COURSE CURRICULUM

The MA International Development at ARU combines lectures, seminars, and interactive activities to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the theories, policies, and practices shaping global development. Students engage with a wide range of critical debates and perspectives, exploring issues such as poverty, inequality, climate change, gender, social protection, and post-conflict reconstruction. The course emphasizes the development of transferable and affective skills, enhancing communication, negotiation, and presentation abilities through class debates, role play, and group work. Interdisciplinary and multicultural approaches to international development are embedded throughout, fostering a global outlook and awareness of complex, interconnected issues. A key component of the program is the postgraduate dissertation project, which is initially guided by supervisors but largely self-directed, allowing students to refine independent learning, research, and critical thinking skills, including deductive and inductive reasoning. Assessment methods are varied to encourage creative and reflective approaches, including written essays, policy briefs, blogs, op-eds, presentations, and group projects, ensuring students develop practical and analytical expertise applicable to professional contexts. Optional modules allow further specialization in areas such as global governance, war and peacekeeping, intercultural communication, transnational crime, and consultancy projects, providing opportunities to deepen knowledge and enhance employability in international organisations, NGOs, research institutions, and policy-making bodies.