Learning Outcomes

After completion of Development Studies B the students are expected to:
• have deepened their empirical, theoretical, and methodological knowledge and skill within the field, especially regarding:
• the impact of colonialism on development theories and developing countries
• anthropological perspectives on globalisation and the Third World
• be familiar with the most important contributions within the social movement field and gained a good grasp over the debate
• through practical assignments get first hand experience of all different methods and types of information used in development research
• independently formulate a researchable hypothesis or theory built on previous research in development

Instructions

The teaching consists of lectures, seminars, video films, and study visits.

Assessment

The first two parts of the course are examined by means of a written test and assignments.The third part is examined by means of assignment and active participation in the seminars. Grades are awarded according the scale “failed”, "pass" or "pass with distinction". To get the grade “pass with distinction” for the whole A course that grade is needed for at least 15 points of the totally 30 points.

Course Level in Relation to Degree Requirements

The students will develop their ability to critically analyse, understand and deal with, both orally and in writing, some relatively advanced texts from the central research fields of political science. The course gives the students an opportunity to reflect upon the requirements of a scientific discussion. Special attention is thereby given to the art of conveying the thoughts of others in an analytically meaningful way; the need for a concept formation of one's own "an instrument of analysis" for the characterisation and comparison of different ideas, and the importance of dealing with relevant critique in order to support one's own thesis. The student is expected to contribute actively with his own views, and there will be practice in oral presentations of the acquired knowledge.
On completion of the course the student is expected to have obtained the necessary knowledge and competence to define research problems as well as carrying out and assessing empirical studies of a simple but yet qualitative kind. The course thereby provides the student with the knowledge and understanding of some basic methodological questions in the field of social science. The skills practiced include the competence to identify, formulate and seek answers to political science problems; the ability to define and carry out an assignment within given time limits; the ability to present and discuss information, problems and solutions, orally as well as in the written form; the ability to work independently with research problems and various project assignments.

Other Directives

Further instructions will be given at the start of each sub-course.