Faculty of Arts
Development Studies

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Faculty of Arts

1. Time commitment to study
2. Prerequisites
3. Diploma in Arts (Development Studies)
4. Requirements for a major
5. Honours requirements
6. Further study
7. For more information
Subject Lists
Third/fourth-year subjects
Fourth-year subjects

Convener: Dr Salim Lakha (School of Anthropology, Geography and Environmental Studies)

Development studies at the University of Melbourne is one of the fastest growing programs in Australia. The program considers economic, environmental and social changes that occur in societies undergoing development. It offers students the opportunity to study these issues in depth and from a variety of disciplinary perspectives.

Development studies is an interdisciplinary program within the School of Anthropology, Geography and Environmental Studies (SAGES) that encompasses a range of related disciplines including anthropology, geography, environmental studies, politics, indigenous studies, public policy, sociology, health, law and economics. Students will develop a wide range of skills in analysis, survey writing, communication, group work and computing and will enrich their knowledge of social and environmental interactions.

The development studies program covers areas that have direct relevance to practical and impact-oriented developmental practices. Recent growth in the development industry (international aid agencies, non-government organisations and private sector consulting companies) testifies to the relevance of the program in development studies at the University of Melbourne. Students who specialise in development studies develop transferable skills that will substantially enhance their career options. Alternatively, they are able to expand on their interest and knowledge through an articulated structure of higher degree study at the University of Melbourne.

1. Time commitment to study

As well as scheduled contact hours for lectures, tutorial and seminars a considerable additional time committment is needed to complete the academic requirements of each subject.

A subject-specific time commitment to study will be provided by your lecturer or tutor at the beginning of semester to help you schedule your workload and successfully manage your time during the semester. In addition, general estimates of the total time commitment required to study a 12.5-point single semester subject in the Faculty of Arts can be found on Time commitment to study.

2. Prerequisites

The program commences in first year. However, students who have completed 50 points of first-year social science subjects may apply to the convener for entry.

3. Diploma in Arts (Development Studies)

The Diploma in Arts (Development Studies) is only available to students who are currently enrolled in a degree course at the University of Melbourne. It consists of a three-year sequence of study, and adds one year to the duration of your degree.

Students must complete 25 points of first-year subjects, including 121-110 Famine in the Modern World, and 75 points of second/third-year subjects selected from the lists below, including 121-015 Development and the Third World.

4. Requirements for a major

A major in development usually consists of nine 12.5-point subjects, totalling 112.5 points. It comprises:

two first-year subjects (25 points), which must include:
- 121-110 Famine in the Modern World; and
- at least one other subject from the list of first-year social science subjects below; and
seven second/third-year subjects (87.5 points) which must include:
- 121-015 Development and the Third World; and
- three core subjects; and
- three subjects from the list of optional subjects below.

Students seeking to make a career in development are strongly advised to construct an undergraduate program that combines a major in development with a major in one of the social sciences (anthropology, economics, geography, political science, sociology).

First-year compulsory subject

	121-110 Famine in the Modern World	1

First-year optional subjects

Anthropology		Semester
	121-107 Social Order and Social Change	2
	121-108 Varieties of Human Experience	1

Economics
	316-101 Introductory Macroeconomics	1, repeat 2
	316-102 Introductory Microeconomics	1, repeat 2

History
	131-154 The Modern World 1: The Nuclear Shadow	1
	131-155 The Modern World 2: People Power	2

Linguistics and applied linguistics
	175-108 Cross-Cultural Communication	2

Political science
	166-103 Global Politics	2
	166-130 Globalisation, the Self & Society	1

Second/third-year compulsory subject

	121-015 Development and the Third World	2

Second/third-year core subjects

	at least three of:
	121-026 The Mobile World: Migrancy, Home & Exile	1
	121-028 Sustainable Development	2
	121-065 Working with Value	2
	121-060 Power, Ideology and Inequality	2
	121-066 Sexing the Self	2
	121-436 The Geopolitics of Peace and Development	1

Second/third-year optional subjects

	121-023 China in Transition	1
	121-061 Applied Anthropology	Not Offered
	121-067 Cooperation and Conflict	Not Offered
	121-068 Redefining Nature	2
	121-224 Garma Fieldwork (25 points)	2
	121-226 Native Title	Not Offered
	121-457 Ethnic Nationalism and the Modern World (third/fourth-year subject)	Not Offered
	121-494 Africa: Environment, Development, People	1

