COURSE CURRICULUM

The International Development course at Sussex provides students with a comprehensive understanding of global development issues and the tools to create positive change. In the first year, students explore foundational topics such as colonialism, global challenges, aid and development cooperation, and development policies, gaining insight into key thinkers and practitioners in the field. In the second year, the focus shifts to deeper analysis of development economics, social justice, and research skills, alongside options covering environmental perspectives, gender, race, health, poverty, international education, and activist practice. This allows students to develop a nuanced understanding of development challenges and practical approaches to addressing them. In the third year, students tailor their studies with a wide range of options, including sustainability policy, human rights, decolonial movements, disaster management, global work experience, and contemporary global issues such as refugees, global food security, and political ecology. The course also includes an international development thesis and practical skill-building modules, enabling students to apply research and critical thinking to real-world problems. Sussex emphasizes interdisciplinary learning, combining social, economic, political, and environmental perspectives, while fostering analytical, problem-solving, and leadership skills. Graduates are prepared for careers in development policy, practice, advocacy, research, and related fields, equipped to contribute to equitable and sustainable solutions in diverse global contexts.