GY202     
Introduction to Global Development

This information is for the 2017/18 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Claire Mercer S418

Dr Jayaraj Sundaresan

Availability

This course is compulsory on the BSc in Environment and Development. This course is available on the BA in Geography, BSc in Environmental Policy with Economics, BSc in Geography with Economics and BSc in International Relations. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit and to General Course students.

Course content

An introduction to analysing global development, focusing on key development theories, strategies, problems and trajectories. In Michaelmas Term we cover concepts and ideas of development, colonial development, theories of development including modernization, dependency and post-development, the rise of the neoliberal project, the debt crisis, structural adjustment and PRSPs, participatory development and NGOs. In Lent Term we examine poverty, informality, housing, water, sanitation, gender, conflict and development.

Teaching

10 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the MT. 9 hours of lectures and 9 hours of classes in the LT. 1 hour of lectures in the ST.

Formative coursework

Students will produce two essays during the MT and the LT.

Indicative reading

S. Chant and C. McIlwaine, Geographies of Development in the 21st Century:

An Introduction to the Global South, 2009; S. Chari and S. Corbridge (eds),

The Development Reader, 2008;G. Williams, P. Meth and K. Willis,

Geographies of Developing Areas: the Global South in a Changing World, 2009;

V Desai & R Potter (Eds), The Companion to Development Studies, 2nd ed,

2008; T Forsyth (Ed), The Routledge Encyclopaedia of Development, 2005;

D. Simon (Ed.), Fifty Key Thinkers on Development, 2005; K Willis (2011)

Theories and practices in development, 2nd ed; UNDP, Human Development

Report, published annually; World Bank, World Development Report,

published annually.

Assessment

Exam (75%, duration: 3 hours) in the main exam period.
Essay (25%, 2000 words) in the LT.

Student performance results

(2014/15 - 2016/17 combined)

Classification % of students
First 22.5
2:1 57.2
2:2 14.9
Third 3.2
Fail 2.3

Key facts

Department: Geography & Environment

Total students 2016/17: 76

Average class size 2016/17: 13

Capped 2016/17: No

Value: One Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

PDAM skills

  • Self-management
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication

Course survey results

(2014/15 - 2016/17 combined)

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

The scores below are average responses.

Response rate: 71%

Question

Average
response

Reading list (Q2.1)

1.9

Materials (Q2.3)

1.8

Course satisfied (Q2.4)

1.9

Lectures (Q2.5)

2

Integration (Q2.6)

1.8

Contact (Q2.7)

2

Feedback (Q2.8)

2

Recommend (Q2.9)

Yes

72%

Maybe

24%

No

4%