About International Development Studies (IDS)
The subject International Development Studies (IDS) stretches over many topics, geographical and academic issues. IDS deals with possibilities for and hindrances for development in developing countries. IDS revolves around the attempt to understand a country's situation, the barriers that may impede development and how these barriers can be knocked down. For example, students could choose to look into the Native Americans' position in Latin American societies, governance problems in African states or China's 'one child policy'.
International Development Studies Content
As a rule, studies at IDS take the social sciences as a point of departure, however, the subjects do include some elements from the humanistic and natural sciences. As a student you will work with both practical and theoretical issues and discussions. You will approach these issues and discussions from the vantage point of several angles or levels, i.e. local, national, regional and/or international.
IDS consists of 3 modules with a duration of six months each. The IDS subject can be combined with one of RUC's other subjects. Normally, students begin their studies at IDS after they have completed one of RUC's four Basis Educations.
SLUSE
When you study IDS you have the opportunity to participate in SLUSE: 'Sustainable Land Use and Natural Resouce Management', a collaborative educational programme between Roskilde University and the Faculty of Life Sciences at the University of Copenhagen. Read more at SLUSE's website.
The structure of the subject
Master students
Year 5 | IDS-Master | 2nd Subject - Master |
Year 4 | IDS-Master | 2nd Subject - Master |
Year 3 | IDS-Bachelor | 2nd Subject - Bachelor |
Year 2 | Basic | Basic |
Year 1 | Basic | Basic |
Study Environment
IDS has around 500 students inrolled and is part of the Institute for Society and Globalisation. There is an open kitchen at the institute, where the students from not only IDS but other subjects at the institute often eat lunch together. There is also a 'Student House' for studetns at the institut where there is both a kitchen and an anti-room with tables and sofas.
The varying study elements within the education mean that students take part in various classes and class sizes during their education. The Core Course is typically for all of the roughly 100 students on any given modul, whilst workshops (in which students must complete a synopsis) have typically between 50 and 25 studetns.Courses that deal with the more technical side of the subject are also for all students on any given modul whilst Seminars are usually between 15 and 25 students.
IDS conducts an introduction week every semester that usually consists of a mix between academic and social activities. At previous intro weeks for example, students have had to rungs of lectures and an excursion to the The Danish Foreign Ministry and UN buildings. The week is typically rounded off with a dinner and festivities.
At IDS there is a tradition for ingaging the students in forming and planning of their own study through bodies such as the Study Board and other committees which have representatives from the student body. This means that there is a fantastic opportunity to influence you study progression.