Stream

Development Studies - COMDD13441

Stream Summary

Faculty: ARTSC - Faculty of Arts&Social Science

School: School of Social Sciences

Contact: School of Social Sciences

Program: 3441 - Int Studies/Media (Com & Jour)

Award(s):

Bachelor of International Studies (Major)

View stream information for previous years

Stream Outline

This stream structure is for the following students:
  • Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Arts and Business students commencing prior to 2016
  • Bachelor of International Studies students commencing prior to 2017

Students commencing in a later year 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:
or at least ONE of the above courses AND at least ONE of the following courses:

Level 3

EITHER TWO of the following:

or ONE of the above AND ONE of the following:
and

Development Studies Capstone course (Compulsory)
Development Studies

Study Levels

UNSW Quick Links