Not available in 2013/14
SA4E6      Half Unit
Rural Development and Social Policy

This information is for the 2013/14 session.

Teacher responsible

Prof David Lewis OLD2.25

Availability

This course is available on the MSc in Development Studies, MSc in Environmental Economics and Climate Change, MSc in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies, MSc in Social Policy (Research), MSc in Social Policy and Development and MSc in Social Policy and Development: Non-Governmental Organisations. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Pre-requisites

Knowledge of rural areas and relevant work experience is desirable but not essential.

Course content

Theories of rural development, history of rural development policy, changing rural livelihoods, land and agrarian reform, agricultural research and extension, the roles of private and non-governmental actors, natural resource management, food security, climate change and rural-urban linkages.

Teaching

15 hours of lectures and 12 hours of seminars in the MT. 2 hours of lectures in the ST.

Indicative reading

A detailed reading list is included in the seminar programme. The following is an introductory reading list: World Bank (2007) World Development Report 2008: Agriculture for Development; A Hall & J Midgley, Social Policy for Development (2004); A Shepherd, Sustainable Rural Development (1998); IFAD, Rural Poverty Report 2001; B Crow & H Bernstein (Eds), Rural Lives: Crises and Responses (1992); N Long, Development Sociology: Actor Perspectives (2001); J Harriss (Ed), Rural Development (1982); R Chambers, Rural Development: Putting the Last First (1983); I Scoones & J Thompson, Farmer First Revisited (2009).

Assessment

Exam (75%, duration: 2 hours) in the main exam period.
Essay (25%, 2500 words).
Students are required to write an assessed essay of 2,500 words (25%). A two-hour written examination in the ST (75%).

Student performance results

(2009/10 - 2011/12 combined)

Classification % of students
Distinction 11.4
Merit 72.7
Pass 15.9
Fail 0

Key facts

Department: Social Policy

Total students 2012/13: Unavailable

Average class size 2012/13: Unavailable

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication

Course survey results

(2010/11 - 2011/12 combined)

1 = "best" score, 5 = "worst" score

The scores below are average responses.

Response rate: 83.1%

Question

Average
response

Reading list (Q2.1)

1.7

Materials (Q2.3)

2.1

Course satisfied (Q2.4)

1.8

Lectures (Q2.5)

1.7

Integration (Q2.6)

1.8

Contact (Q2.7)

1.9

Feedback (Q2.8)

1.6

Recommend (Q2.9)

Yes

78.7%

Maybe

19.1%

No

2.2%