COURSE CURRICULUM

The MA in Development offers a comprehensive and flexible structure that allows students to explore critical global issues such as democracy, governance, conflict, peacebuilding, and development, while tailoring their studies to their personal interests and career goals. The program includes several compulsory modules that build a solid foundation in core themes. In the “Governance, Democracy and Development” module, students critically assess definitions and theories of democracy and good governance, analyzing real-world examples such as regime trends in Turkey or the economic impact of elections in Kenya. The “Conflict, Civil Wars and Peace” module focuses on intrastate conflicts and their development implications, covering causes of civil wars, terrorism, gender roles in conflict, and post-conflict reconstruction efforts. This includes examining empirical cases like the Rwandan genocide and peace-building in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Another key component is the “Research Approaches for Dissertation or Analytical Report” module, which introduces students to research design and methods—qualitative, quantitative, and mixed—to equip them with the tools needed for their final dissertation. Students are also able to select from a variety of optional modules to deepen their understanding in areas such as gender, media, or contemporary development, depending on their specific interests. The program concludes with a dissertation, a substantial piece of independent research between 8,000 and 12,000 words on a topic approved by the School. The course’s structure ensures students not only gain theoretical insight but also practical research and analytical skills, preparing them for work in policy, development agencies, or further academic study.