Core Courses

IAff 221: Cornerstone (3 credits – first semester)
This introductory course provides a critical examination of various theories and approaches to the study of development, from both historical and contemporary perspectives. The focus is multidisciplinary, drawing on insights and contributions from history, geography, economics, political science, literature, cultural studies, and women's studies.

IAff 222: Development Policy and Practice (3 credits – second semester)
This course provides second-semester students with an overview of key development issues and challenges in poor developing countries at the macroeconomic and sector levels, and the approaches used to deal with them.

IAff 235: Capstone Workshop (1 credit – third semester)
Second-year students complete the groundwork for the spring-semester capstone project: they form teams, select issues, choose a client, and negotiate the terms-of-reference for their project.

IAff 239: Capstone (3 credits – fourth semester)
In cooperation with their client and under the supervision of their respective professor, student teams undertake the projects negotiated in the fall, visiting specific project sites over the spring break.