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About the Specialization

The Development Policy and Power (DPP) Collaborative Specialization is a cross-disciplinary initiative open to Master’s students in participating graduate programs at the University of Toronto. The specialization provides students with the opportunity to engage critically with global development policy and practice through a power-conscious lens.

Please note: The DPP specialization is currently not available at the doctoral level.

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Eligibility

To be eligible for the DPP Collaborative Specialization, applicants must:

• Be admitted to one of the participating Master’s-level graduate programs listed below.

• Submit a complete application package (see below).

• Accept their admission offer to the participating program before applying to DPP.

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Admission Requirements

Applicants must submit the following to ghazal.farkhari@utoronto.ca:

1. A statement of interest (maximum 400 words) explaining why and how your academic and professional goals align with the themes of Development Policy and Power.

2. A current CV or résumé.

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Deadline

May-August 01, 2025

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Participating Graduate Programs

Students enrolled in the following Master’s programs are eligible to apply:

• Anthropology (M.A., M.Sc.) - Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Arts & Science, St. George

• Geography (M.A.) - Department of Geography & Planning, Faculty of Arts & Science, St. George

• Political Science (M.A.) - Department of Political Science, Faculty of Arts & Science, St. George

• Sociology (M.A.) - Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts & Science, St. George

• Social Justice Education (M.A., M.Ed.) - Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), St. George

• Health Promotion (M.P.H.) - Dalla Lana School of Public Health, St. George

• Environmental Science (M.Env.Sc.) - Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC)

• Women and Gender Studies (M.A.) - Women and Gender Studies Institute, Faculty of Arts & Science, St. George
  Newly added for 2025​​

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Optional Preparation

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• The department will provide students interested in the proposed Collaborative Specialization with list of optional key background readings.

 

Specialization Requirements

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• Students must meet all respective degree requirements of the School of Graduate Studies and the participating unit.

• Students must meet the requirements of the Collaborative Specialization as follows:

  • IDS 1000H (0.5 FCE): a core course meeting weekly throughout the fall term (hybrid) and occasionally throughout the winter term for scheduled seminar presentations;

  • Thesis/Major Research Project: Where required by the home graduate degree program, students completing a thesis or major research paper must include substantive Critical Development Studies content. This will be verified through submission of thesis abstract to GDS.