Undergraduate Program in Development Studies

What is Development?

Development Studies introduces students to the issues that concern the developing world such as poverty and inequality and the theories, policies and practical measures introduced to address these issues. Central issues and themes that are examined include the history, sociology and political economy of development; the causes of poverty and global inequality; the relationship between the environment and development; the debates about globalisation and the relationships of international institutions to developing countries. A range of electives grouped by their focus on development practice, historical development, political economy, regional and cultural studies including human rights are offered.

Studying Development  at UNSW

A major sequence in Development Studies is available within three undergraduate programs offered by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. These include a new Major sequence of studies in the Bachelor of Arts for students enrolling in 2009 (and a continuing program for those undertaking the BA major enrolled before 2009), the Bachelor of Social Science and as a shorter Plan in the Bachelor of International Studies. The programs and Plan incorporate a range of core courses focused on key aspects of the development process and its problems. A range of electives grouped by their focus on development practice, historical development, political economy, regional and cultural studies including human rights is offered.

1. NEW BACHELOR OF ARTS IN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES (ARTS 13403: Bachelor of Arts for 2009)

The new 54 UOC BA Major in Development Studies program is available at:
http://www.handbook.unsw.edu.au/undergraduate/programs/2009/3403.html

(Note that this plan is only available to students commencing in 2009 onwards)

The Focus on Development
Development Studies is a growing multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary branch of the social sciences and the humanities that offers the opportunity to learn about the nature of social, economic and political conditions in developing countries and the search for solutions to their problems as well as those of the rest of the world that are related to them. Development Studies is a learning gateway to knowledge of the problems of inequality, poverty, environmental degradation, global warming and the causes of the wars. It also addresses issues like the impact of growing trade, cultural exchange and international institution building, but also has an important local, national and regional focus. The regional focus includes developing knowledge of of specific societies in Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and Africa in terms of their history, development, culture, technology and institutions and how these differences both can or should translate into varied 'local' responses to local, regional or global strategies for development. The contextual focus also offers the opportunity to develop an understanding the history of development; the process of cultural change, the nature of international relations; development policy, development programs and their implementation; understanding technological change; examining the role of health policy and the spread of HIV/aids amongst others, as well as the very important issues of the role human right’s, addressing gender inequality and the challenge of making development sustainable. Development Studies offers the opportunity to acquire the knowledge, skills and the capacity to work and do research in a growing field.

Structure of the Major in Development Studies
A student who wishes to gain a major in Development Studies must complete 54 units of credit including two core gateway courses at Level 1 and a core capstone course at Level 3.

Level 1

• ARTS1750 Intro to Development Studies (6 UOC)
• ARTS1751 Poor World, Rich World (6 UOC)

Level 2
Level 2 in Development Studies offers core courses focused on examining the competing paradigms offered as solutions to address poverty and achieve equitable, sustainable development in developing countries. The courses cover international, national, institutional, community and cultural development issues, with a strong focus on equity issues and achieving environmental sustainability. The courses are illustrated with examples and case studies drawn from the Pacific, Asia, Africa and Latin America.
The electives offered cover aspects of the role of societies, politics, economics and the environment play in development with a focus on Asia, the Pacific and Latin America. An internship course offers work experience and skill building opportunities in the development community to selected students.

Level 3
Level 3 core courses cover key contemporary and historical issues and debates in Development Studies including examining the important roles played by organizations and program management in contemporary development practice. Electives cover issues such as international political economy, social programs and policies, economic growth, structural change and technology and a Development Studies research seminar is offered.

ARTS 3400: Bachelor of Arts 2008 Major in Development Studies
Students enrolled prior to 2009 should refer to the current Development Studies program at:
http://www.handbook.unsw.edu.au/undergraduate/programs/2009/3400.html

2. BACHELOR OF SOCIAL SCIENCE MAJORING IN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

Click on the following topics:

The major sequence | The core courses | The electives | Doing Honours

THE DEVELOPMENT STUDIES MAJOR in the BA and BSocSc

Development Studies may be taken as a major sequence together alone or with any other approved Faculty major sequence in the BA or as a major sequence in the Bachelor of Social Science. Students are advised that the Development Studies program is designed to complement, most particularly, related majors in Politics and International Relations, Sociology and Anthropology, Economics, Economic History, Geography, History, History and Philosophy of Science, Policy Studies, Political Economy, Politics and Spanish and Modern Language Studies. Bachelor of Social Science students majoring in Development Studies as part of the Bachelor of Social Science will complete the normal core courses for Development Studies.

