Two weeks ago the Chimes front page headline read “Calvin’s theater minor returns.” It’s time for Calvin’s global development studies program to come back too. 

The field of global development studies (GDS) incorporates economics, environmental studies, geography, political science and public health to assess the issues facing disadvantaged nations around the globe. Collectively referred to as the “Global South,” these countries are home to the majority of the world’s population. Practitioners of global development harness their interdisciplinary toolkit to think deeply about the issues facing the Global South, to develop just policy responses and to work for organizations that seek the renewal of God-given dignity for every person. 

If an interdisciplinary program explicitly focused on using academic knowledge to combat poverty and injustice sounds like something from Calvin University, that’s because it once was. GDS is typically a masters-level program, but Calvin offered a GDS program for undergraduates. Unfortunately, the program was cut during the downsizing campaign of 2021. This decision was a mistake for both Calvin and its students. 

As part of Calvin’s transition to a university in 2019, the administration released a “Vision 2030” document to articulate Calvin’s institutional priorities for the coming decade. Among these stated goals is for “Calvin University [to be] a trusted partner for learning across religious and cultural differences and throughout the academy, the church, and the world.” Two years later, the global development studies program was “phased out” as a wave of budget cuts swept the recently rebranded university. 

This decision hurt Calvin students by reducing opportunities for interdisciplinary scholarship, narrowing the discussion of ethics within the social sciences and limiting options for studying abroad. Current students are interested enough in the constituent disciplines of GDS to craft  similar hybrid degrees, bundling together courses in economics, international relations, foreign languages, geography and others. These “homebrewed” GDS degrees lack clarity and emphasis; they put undue pressure on students to connect their areas of interest with both each other and with the Christian mission of global development. Having a dedicated GDS major and minor helped students foster interdisciplinary connections and engage with Christian perspectives on global development. 

The GDS faculty came from across disciplines and departments. Organized somewhat like the current gender studies minor, students could take classes from across many subjects to fulfill the requirements of the GDS degree. In addition to these electives, interdisciplinary GDS classes and a study-abroad experience in the Global South were required. Because of this structure, only a few additions to the course catalog are necessary to reintroduce a GDS degree. 

Furthermore, unlike other departments –– where professors left as programs were cut –– most former GDS professors are still Calvin faculty. As Christian scholars, they are distinctly passionate about how their scholarship can improve the lives of people across the Global South. This existing pool of talent means that bringing back the GDS major and minor is not a matter of hiring new faculty; it is a matter of administrative priorities. 

In Matthew 25:37-40, Jesus speaks in parables about the faithful, saying:

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

In today’s globalized world, the “least of these” refers to our brothers and sisters living in the Global South. Reintroducing the GDS program is not only beneficial to students and faculty, it is the best way for Calvin to serve as a faithful public witness around the globe. 

After the 2023-24 term, Toth and Parker will be the last remaining GDS minors at Calvin.