

7. Co-operative, Language and Thesis Requirements (2.5 credits):
1.0 credit in a second language
IDSC01H3 Research Design for Development Fieldwork* (*must be taken prior to Co-op placement)
IDSD01Y3 Post-placement Seminar and Thesis

Co-op Work Term Requirements
To be eligible for placement, students must have completed 14.5 credits, including 10.5 credits from Requirements 1. through 4. as noted above and IDSC01H3. It is highly recommended that students complete courses towards fulfilling their specialized courses from Requirement 6., as well as the required 1.0 credit in a second language, when completing the remainder of the 14.5 credits that are required prior to placement.

Students are required to submit bi-monthly progress reports every 2 months and begin work on a major research project.

In addition to the academic course requirements, students are required to complete three additional non-credit courses: COPB30H3/​(COPD02H3), COPB31H3/​(COPD04H3), and COPB33H3. Students entering the program prior to Fall 2021 will have two non-credit courses: COP30H3/(COPD02H3), and COPB31H3/​(COPD04H3). These courses are taken in the first and third year of the program with the aim of providing students with the skills and knowledge needed to successfully navigate the placement experience. These credits are in addition to the 20.0 credits required for the degree. Work terms are evaluated by the program faculty, the Co-op Office, and the employer. A grade of CR (credit)/NCR (no credit) is recorded on the transcript.

For information on fees and status in Co-op programs, and certification of completion of Co-op programs, see the 6B.5 Co-operative Programs section or the International Development Studies Co-op section in the UTSC Calendar.