Development Studies - COMDD13424
Stream Summary
Faculty: Faculty of Arts&Social Science
School: School of Social Sciences
Contact: School of Social Sciences
Program: 3424 - International Studies
Award(s):
Bachelor of International Studies (Major)
View stream information for previous years
Stream Outline
This stream structure is for students commencing prior to 2017.
Students commencing from 2017 should refer to the relevant stream version for their program. Please click here for a complete list of programs in which Development Studies can be studied.
The Development Studies stream is an interdisciplinary stream (specialisation) that introduces students to the issues that concern the developing world, including 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; foreign aid and humanitarian assistance; fragile and failing states; the relationship between development and conflict, the environment, climate change, and geography; debates about globalisation; the role of NGOs, civil society and the private sector in development; and the relationships of international institutions to developing countries. Courses include in-depth case studies of development in Asia, the Pacific, Africa, and Latin America. A range of electives grouped by their focus on development practice, historical development, political economy, regional and cultural studies including human rights are offered.
Students graduating from UNSW with a major stream in Development Studies should be able to demonstrate:
Students commencing from 2017 should refer to the relevant stream version for their program. Please click here for a complete list of programs in which Development Studies can be studied.
The Development Studies stream is an interdisciplinary stream (specialisation) that introduces students to the issues that concern the developing world, including 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; foreign aid and humanitarian assistance; fragile and failing states; the relationship between development and conflict, the environment, climate change, and geography; debates about globalisation; the role of NGOs, civil society and the private sector in development; and the relationships of international institutions to developing countries. Courses include in-depth case studies of development in Asia, the Pacific, Africa, and Latin America. A range of electives grouped by their focus on development practice, historical development, political economy, regional and cultural studies including human rights are offered.
Students graduating from UNSW with a major stream in Development Studies should be able to demonstrate:
- The knowledge and skills required for effective tertiary study;
- a range of specialised conceptual, policy and practical knowledge and skills developed through acquiring a sophisticated understanding of development analysis, work and the language it employs;
- a capacity to understand and interpret both disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge through obtaining an understanding of the ways development issues have emerged, are understood and addressed that takes into account of the role of the social, economic, institutional and political factors and their interaction;
- a deep critical understanding by students of development issues at a level of competency sufficient for either working in the field of development or research of development issues;
- a critical knowledge of the role and methods of development institutions and their role in development practice, for example, in relation to new issues like the recognition and the role of human rights in development;
- build the skills required of those students wishing to engage in development work;
- an international outlook that recognises the role that conditions applying in the developing world effect every aspect of life in the developed world and vice versa.
Stream Structure
A student who wishes to gain a major stream in Development Studies must complete 54 units of credit including 12 uoc at level 1, at least 18 uoc at level 2 including ARTS2751 International Development and at least 18 uoc at level 3 including the capstone course.
Level 1
Level 2
and EITHER at least TWO of the following:
- ARTS2240 Environment and Development (6 UOC)
- ARTS2750 Modern Latin America (6 UOC)
- ARTS2752 Local Politics of Development (6 UOC)
- ARTS2754 Development Research (6 UOC)
- ARTS2755 Humanitarian Action (6 UOC)
or at least ONE of the above courses AND at least ONE of the following courses:
Note: Students in the Development Studies Major Stream are allowed to double count ARTS2240 towards their major; this leaves 6 UOC to be covered by a Prescribed International Studies Elective. A Prescribed International Studies Elective is any of the level one gateway courses from International Relations, Asian Studies, European Studies and Development Studies. However, students can only take gateway courses from other major streams, not their own. The Prescribed International Studies Elective list consists of:
Level 3
EITHER at least TWO of the following:
- ARTS3750 Develop., Community & Environ. (6 UOC)
- ARTS3755 Project Design (6 UOC)
- ARTS3756 Current Debates in Development (6 UOC)
- ARTS3757 Everyday Development (6 UOC)
- ARTS3758 Global Change Internship (6 UOC)
- ARTS3759 Internship Prep (6 UOC)
- ARTS3812 Theorising IPE (6 UOC)
or at least ONE of the above AND at least ONE of the following:
and
Development Studies Capstone course (Compulsory)
Development Studies Capstone course (Compulsory)
