Development Studies refers to a broad range of courses that address the planning, implementation and consequences of social, political and economic change among peoples of the Third and Fourth Worlds.
Development as an aspect of state policy, and specifically as an integral part of relations between states of the wealthy 'West' or 'North' (First World) and states of the 'South' (Third World), gained prominence after the Second World War with the establishment of the IMF/World Bank and other development banks and aid agencies, such as USAID and the Australian Development Assistance Bureau. Since then agencies and government officials, practitioners and intellectuals have debated the rights and wrongs of development and the merits of particular approaches to development. These have crystallised in various 'theories' or approaches to development, such as the modernisation theories, world system theories, or the more recent emphasis on empowerment, popular participation and sustainable development.
Development Studies examines the impact of globalisation on states and peoples of the South, and reviews notions of economic viability, democracy, governance, human rights or environmental sustainability as they apply to such culturally divergent entities. In the last two decades there has been an explosion in the numbers of non-government organisations (NGOs) or voluntary organisations (VOs) also concentrating on development.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Understand the different perspectives and theories of development and change in the modern era
- Apply these perspectives and theories to the practical issues of delivering development programs.
- Analyse the competing interests, motivations and discourse of key stakeholders and interest groups
- Devise and conduct research and write critically about these issues
Relevant Degrees
Requirements
This major requires the completion of 48 units, which must include:
12 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH1003 | Global Citizen: Culture, Development and Inequality | 6 |
| ANTH1002 | Culture and Human Diversity: Introducing Anthropology | 6 |
| POLS1005 | Introduction to International Relations: Foundations and Concepts | 6 |
| POLS1006 | Introduction to International Relations: Contemporary Global Issues | 6 |
| SOCY1002 | Self and Society | 6 |
| SOCY1004 | Analysing the Social World: An Introduction to Social Psychology | 6 |
18 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH2009 | Culture and Development | 6 |
| POLS2011 | Development and Change | 6 |
| SOCY2030 | Sociology of Third World Development | 6 |
A maximum of 12 units may come from completion of courses from the following list:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH2017 | Culture, Social Justice and Aboriginal Society Today | 6 |
| ANTH2026 | Medicine, Healing and the Body | 6 |
| ANTH 2066: Anthropology of Money | ||
| ANTH2129 | Crossing Borders: Migration, Identity and Livelihood | 6 |
| ANTH2134 | States and Citizens: Anthropological Perspectives | 6 |
| ANTH2135 | Vietnam Field School | 6-12 |
| ANTH2138 | Doing Medical Anthropology | 6 |
| ASIA 2063: Development in China | ||
| ASIA2067 | Economies of Emerging Asia | 6 |
| ASIA 2069: Indonesia's Regions | ||
| ASIA2090 | Study Tour: The Political Economy of Myanmar | 6 |
| ASIA2516 | Indonesia: Politics, Society and Development | 6 |
| BIAN2120 | Culture, Biology and Population Dynamics | 6 |
| ECHI2006 | The World Economy Since 1800 (P) | 6 |
| ECON2900 | Development Poverty and Famine | 6 |
| ENVS2005 | Island Sustainable Development: Fiji Field School | 6-12 |
| ENVS2017 | Vietnam Field School | 6-12 |
| ENVS2023 | Sustainable Agricultural Systems | 6 |
| ENVS2025 | Indigenous Cultural and Natural Resource Management | 6 |
| INTR2047 | Human Security: Conflict, Displacement and Peace Building | 6 |
| MEAS2105 | The Political Economy of the Middle East | 6 |
| PASI2003 | Environment and Development in the Pacific | 6 |
| POLS2055 | Pacific Politics | 6 |
| POLS2064 | Global Social Movements | 6 |
| POLS2070 | Politics in Central Asia | 6 |
| POLS2094 | Issues in International Political Economy | 6 |
| POLS2095 | Politics in Latin America | 6 |
| POLS2101 | Refugee Politics: Displacement and Exclusion in the 20th and 21st Centuries | 6 |
| POLS2113 | Human Rights | 6 |
| SOCY2022 | Environmental Sociology | 6 |
| SOCY2055 | Social Inequality in Comparative Perspective | 6 |
| SOCY2162 | Sociology of Health and Illness | 6 |
A minimum of 6 units must come from completion of courses from the following list:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH3014 | Indonesia Field School: Contemporary Change in Indonesia | 6 |
| ANTH3017 | Indigenous Worlds: Challenges of Emergence, Recognition, and Change | 6 |
| ENVS3007 | Participatory Resource Management: Working with Communities and Stakeholders | 6 |
| ENVS3033 | International Environmental Policy | 6 |
| INDG3001 | Public policy development and implementation and Indigenous Australians | 6 |
| PASI3001 | The Contemporary Pacific: Society, Politics and Development | 6 |
| PASI3005 | Pacific Islands Field School | 6 |