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The major in Global Development Studies requires 30 total credits plus two prerequisite courses and language competency as defined below.
PRE-REQUISITES (6 credits) -- students are encouraged to complete these before applying to the major. At a minimum, they must be completed before graduation.
- One approved Methods/Quantitative course
AND
- Current third and fourth years: One approved Social Theory course
- Rising third years: One approved Social Theory course or GSGS 2000 Intro to Global Studies
- Rising second years: GSGS 2000 Intro to Global Studies
CORE COURSES (9 credits)
- GDS 3010, Global Development, Theories and Case Studies (3 credits)
- To be taken in the first semester of the student’s third year.
- GDS 3100, Development on the Ground (3 credits)
- To be taken in the first semester of the student’s third year.
- Focuses on the practical, political and ethical issues that face development workers as they engage communities on the ground” or “in the field.”
- GSGS 4200, Applied Research in Global Studies (3 credits)
CAPSTONE SEMINAR (3 credits)
- GDS 4991, Fourth-year Seminar
- To be taken in the second semester of the student’s fourth year.
- Each student will complete a major research paper.
ELECTIVE COURSES (18 credits)
- Electives will be chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor, who will help the student put together a suite of courses that will culminate in a research paper prepared for GDS 4991
- Courses must at the 3000 level or higher.
LANGUAGE COMPETENCY
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Class of 2026
- One (1) course beyond the 2020 level of any language taught at UVA (or in an approved study-abroad program)
- If a student has reached the 2020 level in one language but does not want to go further with that language, the student can satisfy the requirement by studying a second language and reaching the 1020 level.
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Class of 2027+
Completion/satisfaction of World Language Literacy as detailed in the College Curriculum. Students can meet the World Languages requirement by successfully completing one of the following courses of action:
- Earn exemption by placing beyond the 2020 level by examination
- Take 14 credits, or four semesters of a language in the proper sequence typically finishing at the 2020 level
- After placement, complete the remaining courses in the sequence up to the fourth semester (usually 2020)