COURSE CURRICULUM

This Master’s program in Development Studies offers an interdisciplinary and historically informed approach to understanding development theory and practice. Over the course of the year, students engage with a series of complementary modules, balancing theoretical foundations with policy-focused and empirical perspectives. Beginning with the post-World War II period—widely considered the start of the development era—students explore how key global events like the 1970s oil crisis and the fall of socialism in the 1990s have influenced development thinking. The core module *Development Perspectives* introduces a range of theories, including modernisation, dependency, neo-liberalism, human development, and rights-based approaches, while encouraging critical reflection on their relevance and impact on current policies and practices. Another compulsory module, *Contemporary World Development*, examines ongoing debates about development objectives, the roles of states and non-governmental organisations, and key global policy frameworks like the Millennium Development Goals. Students also develop research skills through a core module on research approaches, which prepares them for either a dissertation or analytical report. The course offers significant flexibility through a wide selection of optional modules in areas such as education, gender, globalisation, climate change, rural livelihoods, conflict, humanitarian assistance, economics, and public health. This allows students to tailor their learning to specific academic interests or professional goals. Throughout the program, students are encouraged to interrogate the assumptions behind development policies and critically assess their implications for practice, all while building a robust understanding of how development ideas evolve over time and shape responses to global challenges.