AGDK14000U Global Development: Theories, Facts and Current Issues

Volume 2024/2025
Education

MSc Programme in Global Development

Content

Our understanding of globalization and development are constantly evolving. Development theories and policies are adjusted, augmented and replaced as we gain new insights from observing the world. However, there is often more than one interpretation of observed facts. Therefore, it is important to have knowledge of both the facts and the diverse interpretations of these facts within and across the social science disciplines. Global Development: Theories, Facts and Current Issues integrates the concepts and perspectives of the social science disciplines to consider the major trends in modern development. The course presents the classical debates about development and globalization within the social sciences, but it also takes up current issues highlighting the significant disparity in contemporary thought. The classical debates and contemporary issues are presented and analysed as they are understood and interpreted by anthropologists, economists and other social scientists to further discussions and a deeper understanding of development and globalization across the social sciences.

Learning Outcome

After completing the course, the student should be able to:

 

Knowledge

  • Demontrate an overview of the leading development and globalization theories and dominant development thinking and relate this to developments in the various social science disciplines.
  • Exhibit overview of scientific facts and controversies of the selected current development issues based on contemporary research.
  • Understand the importance of measurement and measurement problems in social science development research.

 

Skills

  • Select relevant theories and methods for analyzing current development issues covered in the course.
  • Select relevant theories and methods for analyzing development issues that are similar to the current issues covered in the course.
  • Present and weigh various evidence-based knowledge and theories about current development issues and offer an analysis based on a balanced reading of empirical evidence in relation to these theories.
  • Communicate and discuss theories and empirical results related to central themes outlined in class.

 

Competences

  • Process relevant information for analysis of current and future global development issues.
  • Evaluate, validate and disseminate evidence-based knowledge and theories about current development issues.
  • Work effectively with cross-disciplinary problems within global development on an individual basis as well as in the seminar groups.
The format of the course is a combination of lectures and group discussions. Each week there will be a lecture in which core concepts, theories and case studies are presented. Every week there will be seminars with student presentations and discussions in which the students work with data and develop cases to apply and understand the concepts and theories.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 24
  • Preparation
  • 150
  • Seminar
  • 24
  • Exam
  • 12
  • Total
  • 210
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Home assignment
Type of assessment details
12 hours individual take home exam (It is not allowed to collaborate on the assignments with anyone).

Formal requirements for written assignments and exams are described in section 4.5 in Curricula’s Common Part.
Exam registration requirements

Active participation corresponding to no less than 80% in the seminar groups is a mandatory prerequisite for taking the final exam.
Active participation includes:
(i) class presentations,
(ii) peer feedback on other student presentations,
(iii) peer feedback on group assignments and
(iv) submission and approval of 6-7 required seminar assignments.

Assessment of active participation is done by course teachers.

Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Re-exam

If you fail an examination, you will be allowed two more attempts to pass the relevant course. The first re-examination will typically be scheduled immediately following the semester (February/August). The second re-examination will typically be scheduled in the following exam period.
 

If you need to sign up for the re-examination use the self service

Criteria for exam assesment

See 'Learning Outcome'