Decisions and guidelines

SAMFAK 2008/142 Doss 3:1:1

Master Programme in Development Studies, 120 ECTS

Description of aims/Purpose

The aim of the Master's programme in development studies is to give the student a systematic understanding of basic questions in the subject in order to be able to examine, assess and analyse critically politics and development on a scientific basis. Special emphasis is placed on analysing how state and society individually or together lay the foundation for development of the economy, democracy and the environment. The student acquires knowledge and skills that give the capacity for independent andindependently to solve problems and the ability to monitor the development critical assessment, the ability of knowledge on the research front. The two-year Master's programme permits study in greater depth and studies at other universities. The essay that is written during the two-year programme (30 ECTS credits) is of greater theoretical depth and wider scope than the one written on the one-year programme (15 ECTS credits). The Master's Thesis course (30 ECTS) also presupposes knowledge of qualitative and quantitative methodology on the advanced level.

Aims in terms of expected study results

After completing the programme the student is expected to

- have a general knowledge of the factors that are crucial to development in the fields of economics, the environment, democracy and human rights.

- have a deeper knowledge of the essential theoretical features of the field of development studies where the focus is on the relationship between state and society, and to have developed the ability to deal self-reliantly with social science questions.

- have deeper knowledge of social science method and have developed the ability to deal independently with social science material by composing and defending a scientific thesis.

- be able in the course of a term of practical work to use the theoretical knowledge acquired on real tasks at a workplace dealing with development issues, have further developed the ability to work in collaboration with other people, have been able to form an impression of the fields of work to which the training may lead and, in the case of practical work abroad, have trained the ability to communicate in another language and acquired experience of living in a foreign environment.

Entry requirements

A Bachelor’s degree with 60 points (90 ECTS credits) in a subject field within the Faculty of Social Sciences, as well as documented written independent work

(at least 10 000 words) within social science or corresponding. One or more essays can be included in the concept "written independent academic work". The essay-/s should be written in either English, Swedish, Norwegian or Danish or translated to one of these languages or translated to one of these langugages.

All students applying for the programme must display adequate knowledge of English. This may be done in at least one of four ways:

1. International English Language Testing Service (IELTS). Minimum points: 6.0. More information on www.ielts.org.

2. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Recommended minimum points: 550 (paper-based test), 213 (computer-based test), 79 (Internet-based test). More information on www.toefl.org. The TOEFL code for Uppsala University is 0247.

3. Cambridge CAE, CPE.

4. Previous graduation from upper secondary school level or higher in the Nordic countries.

Layout of the programme

Contents

The Master's programme in development studies represents 120 ECTS credits and leads to the two-year Master in Development Studies degree or can be concluded after one year with a one-year Master in Development Studies (60 ECTS credits). The education prepares for a future professional activity in qualified positions in the private and public sectors as analyst/executive officer in government departments and aid authorities etc., in various interest organisations, within the field of the ministry of foreign affairs, in international organisations dealing with aid matters, in journalism and media.

In a time of increasing globalisation it is necessary for companies, organisations and public authorities to take great account of international trends and conditions. A good background in international relations is becoming increasingly important for growing numbers of employees in the public sector. Knowledge of how development is achieved and of how development policy can be designed, together with sound methodological knowledge, is especially valuable for work both in Sweden and abroad. The two-year course also gives the possibility of a term's supervised practice in Sweden or abroad.

Design of the programme

The first term gives a common ground in methodological skills and a deeper knowledge of development related theories and also theory concerning the state and civil society.

Students wishing to conclude their studies with a one-year's Master's degree choose a course in the development studies in the first half of term two and write an essay during the second half of the term (15 ECTS credits).

Students reading for the two-year Master's degree have great freedom during the second and third terms to make their own choice in the subject of development studies both within and outside the range of courses offered by the department. Students who have not previously done practical work in the course of their training have an opportunity for this in term three. The fourth term is devoted entirely to the degree project.

Basic structure and progression of the programme

The two-year Master's degree in development studies is based on courses given primarily at the Department of Government at Uppsala University, but several of the optional courses are given at cooperating departments at Uppsala University or in collaboration with Groningen University.