THE MAJOR SEQUENCE

To complete a major sequence you must take at least two compulsory courses (ARTS1750 or, ARTS1751 or, GLST1100 and COMD2000) and two from the list of core elective COMD courses listed below, totalling 24 units of credit, and a further 24 units of credit from the other approved core courses or from the elective courses listed below. The Upper Level core and elective courses selected must include at least 12 units of credit at the 3000 level. With the approval of the Coordinator of the Development Studies program, courses from other schools may be substituted for up to 12 of the optional units of credit. Please check school entries for availability of courses, any course pre-requisites or exclusions and consult with the Coordinator of the Development Studies program about the best combinations of courses in your major sequence.

CORE COURSES

Compulsory Level 1 Course

From 6 to a maximum of 12 units of credit in the core program selected from:

Upper Level Compulsory Courses At least two courses (12 units of credit) including the compulsory course (COMD 2000) selected from the Upper Level Core courses and three elective courses (18 units of credit) if only one six credit point course completed at level 1.

Compulsory courses

ELECTIVES

Students majoring in Development Studies must select a minimum of an additional 24 units of credit made up of additional courses taken from the core electives list or selected from the following electives listed by focus of study. The additional requirement of 6 units of credit for students intending to enroll in Combined Honours is detailed below. Students should carefully check any prerequisite requirements are met. Note: All electives are not offered every year and students should consult the relevant schools for details.

Development Practice

• GEOS3641 Regional Australia; Geographies of Uneven Development Migration and Settlement
• GEOS3651 Geographies of International Migration and Settlement; Remaking Nations in the Pacific Rim
• SOCA2204 Anthropology Research Fieldwork
• SOCA3211 Development in Practice

Political Economy

• ECON3109 Economic Growth, Technology and Structural Change
• ECON3110 Economic Development
• MEFT3104 Transnational Media in Asia Pacific
• PECO2000 Political Economy and the State (excludes SLSP 2000)
• PECO3000 Political Economy (excludes ECON 3119)
• POLS3058 Foundations of Human Rights
  

Globalisation

• ECON3211 The Economics of Global Independence
• HIST2510 USA and Changing Orders
• POLS3054 Theorising International Political Economy
• SOCA2103 Globalisation and Fragmentation

Historical Development

• HIST2352 Modern China: 1600 ? Present
• HIST3106 Environmental History
• HIST3109 Historiography of Southeast Asia
• HIST3114 Voyages and Beaches: Encountering the Pacific
• SPAN3401 Colonising the Americas: The Spanish and Portuguese Empires

Regional, Cultural Studies and Human Rights

• GEOS3611 Geographies of the Asia-Pacific
• HIST2050 Women in Southeast Asian Societies *
• INDO2150 Islam in East Asian and South east asian Countries
• LAWS2184 Human Rights in the Global Economy *
• MEFT2101 Media Uses: Practices of Cultural Consumption *
• PHIL2511 Political Theory and the Rights of Indigenous People
• POLS2036 Political Development in Northeast Asia
• POLS2048 International Security
• POLS3057 International Relations in NE Asia
• SOCA3104 Global Migration: Global Refugees
• SOCA3106 Anthropology and Tourism *
• SOCA3204 Modernity and Development in the Pacific Islands *
• SOCA3212 Environment, Society and Culture S1
• SPAN2418 Amazonia *
• SPAN3339 Latin American Culture and Globalisation: De macondo, a Mcondo S2

* check availability and any pre-requisites for admission to course with Schools or the On-Line Handbook.

Other Courses

A wide range of additional courses is available in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and in other Faculties relevant to Development Studies. Students may select up to 12 units of credit of these with the permission of the Coordinator of the Development Studies Program and count them towards their major in Development Studies.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

The School Handbooks contain the details about the rules and procedures for the Development Studies courses offered by each School. Students must make themselves aware of these and conform to them. The Handbooks contain specific details of the rules for special consideration, plagiarism and grievance procedures that are applied and these supplement the UNSW rules relating to academic misconduct etc.

See individual Schools at: http://www.arts.unsw.edu.au

3. BACHELOR OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES PLAN IN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

See the details of the BInSt Plan in Development Studies at: http://internationalstudies.arts.unsw.edu.au/