121-545 Understanding Development

Admission to the postgraduate studies or fourth-year honours in development.

This subject forms an introduction to the major past and current theories of development, involving the approaches of several social science disciplines. It also considers many of the major issues in development, including the environment, gender, human rights, globalisation, governance, non-governmental organisation, poverty, and trade. Students should become familiar with the relationship between theories of development and development practice. The subject seeks to foster skills in critical thinking, communication, and group work.

• be able to think critically (for example, about development and its measures);

• obtain information to evaluate propositions (about development);

• write coherent and researched essays;

• work in teams (to identify answers to practical problems).

A 15 minute briefing presentation 10% (working in a group on an allocated topic beginning in week 4 of semester), an associated group-prepared 3000 word briefing paper 30% (due one week after the presentation) and a 3000 word individual essay 60% (due at the end of semester).