Specialization in Global Migration and Refugee Studies 

Specialization In Global Migration and Refugee Studies

In the new specialization in Global Migration & Refugee Studies, Trent University students are immersed in community-based research and are driving projects that focus on newcomer integration in Canada, while also embarking upon international field courses in Ghana, Turkey and Ecuador. The specialization allows students to gain hands-on experience through community-based research and study abroad opportunities to develop a deeper understanding of cross-border population movements, the causes and impact of displacement and forced migration, migrant experiences, human rights work, governance, settlement, and citizenship – both in Canada and around the world.

The Specialization in Global Migration and Refugee Studies is designed for students who wish to pursue a career and/or graduate studies in migration. The specialization provides an interdisciplinary understanding of cross-border population movements to address issues of the causes and effects of displacement, forced migration, migrant experiences, human rights work, governance, settlement and citizenship. It also offers opportunities for experiential learning and international field research with courses designed to enable students to gain first-hand experience with migrant communities, community organizations and NGOs.

Graduating students who have fulfilled the requirements for a single or double-major Honours degree in International Development Studies may apply for a Specialization in Global Migration and Refugee Studies if they have successfully completed a total of 4 full credits.

That includes (.5 credit) IDST 4120H Global Migration (required):

Plus 1.5 credits from:

CAST/GEOG/POST/WMST 2245H – Contemporary Canadian Immigration

IDST 3121H – Human Rights Theory and Practice

IDST 3120H – Citizenship and Development

SOCI-3661H – Ethnicities, Racism, Multiculturalism

IDST-ANTH 4750H – Perspectives on Ethnicity

SWRK 3108H – Special Topic: Africentric Perspectives in Social Work

And 2 credits from:

IDST 4011Y: Single Credit Honours Thesis on Migration: A specific scholarly project focused on Migration. Prerequisite: 14.0 university credits, a minimum 80% average in IDST courses, permission of department chair, and permission of instructor

IDST 4021D Double Credit Honours thesis on Migration: A specific scholarly project focused on Migration. Prerequisite: 14.0 university credits, a minimum 80% average in IDST courses, permission of department chair, and permission of instructor

IDST 3701Y, 3711H, 3722H – Migration, Refugee Settlement and Community-Based Research

This course will focus on the role that civil society organizations play in welcoming newcomers. Students are placed in research projects with migrant organizations in the Peterborough area. Each placement is supervised jointly by a faculty member and a representative of a community organization to investigate a question relevant to refugee settlement in the area. This course offers a project-based Community-Service-Learning component with the opportunity of experiential learning. For details, see Community-Based Research Program. Prerequisite: 10.0 university credits with a cumulative average of 75%.

IDST-ANTH-ERST 3802D – Community Development

The theory and practice of community development, with an extensive field placement. Offered only in Ghana.

IDST 3850H – Field course. The course combines in class instruction on migration issues in a selected country and a field trip to the country location to study migrant housing, employment, integration and settlement. Placements in a organizations working with migrants in the selected region are also offered to students. Students pay a field trip fee and cover their other costs. Prerequisite: 10.0 university credits with a cumulative average of 75%.

IDST 4221Y: Assessment of Development and Migration Projects

An examination of techniques for analyzing and assessing development projects focusing on selected case studies of Canadian migration and development assistance projects. Project evaluation placement takes place in the second term. Open only to Honours students in International Development Studies. Prerequisite: 14.0 university credits including IDST 2000Y and permission of instructor or department chair required before registration.