Introduction to Development Studies I
- Social Sciences
- 100 level
- 2 credit units
- 133 pages
- 12 units
This course, Introduction to Development Studies I (DES 111), is designed for first-year economics students. It provides an in-depth knowledge of how development studies evolved. The course covers the definition and importance of development studies, factors influencing developed countries, and an overview of development theories. It also discusses colonization, industrialization, rural development, urbanization, gender, health, education, and the environment.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Study hours
- 156 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of DES111, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
DES111 · Unit 1
The challenge of human scale development as explained earlier is to nurture diversity instead of being threatened by it, to develop processes of political and economic decentralization, to strengthen democratic, indigenous traditions and institutions and to encourage rather than repress emerging social movements which reflect the people’s need for autonomy and space.
What you should be able to do
- Explain the definition and meaning of development and development studies.
- Discuss the importance of development studies.
- Identify developed countries and factors that influenced their development.
- Explain the overview of development theories.
- Discuss the concepts of colonization, industrialization, rural development, urbanization, gender, health, education, and the environment.
What it prepares you for
- Development Officer
- Policy Analyst
- International Aid Worker
- Researcher
- Consultant
- Government Agencies
- Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
- International Development Organizations
- Research Institutions
- Consulting Firms
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 3: Education and Environment
Unit 3: The How Education and Environment Enhance Human Wellbeing in Developing Countries in Africa and Asia
Understanding the complex interplay between education, environmental factors, and their combined impact on human well-being requires synthesizing knowledge from multiple disciplines.
- Module 3: Education and Environment
Unit 4: How Education and Environment Enhance Human Wellbeing in Developing Countries in The Pacific and Latin America.
This unit requires understanding of diverse geographical and cultural contexts, as well as the specific challenges faced by developing countries in the Pacific and Latin America.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 28 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Meaning and Importance of Development Studies
Unit 1: Definition and meaning of Development and Development Studies · 2 hours
Understand the definitions of development and development studies.. Explore the characteristics and nature of development studies..
- Week 2Module 1: Meaning and Importance of Development Studies
Unit 2: Importance of Development Studies · 2 hours
Discuss the historical overview of development studies.. Analyze the reasons why development studies should be studied..
- Week 3Module 1: Meaning and Importance of Development Studies
Unit 3: Development Countries and Factor that influenced Development of Developed Countries · 2 hours
Discuss the historical review of the development processes of developed countries.. Explain the reasons for undeveloped of developing countries..
- Week 4Module 1: Meaning and Importance of Development Studies
Unit 4: Overview of Development Theories · 2 hours
Discuss the historical evolution of the development processes.. Discuss some development and growth theories..
- Week 5Module 2: Colonisation, Industrialisation and Development
Unit 1: Colonization and Industrialization · 2 hours
Discuss the definitions and meaning of colonization.. Explain the linkages between colonization and industrialization..
- Week 6Module 2: Colonisation, Industrialisation and Development
Unit 2: Rural Development and Urbanization · 2 hours
Understand the definitions and meaning of rural area.. Understand the term urbanization..
- Week 7Module 2: Colonisation, Industrialisation and Development
Unit 3: Gender Issues in Development · 2 hours
Discuss the meaning of gender.. Analyze gender and household income..
- Week 8Module 2: Colonisation, Industrialisation and Development
Unit 4: Health Issues in Development · 2 hours
Discuss the meaning of health and health education.. Analyze healthcare and healthcare outcomes..
- Week 9Module 3: Education and Environment
Unit 1: Education · 2 hours
Discuss the meaning of education.. Enumerate types of education..
- Week 10Module 3: Education and Environment
Unit 2: The Environment · 2 hours
Discuss the meaning of environment.. Enumerate types of environment..
- Week 11Module 3: Education and Environment
Unit 3: The How Education and Environment Enhance Human Wellbeing in Developing Countries in Africa and Asia · 2 hours
Discuss education and human capital development in Africa.. Evaluate environment and enhancement of human wellbeing in Africa..
- Week 12Module 3: Education and Environment
Unit 3: The How Education and Environment Enhance Human Wellbeing in Developing Countries in Africa and Asia · 2 hours
Assess education and human capital development in Asia.. Discuss environment and enhancement of human wellbeing in Asia..
- Week 13Module 3: Education and Environment
Unit 4: How Education and Environment Enhance Human Wellbeing in Developing Countries in The Pacific and Latin America. · 2 hours
Discuss education and human capital development in the Pacific.. Evaluate environment and enhancement of human wellbeing in the Pacific..
Unit 4: How Education and Environment Enhance Human Wellbeing in Developing Countries in The Pacific and Latin America. · 2 hours
Assess education and human capital development in Latin America.. Discuss environment and enhancement of human wellbeing in Latin America..
Preparing for the exam
- Review definitions and key concepts from Units 1-4 on development theories and their historical context.
- Create a comparative chart outlining the strengths and weaknesses of each development theory discussed in Module 1.
- Focus on understanding the socio-economic impacts of colonization and industrialization covered in Module 2.
- Practice applying concepts of gender equality and health indicators to real-world development scenarios.
- Outline the key environmental challenges and sustainable solutions discussed in Module 3, focusing on Africa, Asia, Pacific and Latin America.
- Create mind maps linking education, environment, and human well-being, emphasizing case studies from developing countries.
Questions students ask about this course
What is DES111 about?
This course, Introduction to Development Studies I (DES 111), is designed for first-year economics students. It provides an in-depth knowledge of how development studies evolved. The course covers the definition and importance of development studies, factors influencing developed countries, and an overview of development theories. It also discusses colonization, industrialization, rural development, urbanization, gender, health, education, and the environment.
How many units does DES111 have?
DES111, Introduction to Development Studies I, has 12 units across 3 modules, over 133 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is DES111?
DES111 carries 2 credit units, at 100 level in Social Sciences.
Is DES111 hard?
DES111 is rated beginner level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical work.
How long does DES111 take to study?
About 156 hours of study, spread across its 12 units.
How is DES111 assessed?
DES111 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with DES111?
Development Officer, Policy Analyst, International Aid Worker, Researcher and Consultant.