This area of emphasis focuses on the nature of food security from the local to global levels. It explores the role of agriculture and the wider agri-food system in promoting food security towards the eradication of hunger and improved nutrition and health. Throughout, this area of emphasis reflects critically on the role of diverse actors and alternative approaches through which food security can be enhanced, empowering students to bring about positive, inclusive and sustainable change in agri-food systems locally and globally.

This area focuses on development predominantly through the case of Canada. Issues that might be explored include: poverty, global migration, inequality, Indigenous-settler relations and food insecurity. It reflects the fact that development problems are found in all parts of the world and solutions to them must recognize the ways in which they are interconnected and distinctive. This area of emphasis aims to empower students to bring about positive, inclusive and sustainable change within Canada, and the rest of the affluent world.

This area focuses on development in the context of institutionally weak and/or unstable countries and regions. It explores issues associated with state fragility and failure, institutional development, post-conflict rebuilding and social insecurity. It also considers issues of migration, conflict, social change, and post colonialism. An overarching theme is the need for, and role of, distinct development strategies in fragile contexts, with the aim of empowering students to bring about positive, inclusive and sustainable change in some of the most challenging development contexts globally.

This area of emphasis focuses on the relations between environmental change and natural resources and sustainable development. It explores the ways in which the environment and natural resources impact development, and the development challenges posed by environmental change and natural resource use locally and globally. Topics might include urbanization, erosion, natural disasters, water, natural resource, land use and climate change. Particular focus is put on approaches to development that are sustainable and address challenges associated with environmental change and natural resource use. This area of emphasis aims to empower students to bring about positive change that promotes inclusive and sustainable development locally and globally.