The first term gives a common methodological basis and a deeper knowledge of development related theories, and theories about the state and civil society.

Students who want to conclude their studies with a degree of Master (one year) of development studies read the course "Economic growth, justice and distribution" in the first half of term two, and write an essay during the second part of the term (15 ECTS credits).

Students studying for the degree of Master (two years) of development studies read the course "Economic growth, justice and distribution" in the first half of term two. During the second half of the second term and during the third term the student has great freedom to make her or his own choice of courses in the subject of development studies both within and outside the range offered by the department. Students who have not previously done practical work during their training have an opportunity for this in term three. The fourth term is devoted entirely to the degree project.

Practical placement; cooperation between university and working life

One important element of the programme is the possibility of doing a term's supervised practical placement with an authority, organisation or company, in Sweden or abroad, which can offer duties of value for the selected specialisation and future professional plans. There are good prospects of doing practical work abroad. This gives an opportunity for learning languages and for living and working in new cultural and social settings. The practical work term carries 30 ECTS points for the project.

Studies abroad

In the two-year Master's degree programme either one or two terms may be spent at a foreign university within the framework of the exchange programme that the department and/or the university offers. Courses offered in collaboration with Groningen University are of special interest here. Studies at a foreign university may after consideration be credited as a part of a course or a whole course within the programme.

Instruction

The education is given on a scientific basis and is anchored in research, with the student being given the equipment to steadily develop her or his methodological skills and a scientific approach. The student is expected to take increasing responsibility for his/her own learning as the course progresses, and also gradually to acquire professionally relevant and research-based knowledge and skills. The student is encouraged to create and develop both national and international contacts. The knowledge is imparted and assimilated by instruction, private study, seminar discussions and also individual oral and written work. Throughout the programme considerable weight is systematically placed on both written and oral interpretations and presentations. The progression in the programme is to lead on to a higher degree of intellectual maturity and greater insight into the complexity of the subject. This, together with the ability to integrate knowledge and skills and independently to formulate and solve problems, will be shown in a final degree project.

Degree

The programme leads to a one-year Master's degree or a two-year Master's degree in development studies. The two-year Master's degree requires the obtaining of 120 ECTS credits with at least 60 ECTS credits being within the main area of development studies, including individual work (degree project) representing 30 ECTS credits. For the one-year Master's degree 60 ECTS points is required, with at least 30 ECTS being in the main area of development studies, including individual work (degree project) representing 15 ECTS points.

The one-year Master's degree is named "Filosofie Magisterexamen", (huvudområde utvecklingsstudier) in Swedish and "Degree of Master in Social Science (One Year)", (Main field of study: Development Studies) in English. The two-year Master's degree is called "Filosofie Masterexamen", (huvudområde utvecklingsstudier) in Swedish and "Degree of Master in Social Science (Two Years)", (Main field of study: Development Studies) in English. Up to 30 ECTS credits may consist of practical work in the two-year programme.

Other directives

Language

Instruction is given in English.

Other regulations

For eligibility for a course unit in development studies at advanced level that is given in the programme, 90 ECTS credits in a social science subject are required. Students who are enrolled on the pol. mag. programme and who have been accepted for the D level read one of the introductory courses at advanced level as the D course. Courses that have previously been read at corresponding D level may after certain assessment be credited within the Master's programme for the student who has been accepted for the programme.

The programme presupposes that the students earlier have taken methodology courses covering basic qualitative and quantitative methods(equivalent to the c-level methodology course at the Department of Government, for references see: Sapsford, R. & Jupp, V. (ed.). 1996. Data Collection and Analysis. London: Sage Publications; Or: Burnham, P., Gilland, K., Grant, W., and Layton-Henry, Z. 2004. Research Methods in Politics. New York: Palgrave MacMillan; Or: Teorell, J. and Svensson, T. 2007. Att fråga och att svara. Malmö: Liber). The Master's Thesis course (30 ECTS) presupposes knowledge of qualitative and quantitative methodology on the advanced level.