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Global Development Studies

Academics / Departments & Programs / Global Development Studies

Discover how you can build a world in which every human being has the opportunity to flourish.

The statistics can be jarring: 734 million people struggle to make ends meet on less than $1.90 a day, while an additional 1.9 billion people do it on less than $3.20 a day. At Calvin, we want to give you the skills and the knowledge to do something about it.

In global development studies, you'll learn about the factors that contribute to global hunger, poverty, and oppression. With an interdisciplinary array of courses, experiential off-campus learning, community development internships, vocational retreats, and an annual Faith and International Development Conference, Calvin's GDS program prepares you be a servant of God in a global context. Many graduates go on to work in fields such as community health, environmental science, and international law.

To learn more about global development, check out our frequently asked questions. Glimpse some of the career possibilities and see what makes our program unique.

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Cross-cultural leadership

Prepare for a career in diplomacy, international relations, activism, and more by pairing your GDS degree with international relations.

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Business as missions

In an increasingly interconnected world, global development studies makes an excellent companion to a business degree.

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