Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies

The Purpose of The Learning Programme

The programme aims to provide candidates with a sound theoretical grounding in the principles and practices of economic development as it pertains to policy, research of policy and implementation of policy in a development context. Candidates will demonstrate the following exit-level competences:

• An in-depth knowledge and understanding of the complexities of policy theory as it applies to the principles and practices of economic development as well as the roles played by different stakeholders and drivers in policy development and implementation;
• A clear understanding of and the ability to apply the concepts of methods of analysis;
• The ability to design and implement appropriate research projects, apply relevant research methods and present reports in appropriate format in a development context;
• The ability to measure the performance of different areas, countries and institutions in terms of economic development by applying appropriate criteria.

Admission Requirements

• Minimum NSC statutory requirements for degree entry must be met.
• An applicant with NSC Grade 12 Mathematics or Technical Mathematics requires a minimum Applicant Score of 350
• An applicant with NSC Grade 12 Mathematical Literacy requires a minimum Applicant Score of 365.
• NSC achievement rating of at least level 40% for Mathematics or Technical Mathematics or 70% for Mathematical Literacy.

Re-admission:

The re-admission of students is in accordance with the policy for re-admission approved by Council and as published in the prospectus of the Faculty of Business & Economic Sciences of the Nelson Mandela University for the Baccalaureus qualification.

Site of Delivery:

All three years of the programme will be offered on the Nelson Mandela University South Campus.

Duration:

The qualification shall extend over a period of three years of full-time study.

Curriculum:

 

DEVE101

INTRODUCTION TO DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

Credits: 10

PURPOSE

• Describe and assess the origins, principles and some of the applications of major development theories, past and present
• Describe and assess contemporary development issues and development interventions in the light of the fundamental aspects of the theories studied
• Identify the challenges of development praxis
• Explain how the selected trends, problems and challenges of development feed into development praxis

• Introduction to development theories
• Introduction to development policies
• Sustainable development
• Dynamics of development
• State and development
• Local government and development in South Africa
• NGO’s as agents of development
• Development planning and projects
• Health and development
• Poverty, food Security and famine
• Aid and debt

 

DEVE111

DEVELOPMENT ISSUES IN CONTEMPORARY AFRICA

Credits: 10

PURPOSE

This module exemplifies contemporary trends, problems and challenges of development in Africa.

• Describe and evaluate specific contemporary trends, challenges and problems of development in Africa
• Describe and evaluate specific development interventions in the light of the trends, challenges and problems of development in Africa
• Explain the contemporary African trends, challenges and problems of development in relation to mainstream development theory
• Explain how the selected trends, problems and challenges of development feed into development praxis
• Identify the challenges of development praxis.

• Development challenges past and present: Colonialism and Post-Colonialism in Africa and the post-independent state
• Development policy formulation and implementation processes in African economies
• New international and regional development theory and its implications for Africa
• Selected case studies of African economies

 

DEVE102

• Describe development theory of imperialism and capitalism
• Explain the key developments before and after World War II
• Explain how colonialism feeds into current processes of development
• Contextualise current issues of development within the broader historical context of the African continent
• Describe and assess African development issues in light of the theory covered.

• Key Perspectives on Imperialism, Capitalism and Economic Development
• From Colonial Development to Post-Independent Development
• Colonial Administration and the growth of modern Development Studies
• The challenges of development administration in the post-independent African state
• Analysis of selected case study material

DEVE112

• Apply academic writing, reading, listening and speaking practices to discuss and critically evaluate Development Communication
• Provide a coherent description of the function of ideology and culture in society
• Describe communication theory critically and coherently as it relates to development theory
• Analyse and explain the psychological process of individual and group identity formation and in particular how this process impacts on and is influenced by the media.
• Contextualise, exemplify, describe and evaluate aspects of development communication in Southern Africa
• Apply development communication theory through designing and implementing communication strategies for particular aspects and areas of development.

