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International Development

International Development Student

As a student in the International Development (INDEV) program, you'll be uniquely positioned to create sustainable development approaches.

  • Study in the only INDEV program located in an environmental faculty
  • Take 6 business courses focusing on accounting, economics, marketing and more- other programs include only 4
  • Spend 8 months of your 4th year on an overseas field placement in Africa, Latin America, or Asia
    develop your second language skills

INDEV students benefit from:

  • Expertise in the Faculty of Environment relating to environmental, urban, and economic issues
  • St. Paul's University College, with its commitment to educating innovators to shape a just and humane world, offers a Fellowship in International Development to all INDEV students

Armed with passion and a diverse academic background, you could go on to:

  • Work for international development agencies or foreign service
  • Become a relief worker for a non-governmental organization
  • Help private companies involved in foreign investment grow in socially responsible way
  • Work locally with governments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector
  • Start your own business with the knowledge and experience you have gained

Most importantly, you'll be armed with the skills and training to make an impact on the world. Stephanie, pictured above, chose to study International Development at Waterloo because of it's intimate size. She also realized the amazing experience her 8 month field placement in a developing country would be for her. She has a few ideas of what to do when she graduates and knows that her time at Waterloo will help her get there.

Learn more about International Development

A green perspective

With many of the World’s development concerns mirroring sustainability issues, becoming a part of the only International Development program to be housed within an environmental faculty means you’ll graduate with an edge. 

You’ll gain a green perspective; a perspective that will inspire you to find solutions to the World’s most challenging problems – a perspective that will inspire you to challenge the conventional and evoke a positive change.

Find out what our International Development students think about Fair Trade Coffee by watching this YouTube video. Find more videos at our YouTube Channel.

Real world experience

Partnering with World University Service of Canada, International Development offers its students 8 months of real world hands on experience in a third world environment. Students will spend their last two terms overseas working on projects that create a real and lasting impact for the communities. Some projects students may work on are:

  • Mangrove rehabilitation in costal Vietnam with a local community group
  • Small business development with a local farmer's co-op in Ghana

Overseas field experience schedule

  Fall Term
(September-December)
Winter Term
(January-April)
Spring Term
(May-August)
Year 1 Study Study Off
Year 2 Study Study Off
Year 3 Study Study Study
Year 4 Overseas Placement Overseas Placement Off

Possible career paths

  • Be the green business or ethical enterprise development officer for a local company
  • Be a program developer or policy officer with an International Non-Governmental Organisation
  • Work for the government of Canada at CIDA, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade or Environment Canada
  • Start your own business, consulting firm, or not-for-profit using the practical and applied skills you have gained over your four years at Waterloo

Cool careers

  • Director of World University Service of Canada, Lesotho
  • Senior Manager, Canada’s Green Municipal Fund
  • Director of Programs, Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief
  • Coastal Resource Manager, CUSCO
 

APPLY

Regular Only

Required Courses

  • Grade 12 U English (at least 70% normally required)

  • at least one Grade 12 U Mathematics or Science course (at least 70% normally required)

Admissions Average: High 70s to Low 80s

More Admissions information

Courses for Success

These courses will help you succeed in your studies at Waterloo but do not affect admissions.

  • At least one Grade 12 U course in a second language

jack rosen memorial award for environmental innovation

Cool jobs

cool jobs

Our Environment programs open job opportunities all over the world.

Events in Environment

events in environment

There's always lots happening in Environment.  Get involved!

Environment 3

environment 3

Learn more about our newest faculty building, Environment 3