COURSE CURRICULUM

The MA in Social Change and Development combines core modules with a wide range of optional courses, providing students with a thorough understanding of power, participation, and social change. Core modules give all students a strong foundation in the field, with autumn teaching covering Foundations of Power, Participation and Social Change, and Power and Social Perspectives on Development. In the spring term, students take Designing Critical Enquiry to develop research and analytical skills, while the summer term is dedicated to the dissertation, allowing for in-depth study of a chosen topic related to power, participation, and social change. Alongside the core curriculum, students can choose from a variety of optional modules to tailor the course to their interests and broaden their expertise. Options include topics such as Aid and Poverty, Business as a Development Actor, Climate Change and Development, Governance of Violent Conflict, Health and Development, and Sustainability and Policy Processes, among others. These modules cover key areas in development, policy, crisis response, and social justice, equipping students with practical knowledge and critical perspectives. By combining theoretical grounding with research and applied learning, the program prepares graduates for careers in development, policy, social activism, and research, enabling them to contribute effectively to initiatives that promote social justice, equity, and transformative change in diverse global contexts.