• Academic writing, reading, listening and speaking communication practices
• Representation, ideology and communication
• Communication in relation to identity, and culture
• Communication in relation to human behaviour
• Communication in relation to globalisation, power and change

 

DEV201/DEVE201

• Describe and assess contemporary development topics in relation to the development theories studied
• Describe and assess specific development interventions in the light of the theories
• Describe contemporary controversies in development studies.
• Explain the interrelationship between the contemporary development theories.
• Explain how the contemporary development theories feed into development praxis

• Sustainable Development theory
• Gender and Development theory
• People-centred development practice
• Neo-liberalism and social capital theory

DEV202/DEVE211

• Explore and describe current and emerging approaches and practices to promoting economic development at regional and local levels
• Write to-the-point comprehensive, evaluative reports of the impacts of these approaches and practices
• Describe and evaluate issues of equity, participation, conflict, and cooperation in the local and regional economic development planning and implementation process
• Describe different theories of economic development and associated critique
• Describe contrasting and complementary explanations of how economic development occurs at regional and local level
• Describe the historical development of economic development policies, major programs and practices in South Africa
• Describe the current and emerging approaches and practices to promoting economic development at regional and local levels
• Explain the impacts of these approaches and practices on promoting economic development at regional and local levels
• Describe the decision criteria by which projects may be appraised in the energy/water/transport sectors

• Processes and practices of local development planning and policy
• Impact assessment of economic development at regional and local level
• Case studies of equity, participation, conflict and cooperation in economic development planning
• Implementation process of economic development

DEV203/DEVE202

• Describe the major trends in global studies
• Describe the theoretical roots of these trends
• Explain the origins and consequences of global economic disparity
• Explain how the different theories feed into development praxis
• Identify and elaborate the challenges of development praxis
• Describe and evaluate global development theories
• Describe and evaluate global development issues and interventions in the light of the theories covered.

• Trends and theory in global studies
• Civil society and global economic disparity
• Development and millennium development goals
• International aid
• Major global development issues and interventions

DEV204/DEVE212

• Describe and evaluate the main environmental impact assessment and policy development theories
• Assess development interventions in the light of environmental impact policies and laws
• Write and present coherent evaluative descriptions and reports of particular EIA processes and related environmental policies laws
• Describe the basis of the policy guidelines and laws concerning the environment, including the Environmental Impact Assessment legislation
• Describe the processes employed to integrate the ecological and social aspects of development into planning and environmental resource management processes
• Explain the theoretical roots of these processes
• Explain how the different theories feed into development praxis

• Analytic and methodological knowledge and skills needed to use and apply tools for environmental impact assessment and environmental policy development
• The dilemma of sustainability
• The roots and the development of sustainable development
• Mainstreaming and delivering sustainable development
• The politics of preservation
• Environmental management tools, laws and policies

DEV301/DEVE301

• Critically assess alternative development policies and programmes
• Systematically critique goals and objectives of economic development efforts
• Write coherent reports and make presentations about political, social and institutional contexts in which development policy-making occurs
• Contextualise development policy processes and analyse the thinking behind such processes
• Describe and evaluate classical theories of economic development
• Explain economic development versus under-development (regulation approach and basic needs approach)
• Identify, describe and explain key economic, political and institutional contexts in which development policy-making occurs
• Describe the philosophical tenets of positivism, post-positivism and postmodernism and their implications for development policy-making

• The philosophical paradigms of positivism, post-positivism and postmodernism
• The Dimensions of Development Policy
• Meta-theory and Policy Analysis
• Policy Actors
• Development policy process in a Global Context
• The East Asian Experience
• National Economic and Industrial Development Policy
• Remodelling the State
• Selected Issues in Meso and Micro Development Policy
• Developmental Local Government: Policy and Practice

DEV302/DEVE311

• Identify cases of and describe the emergence of high growth developing and transitional economies
• Describe the socio-economic and geopolitical implications of high growth developing and transitional economies
• Critique and assess high growth developing and transitional economies and their significance in the context of globalisation
• Compare and evaluate development policy of high growth development and transitional economies.

• The emergence of high growth developing economies in the post-war period
• The decline of socialism and the advent of transitional economies
• The role of the state in economic development
• The East Asian development state
• Models and criteria for classifying and analyzing HPEs (High Performing Economies)
• Comparative development policy for high growth developing and transition economies.

