<p>hey, i was looking at the cals majors list and these two programs seem to be very similar. the only difference i can seem to gather is that iard seems to be the more quantitative and science of the two. could anyone who has experience with either of these two programs like to comment on the programs themselves and the type of students who go into either one.</p>
<p>also, would farming and agricultural experience be a neccessariy prerequesite for iard. im very interested in economic inequality, globalization, and economics which all seem to go hand in hand with both of these two majors, but i have no ag experience</p>
<p>I don’t think you necessarily need to have ag experience. You probably need ag experience to study agriculture, but for DSOC or IARD you need to have a demonstrated interest in issues like global inequality and third-world development.</p>
<p>i’m a double major in AEM and IARD - and i’ve taken a couple of DSOC classes - so i can give you some information on both of the majors.</p>
<p>IARD is separated into 3 concentrations: Social Development and Livelihoods Concentration (more econ focused), Food Systems Concentration (more crops/ag focused), or Environment and Ecosystems Concentration (more environmentally/sustainability focused). because IARD is such an interdisciplinary major, there aren’t many IARD classes. instead, you take a lot of classes from other departments within the college. if you’re in the social development concentration, you actually take a lot of DSOC and AEM classes in trying to fulfill the requirements for that concentration. if you’re in food systems, you’ll take more CSS/food sciences/hort classes. if you’re in environment and ecosystems, you’ll take more NTRES classes. you don’t need to have ag experience, i definitely didn’t have any (and still don’t). but like cayugared2005 said, you DO need to “have a demonstrated interest in issues like global inequality and third-world development”. </p>
<p>what i think is AWESOME about IARD is the fact that you are required to have an overseas experience that lasts at least 6 weeks, AND you need to become proficient in a foreign language. IARD is a lot more interdisciplinary than DSOC is, and, as someone who is focusing on economic development, i feel that IARD is better because it gives an all-encompassing view of development. the major requires everyone to have at least some class experience dealing with CSS, food science, economics, sociology - all topics that are extremely beneficial towards rural development. </p>
<p>i would recommend another major to look into if you are more interested on the development aspect of economic inequality and globalization: cities and regional planning - i definitely wish i had more time to get the minor in URS, but two majors and a minor just seems like a little too much, even for me.</p>
<p>hey, thanks for the input guys, if i were to do iard it would definitely be the social development concentration. but, since study abroad is mandatory for iardmajors, would i still be aloowed to transfer in as a junior. wouldnt i need to spend at least 4 semesters on campus?</p>
<p>you don’t need to study abroad per se - you simply need to spend at least 6 weeks in a foreign setting, whether you’re doing an internship, volunteering, studying abroad, etc.</p>