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Course & Unit Catalogues


SP52099: History and theory of international development

[Page last updated: 15 August 2024]

Academic Year: 2024/25
Owning Department/School: Department of Social & Policy Sciences
Credits: 15 [equivalent to 30 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 300
Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Period:
Semester 1
Assessment Summary: CWES 80%, CWRI 20%
Assessment Detail:
  • Short essay (CWRI 20%)
  • Long essay (CWES 80%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: At the end of the unit, students will have:
* Critical and in-depth understanding of the forces and interests that shape public policy, internationally, nationally and locally, and how these vary across different policy and political settings. (T/A)
* Comprehensive knowledge of dominant and cutting edge theories of what public policy is for, how public policies are made, and how they shape social, political and economic life. (T/A)
* Critical understanding of the political and normative origins, and strengths and weaknesses, of these explanations, applied to a diverse range of policy cases. (T/A)
* In-depth understanding of how global, regional and national political economies intersect with social and political forces to transform - or reproduce - public policies and politics (T/A)


Synopsis: Examine the main issues, approaches and theories which constitute the field of international development. You'll learn how these have been conceived, and changes in the ways they have been understood over time.

Content: The unit will cover the main issues, approaches and theories which constitute the project of international development, the different ways that these have been conceived and changes in the ways they have been understood over time.

Course availability:

SP52099 is a Must Pass Unit on the following courses:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • THSP-AFM41 : MSc International Development
  • THSP-AWM41 : MSc International Development
  • THSP-APM41 : MSc International Development
  • THSP-AFM42 : MSc International Development, Social Justice and Sustainability
  • THSP-AWM42 : MSc International Development, Social Justice and Sustainability
  • THSP-APM42 : MSc International Development, Social Justice and Sustainability
  • THSP-AFM43 : MSc International Development with Conflict and Humanitarian Action  
  • THSP-AWM43 : MSc International Development with Conflict and Humanitarian Action  
  • THSP-APM43 : MSc International Development with Conflict and Humanitarian Action  
  • THSP-AFM44 : MSc International Development with Economics 
  • THSP-AWM44 : MSc International Development with Economics 
  • THSP-APM44 : MSc International Development with Economics 

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2024/25 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2025/26 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2024/25.
  • Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.