Global Development Studies
Global Development Studies involves the examination of societies and cultures undergoing rapid change, and of the complex global relations shaping issues such as agriculture, the environment, the global economy, culture and identity, human rights, and social transformation.
Human Rights and Global Justice
The Human Rights & Global Justice program takes an interdisciplinary approach to global and international dimensions of human rights, their dynamics, and reach, as well as their diverse forms and expressions in local, regional, and National settings. The curriculum is organized around the key themes of legal instruments, historical foundations, societal movements, and critical examinations of human rights limitations. It is offered with the co-operation of the following departments and programs: Canadian Studies, Gender & Social Justice, Indigenous Studies, Philosophy, Political Studies, and Sociology.
Small Group Teaching
The Department of Global Justice and Development at Trent is committed to small group teaching and individual attention to students. Professors know most students by name and provide personalized support for assignments and related work. Enrollment in upper year courses usually does not exceed twenty students which allows for a vibrant learning environment where students interact closely with their instructors and peers.
Theoretical and Experiential Learning Combined with Critical Thinking
Courses are theoretically grounded and at the same time address real world policy initiatives. Our aim is to reach a balance between theory and practice, while challenging students to rethink conventional wisdom about international development. Several upper year courses include an experiential learning component which provides hands-on experience and an entry point into the job market. Through such an approach, students acquire critical thinking skills that serve them well.
Thematic Focus
The Department offers core courses at the first and second year, which provide students with the necessary historical and theoretical grounding. Students can pursue particular international development themes through other courses offered by faculty in the Department, such as globalization, food and agriculture, the environment, cultural change, identity and ethnicity, human rights, social transformations, international political economy, gender issues, and courses focused on particular regions of the world, to name but a few.