Program Description

The International Sustainable Development major prepares students for vocations in international development through applied skills training and direct, cross-cultural experiences.

The major provides students with a firm theoretical foundation, as well as the professional and technical skills necessary for post-graduation work in the field. Students will examine development challenges and the means to resolve them from a Christian perspective and develop hands-on project management skills, while engaging with both hypothetical and real-world problems at the local and global levels.

The major equips students with a comparative understanding of development in both developed and developing nations through directed study, applied skills training, analytical research, and direct, cross-cultural experiences--including a required placement with local and international development organizations.

New Majors Onboarding

All newly admitted majors must attend this onboarding as an introduction to the School of Business, Government, and Economics. Please make note that there are no substitutions for this degree requirement. 

Entering and Completing the Major

In order to earn a degree, you must complete at least one academic major. SPU encourages students to explore various academic paths, so if you change your mind about a major, or want to include an additional program, you are able to do so, as outlined below.

Note that the University encourages you to enter your chosen major(s) as soon as you have determined it and are eligible to join it, especially by the start of your junior year. Students who transfer as juniors and seniors should enter a major within their first two quarters at SPU.

• If this is your first quarter at SPU and you identified a major in this department as your first choice on your application for admission to the University, you have gained entry to the major. To change or add a major, follow these instructions.
• If you are an SPU student with an SPU cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better, follow these instructions to enter a major in this department.
• The University requires a grade of C- or better in all classes that apply to a major; however, programs may require higher minimum grades in specific courses. You may repeat an SPU course only once for a higher grade.
• To advance in this program, meet with your faculty advisor regularly to discuss your grades, course progression, and other indicators of satisfactory academic progress. If your grades or other factors indicate that you may not be able to successfully complete the major or minor, your faculty advisor can work with you to explore options, which may include choosing a different major.
• You must complete the major requirements that are in effect in the SPU Undergraduate Catalog for the year you enter the major.

International Sustainable Development (BA)

68 Credits Minimum, Including 48 Upper Division (UD)

¹

Or approved study abroad or language coursework (beyond required competency)

Additional Requirements and Information

• New Majors Onboarding

Suggested Course Sequence

This is a sample schedule of sequencing for the International Sustainable Development Major. There is a bit of flexibility in class placement in your first 2 years as you navigate through the University's Common and Exploratory Curriculum, and General Core. Most ISD coursework is only offered once per year or every other year, so it is essential that students plan ahead for registration. Be sure to regularly review your Degree Status Check in Banner to make sure you are on track with all of your degree requirements.

Freshman Notes

• If you have not satisfied the Foreign Language Requirement, complete this year for your Exploratory coursework.
• BUS 1700 Spreadsheets is a pre-req for BUS 2700 Statistics for Business and Economics, so if you intend on taking this stats class you’ll need to take BUS 1700 winter or spring quarter (at the latest!).

Sophomore Notes

• If you have not yet applied to the major, apply now! Applications are accepted year round and require good academic standing (2.0 or higher SPU cumulative GPA). 
• Begin looking for an internship over the summer after your sophomore year. Recruiting often begins 6 to 12 months prior to an internship start date. 

Junior Notes

• The bulk of the major will be completed during the Junior Year.
• Generally, internships are also completed at this time or during the summer quarter following completion of junior year.

Senior Notes

• If studying abroad, please be sure to meet with the ISD director before you depart in order to review your study abroad courses and to determine which ones will fulfill the major requirements
• ISD 4940 International Sustainable Development Practicum must be taken in the same quarter in which you are completing your internship.
• BUS 3680 Social Enterprise & BUS 3682 Social Venture Planning will prepare you for the SVPC, or you can do a study abroad or additional language.