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DES221Social Sciences2 Unitsintermediate

Social Change and Development

This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts of social change and development. It explores various theories, including evolutionary, cyclical, and dependency perspectives, to understand societal transformations. The course also examines the social and cultural dimensions of economic development, focusing on how these factors influence development outcomes in Nigeria and other African countries. Students will analyze the impact of colonialism and modernization on social structures and economic progress.

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156h
Study Time
13
Weeks
12h
Per Week
none
Math Level
Course Keywords
Social ChangeDevelopment TheoriesColonialismModernizationEconomic Development

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
📚
Math Level
No Math
📖
Learning Type
Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Social Change Definitions

2

Social Systems

3

Colonialism Impact

4

Evolutionary Theories

5

Modernization Theories

6

Economic Development

Total Topics6 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

tutor-marked assessments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

final examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Computer Based Test

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Development Officer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Social Worker

Apply your skills in this growing field

Policy Analyst

Apply your skills in this growing field

Researcher

Apply your skills in this growing field

Community Development

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

GovernmentNon-Governmental OrganizationsInternational Development AgenciesResearch InstitutionsCommunity Development

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1: Basic Concept of Social Change

2h

Unit 1: Definition of social change and processes of change

2 study hours
  • •Read the introduction to social change, focusing on definitions and historical context.
  • •Identify and explain the key processes of social change: discovery, invention, and diffusion.
  • •Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1 to reinforce understanding of social change definitions.
Week
2

Module 1: Basic Concept of Social Change

2h

Unit 2: Social Systems

2 study hours
  • •Examine the concept of social systems and their components.
  • •Analyze how social norms and values shape interactions within a social system.
  • •Discuss Talcott Parsons' four-function paradigm (AGIL) and its relevance to social systems.
Week
3

Module 1: Basic Concept of Social Change

2h

Unit 3: Colonialism and its impacts in Nigeria

2 study hours
  • •Explore the historical context of colonialism in Nigeria.
  • •Analyze the political, economic, and social impacts of colonialism.
  • •Discuss both the positive and negative legacies of colonial rule in Nigeria.
Week
4

Module 2: Theories of Social Change and Development

2h

Unit 1: Evolutionary, diffusion and cyclical theories

2 study hours
  • •Understand the core assumptions of evolutionary, diffusion, and cyclical theories of social change.
  • •Compare and contrast these theories, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses.
  • •Analyze historical examples to illustrate each theory's application.
Week
5

Module 2: Theories of Social Change and Development

2h

Unit 2: Functionalist, modernization and conflicts theories

2 study hours
  • •Examine the key concepts of functionalist, modernization, and conflict theories.
  • •Discuss the role of social institutions in maintaining stability and driving change.
  • •Analyze the impact of modernization on traditional societies.
Week
6

Module 2: Theories of Social Change and Development

2h

Unit 3: Dependency and World System Perspectives

2 study hours
  • •Explore the dependency and world system perspectives on development.
  • •Analyze the relationships between core and peripheral countries.
  • •Discuss the challenges faced by developing countries in achieving economic independence.
Week
7

Module 3: Social Dimension and Economic Development

2h

Unit 1: Social cultural dimensions of development

2 study hours
  • •Understand the socio-cultural dimensions of development beyond economic indicators.
  • •Explore the role of cultural values, beliefs, and traditions in shaping development outcomes.
  • •Discuss how socio-cultural elements can be maximized for societal development.
Week
8

Module 3: Social Dimension and Economic Development

2h

Unit 2: Economic developments

2 study hours
  • •Define economic development and differentiate it from economic growth.
  • •Examine the historical origins of economic development theories.
  • •Discuss the various indicators and indices used to measure economic development.
Week
9

Module 3: Social Dimension and Economic Development

2h

Unit 3: Development as agent of social change

2 study hours
  • •Analyze the role of development as an agent of social change.
  • •Explore how education, industry, ICT, and the health sector contribute to societal transformation.
  • •Discuss the impact of technology on social structures and cultural values.
Week
10

Module 3: Social Dimension and Economic Development

2h

Unit 4: Nigeria Example and other African Countries

2 study hours
  • •Examine specific examples of social change and development in Nigeria.
  • •Analyze the impact of political, economic, and social reforms on Nigerian society.
  • •Discuss the challenges and opportunities for sustainable development in Nigeria.
Week
11

Module 1: Basic Concept of Social Change

6h

Unit 1: Definition of social change and processes of change

3 study hours
  • •Review key concepts and theories from Modules 1 and 2.
  • •Focus on understanding the different perspectives on social change and development.
  • •Prepare for Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA).

Unit 2: Social Systems

3 study hours
  • •Review key concepts and theories from Modules 1 and 2.
  • •Focus on understanding the different perspectives on social change and development.
  • •Prepare for Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA).
Week
12

Module 3: Social Dimension and Economic Development

6h

Unit 1: Social cultural dimensions of development

3 study hours
  • •Review key concepts and theories from Module 3.
  • •Focus on understanding the different perspectives on social change and development.
  • •Prepare for Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA).

Unit 2: Economic developments

3 study hours
  • •Review key concepts and theories from Module 3.
  • •Focus on understanding the different perspectives on social change and development.
  • •Prepare for Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA).
Week
13

Module 3: Social Dimension and Economic Development

6h

Unit 4: Nigeria Example and other African Countries

6 study hours
  • •Comprehensive course review and revision.
  • •Focus on integrating concepts from all modules.
  • •Final preparation for examinations.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

Read the complete course material as provided by NOUN.

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Create a timeline of key events in Nigeria's development history (Unit 3, Module 1; Unit 4, Module 3).

2

Develop concept maps linking modernization, dependency, and world systems theories (Module 2).

3

Practice applying the AGIL paradigm to analyze social systems (Unit 2, Module 1).

4

Review definitions of key terms like 'social change,' 'development,' and 'modernization' (Unit 1, Module 1; Unit 2, Module 3).

5

Focus on understanding the socio-cultural dimensions of development and their impact on economic outcomes (Unit 1, Module 3).

6

Compare and contrast the development experiences of Nigeria with other African countries (Unit 4, Module 3).

7

Prepare examples of how education, industry and ICT can be agents of social change (Unit 3, Module 3).

8

Review all self-assessment exercises and tutor-marked assignments.

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