Architecture
	705-289 Urbanisation and Urban Development	2

Asian studies
	110-417 Gender and Agency in East Asia (third/fourth year subject)	2

Chinese studies
	110-442 Contemporary Chinese Society	2

History
	131-038 Gender and Development	1

Islamic studies
	110-231 Muslim Women and Islamic Feminism	2

Indonesian studies
	110-218 Mass Media in Indonesia	2
	110-419 Popular Cultures in Indonesia (third/fourth year subject)	1

Management
	325-226 Business and Economy in South East Asia	1

Political science
	166-018 Chinese Politics and Society	1
	166-022 Public Policy Making	1
	166-024 International Gender Politics	2
	166-029 World Politics in Transition	2
	166-038 Indigenous Rights: Land and Heritage	2
	166-086 Qualitative Research Strategies	2
	166-212 Global Environmental Politics	2
	166-218 Colonial/Postcolonial S.E.Asian Politics	Not Offered

Students should note that some of the above subjects have prerequisites. Consult the relevant area of study entries of this Handbook for details.

5. Honours requirements

It is not possible to complete honours in development studies on a part time basis. Students must complete the honours year full-time over two consecutive semesters of study.

For information on how to apply see Applying for Honours.

Pure honours

	Students undertaking pure honours in development must complete a thesis (50 points) and four coursework subjects (50 points) comprising:
	One thesis subject
	121-526 Development Studies Thesis	1, repeat 2
	and three compulsory subjects
	121-439 Directed Study in Development	1, repeat 2
	121-503 Research Methods and Design	Summer
	121-545 Understanding Development	1
	and one elective subject from the following list:
	121-516 Gender Issues in Development	2
	121-525 The Political Ecology of Development	1
	121-529 Social Impact Assessment and Evaluation	2
	131-546 Gender, Globalisation and Development	1
	166-413 Network Society	1
	166-427 Governance and Complexity	2
	166-444 The Emerging World (Dis)Order	1
	166-445 Postcolonial Concerns, Postmodern Theory	Not Offered
	705-289 Urbanisation and Urban Development	2
	705-218 Transport and Land Use Planning	1
	or other fourth-year subject/s with permission from the honours coordinator and subject coordinator.

Combined honours

	Students undertaking their thesis in the combining department must complete 37.5 points of development coursework subjects comprising:
	the core subject:
	121-545 Understanding Development	1
	and two elective subjects from the following list (note that you may not elect to undertake more than one subject from the same department):
	121-439 Directed Study in Development	1, repeat 2
	121-516 Gender Issues in Development	2
	121-525 The Political Ecology of Development	1
	121-529 Social Impact Assessment and Evaluation	2
	131-546 Gender, Globalisation and Development	1
	166-413 Network Society	1
	166-427 Governance and Complexity	2
	166-444 The Emerging World (Dis)Order	1
	166-445 Postcolonial Concerns, Postmodern Theory	Not Offered
	or other fourth-year subject/s with permission of the honours coordinator and subject coordinator.
	Combined honours with thesis in development
	Students undertaking their thesis in development must complete 62.5 points in development studies comprising:
	121-526 Development Studies Thesis	1, repeat 2
	and
	121-545 Understanding Development	1
	and 37.5 points of coursework from the combining department.

6. Further study

Students who wish to undertake further study can enrol in postgraduate courses in development studies, or in anthropology, geography, environmental studies and gender studies.

7. For more information

Dr Salim Lakha or Dr Violeta Schubert
SAGES
221 Bouverie Street
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3010
Tel. +61 3 8344 0806
Fax. +61 3 9349 4218
Email: development@geography.unimelb.edu.au
Web: http://www.development.unimelb.edu.au

Third/fourth-year subjects

121-436 The Geopolitics of Peace and Development

Fourth-year subjects

121-526 Development Studies Thesis
121-439 Directed Study in Development
121-503 Research Methods and Design
121-516 Gender Issues in Development
121-525 The Political Ecology of Development
121-545 Understanding Development