Social Change and Development
- Social Sciences
- 200 level
- 2 credit units
- 109 pages
- 10 units
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.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 156 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, case study
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of DES221, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
DES221 · Unit 1: Definition Of Social Change And Processes Of Change
Modernization describes the processes that increase the amount of specialization and differentiation of structure in societies resulting in the move from an undeveloped society to developed, technologically driven society (Irwin 1975). By this definition, the level of modernity within a society is judged by the sophistication of its technology, particularly as it relates to infrastructure, industry, and the like.
What you should be able to do
- Define social change and development.
- Compare and contrast major theories of social change.
- Analyze the impact of colonialism on developing societies.
- Evaluate the role of social and cultural factors in economic development.
- Apply theoretical frameworks to understand development challenges in Nigeria.
- Assess the effectiveness of development interventions in promoting social change.
What it prepares you for
- Development Officer
- Social Worker
- Policy Analyst
- Researcher
- Community Development
- Government
- Non-Governmental Organizations
- International Development Agencies
- Research Institutions
- Community Development
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 2: Theories of Social Change and Development
Unit 1: Evolutionary, diffusion and cyclical theories
The abstract nature of evolutionary, diffusion, and cyclical theories requires critical thinking to differentiate their assumptions and applications.
- Module 2: Theories of Social Change and Development
Unit 3: Dependency and World System Perspectives
Understanding the nuances of dependency and world system perspectives requires grasping complex global economic and political relationships.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 38 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Basic Concept of Social Change
Unit 1: Definition of social change and processes of change · 2 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 2Module 1: Basic Concept of Social Change
Unit 2: Social Systems · 2 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 3Module 1: Basic Concept of Social Change
Unit 3: Colonialism and its impacts in Nigeria · 2 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 4Module 2: Theories of Social Change and Development
Unit 1: Evolutionary, diffusion and cyclical theories · 2 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 5Module 2: Theories of Social Change and Development
Unit 2: Functionalist, modernization and conflicts theories · 2 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 6Module 2: Theories of Social Change and Development
Unit 3: Dependency and World System Perspectives · 2 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 7Module 3: Social Dimension and Economic Development
Unit 1: Social cultural dimensions of development · 2 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 8Module 3: Social Dimension and Economic Development
Unit 2: Economic developments · 2 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 9Module 3: Social Dimension and Economic Development
Unit 3: Development as agent of social change · 2 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 10Module 3: Social Dimension and Economic Development
Unit 4: Nigeria Example and other African Countries · 2 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 11Module 1: Basic Concept of Social Change
Unit 1: Definition of social change and processes of change · 3 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 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 12Module 3: Social Dimension and Economic Development
Unit 1: Social cultural dimensions of development · 3 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 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 13Module 3: Social Dimension and Economic Development
Unit 4: Nigeria Example and other African Countries · 6 hours
Comprehensive course review and revision.. Focus on integrating concepts from all modules.. Final preparation for examinations..
Preparing for the exam
- Create a timeline of key events in Nigeria's development history (Unit 3, Module 1; Unit 4, Module 3).
- Develop concept maps linking modernization, dependency, and world systems theories (Module 2).
- Practice applying the AGIL paradigm to analyze social systems (Unit 2, Module 1).
- Review definitions of key terms like 'social change,' 'development,' and 'modernization' (Unit 1, Module 1; Unit 2, Module 3).
- Focus on understanding the socio-cultural dimensions of development and their impact on economic outcomes (Unit 1, Module 3).
- Compare and contrast the development experiences of Nigeria with other African countries (Unit 4, Module 3).
- Prepare examples of how education, industry and ICT can be agents of social change (Unit 3, Module 3).
- Review all self-assessment exercises and tutor-marked assignments.
Questions students ask about this course
What is DES221 about?
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.
How many units does DES221 have?
DES221, Social Change and Development, has 10 units across 3 modules, over 109 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is DES221?
DES221 carries 2 credit units, at 200 level in Social Sciences.
Is DES221 hard?
DES221 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.
How long does DES221 take to study?
About 156 hours of study, spread across its 10 units.
How is DES221 assessed?
DES221 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with DES221?
Development Officer, Social Worker, Policy Analyst, Researcher and Community Development.