DEV303/DEVE302

• Analyse and evaluate conflict situations in the light of the theories covered
• Formulate conflict management strategies for concrete situations
• Describe the root causes of conflict and violence
• Explain the current processes of conflict and security management, developmental reconstruction, intervention and policy development.
• Explain the key non-violent mechanisms for conflict transformation and prevention

• Perspectives on security, peace and developmental reconstruction
• Security and peace-keeping in post-conflict societies
• From the Marshall Plan to Darfur: Past and present context of economic reconstruction
• Integrating conflict and developmental interventions
• Non-violent mechanisms for conflict transformation and prevention

DEV304/DEVE312

• Distinguish between classical, contemporary discourses on political economy and critical institutionalist approaches. Describe, analyse and critically evaluate major theoretical and empirical approaches to understanding the process of late development and economic development processes in developing and transitional economies
• Write coherently and persuasively about significant aspects of current theories
• Identify and describe international economic phenomena, organizations and indicators for development
• Identify and describe the determining factors of economic development and constraints to these
• Identify and describe the traits of effective and ineffective development policies
• Describe, analyse and evaluate the current theories of political economy
• Explain the links between political economy and development policy
• Appreciate relevant debates on international and national institutions and by actors in the field of development.

• Major theoretical approaches to and empirical explanations for processes of late development and economic development in transitional and developing economies
• The new political economy, neo institutionalist approaches, regulation theory, 21st century Marxism and development, and complexity theory
• The debate about social capital
• Local capitalism, decentralization and deconcentration in economic development
• Key debates on development aid, development finance and international financial institutions
• Beyond the Marshall Plan: Economic reconstruction and development in post-conflict economies
• Institutional building for economic development

DEV305/DEVE300

• Develop a coherent and relevant research proposal on which to base a basic research project within the field of development studies
• Complete a mini-research project, within the specified time-frame and appropriate to this academic level
• Present the research report, including a description of the problem, the research design and method, the data collected as well as the findings, conclusions and recommendations, in an appropriately formatted document.
• Demonstrate an appreciation of the nature and scope of development and economic development research
• Apply a range of data gathering and research methods
• Monitor and evaluate development programmes and projects including participatory research, stakeholder analysis and cost-benefit models and simulation modelling.

• Philosophical foundations of research
• The research process
  • The research problem
  • The research plan and research design
  • Methodologies appropriate to economic development
  • Data collection and data analysis
  • The research proposal
  • The research report: conventions and formats in the context of development–oriented social science research
• Specific research methods for research on development and economic development
• Participatory and interpretative approaches, focus group analysis, stakeholder analysis, cost-benefit analysis, social capital approaches and social capital indices, simulation modelling
• Monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects

ECE101/ECEV101

• An ability to assess a project appraisal from the water/energy/transport development sector
• An ability to write an analysis report of a project appraisal using a case study from the water/energy/transport sectors
• An ability to determine decision criteria for project appraisal
• Describe each of the steps entailed in appraising projects
• Describe the processes entailed in costing of inputs and valuing the outputs required in an appraisal in the energy/water/transport sector
• Describe the processes followed in including the external effects required in an appraisal in the energy/water/transport sector
• Describe the method by which income multipliers may be estimated
• Describe the decision criteria by which projects may be appraised in the energy/water/transport sectors

• Project appraisal steps
• Cost and valuation of projects in the energy/water/transport sector
• Inclusion of external processes in project appraisals
• Introduction to the method by which income multipliers may be estimated
• Introduction to decision criteria by which projects may be appraised in the energy/water/transport sectors

ECE102/ECEV102

• Discuss the relation between demography and population in development economic
• Describe the concept of demographic transition in relation to the developing world
• Relate and discuss gender as a significant variable in the development equation of developing economies.
• Describe how world population has been changing and is expected to change
• Outline and interpret the idea of a demographic transition
• Describe the bearing of population change on per capita economic growth
• Describe the concept of internal migration and relationship to urbanisation
• Analyse gender issues relating to the contemporary development debate
• Describe the processes entailed in costing of inputs and valuing the outputs

• Demographics
• The development equation
• Demographic transition
• Population, population change and labour supply
• Migration and urbanisation
• Gender and development
• Costing inputs and valuing outputs

ITVL101

• Demonstrate an understanding of basic computer hardware and file systems
• Do basic word processing
• Do basic spreadsheets processing
• Write e-mails
• Use the internet for basic research purposes
• Generally, utilise the personal computer as a tool to enhance their capacity for learning, solving problems and communication.

• Introduction to a basic computer system – hardware components, architecture, software components, guidelines to the market place
• Introduction to operating systems concept with special emphasis on file management
• Introduction to word processing – basic representation and manipulation of text
• Introduction to spreadsheet processing – basic representation and manipulation of numbers, design, mathematical and statistical functions
• Problem solving – techniques and implementation
• Introduction to communications – networks, electronic mail and Internet
• Tools: Operating system utilities, word processor, spreadsheet, communications software