Development Studies (DEST) 393 - Lecture 01
Theories and Applications of Development
Winter 2008
W 14:00-16:50 SS 109

Instructor	Dr. Chui-Ling Tam
Office Location:	SS 336
Office Phone:	(403) 220-7182
E-Mail:	cltam@ucalgary.ca
Web Page:
Office Hours:	M 13:00-14:00; W 9:30-10:30

Additional Information

For electronic communication with the instructor, students are encouraged to use their ucalgary accounts or Blackboard - the instructor will normally reply within 48 hours, during regular business hours. Questions of general interest will be addressed in class or on the Discussion Board in Blackboard.

Course Description

This course is a sequel to Introduction to Development Studies (DEST 201) and will build on the foundation of theories and approaches to development established in DEST 201. We will examine practical manifestations of those theories and approaches in development planning, implementation, and praxis including modernization, dependency, world systems, basic needs, neo-liberalism, gender, rights and environment. The course emphasizes development studies and development work as lived experiences through case studies from the Global South and North, and opportunities for shared learning and engagement. The course is prescriptive and requires students to both think differently about the world they live in, and also to think about priority solutions in our world and the challenges in implementing them.

Objectives of the Course

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Critically reflect upon development studies as a field of inquiry and as a practice;
• Interrogate the role of key institutions in development;
• Evaluate the validity and effectiveness of development initiatives;
• Propose strategies for practical engagement in development; and,
• Appreciate the opportunities and challenges of collaborative work on development.
  

Textbooks and Readings:

Kothari, U, ed. (2005) A Radical History of Development Studies: Individuals, Institutions and Ideologies. London: Zed Books.

Assignments and Evaluation

Task	Value	Due

Reading quizzes	30%	Weekly
Research paper	30%	Wed 2 April
Group NGO Project	20%	Wed 9 April
Final examination	20%	April 21-30

Final examination

The final examination covers all readings, lectures and videos presented during the term.

Reading quizzes

Each weekly quiz is designed to improve students' comprehension by testing them on a major point in each reading; it should also promote participation in class discussion.

Group NGO Project

Students will form groups of 5-6 members and design a non-governmental organization. The project will culminate in a class presentation in which each group will introduce their NGO, explain its relevance in development, provide a real-life case study example with which the NGO can operate, and present a SWOT analysis of their NGO.

Research Paper

Students will address the question: What is the most pressing development issue in the world today, and what needs to be done about it? The use of case study evidence and academic journal articles is expected. Maximum length is 3,500 words or 14 pages.

Style and Length Requirements for Written Assignments

Students are urged to stay within the maximum word and/or page length, or risk a penalty. A bibliography and brief appendix are not included in the length restrictions. All written assignments must be TYPED and DOUBLE-SPACED in 12 PT FONT. Page margins should be 1 INCH (2.5 cm) wide, and all pages should be numbered. Double-sided assignments are encouraged to save paper, but are not mandatory. Information to be included on the title page are: title of paper, course code, instructor's name, student's name, student ID, and date of submission. References should follow a bona fide format.

It is the student's responsibility to keep a copy of each submitted assignment.
Note: Please hand in your essays directly to your tutor or instructor if possible. If it is not possible to do so, a daytime drop box is available in SS110; a date stamp is provided for your use. A night drop box is also available for after-hours submission. Assignments will be removed the following morning, stamped with the previous day's date, and placed in the instructor's mailbox.

Registrar-scheduled Final Examination:  Yes

Please note: If your class is held in the evening, the Registrar's Office will make every attempt to schedule the final exam during the evening; however, there is NO guarantee that the exam will NOT be scheduled during the day.

Policy for Late Assignments

Assignments submitted after the deadline may be penalized with the loss of a grade (e.g.: A- to B+) for each day late.

Writing Skills Statement

Faculty policy directs that all written assignments (including, although to a lesser extent, written exam responses) will be assessed at least partly on writing skills. For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. Writing skills include not only surface correctness (grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, etc) but also general clarity and organization. Research papers must be properly documented.

If you need help with your writing, you may use the Writing Centre.  Visit the website for more details: www.efwr.ucalgary.ca

Grading System

The following grading system is used in the Faculty of Communication and Culture:

A+ (96-100); A (92-95); A- (86-91); B+ (81-85); B (77-80); B- (71-76);
C+ (65-70); C (62-64); C- (59-61); D+ (55-58); D (50-54); F (0-49)

Plagiarism

Using any source whatsoever without clearly documenting it is a serious academic offense. Consequences include failure on the assignment, failure in the course and possibly suspension or expulsion from the university.

You must document not only direct quotations but also paraphrases and ideas where they appear in your text. A reference list at the end is insufficient by itself. Readers must be able to tell exactly where your words and ideas end and other people's words and ideas begin. This includes assignments submitted in non-traditional formats such as Web pages or visual media, and material taken from such sources.

Please consult your instructor or the Writing Centre (SS 106, efwr.ucalgary.ca) if you have any questions regarding how to document sources.

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability who may require academic accommodation, it is your responsibility to register with the Disability Resource Centre (220-8237) and discuss your needs with your instructor no later than fourteen (14) days after the start of the course.

Students' Union

For details about the current Students' Union contacts for the Faculty of Communication and Culture see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/su

"SAFEWALK" Program -- 220-5333

Campus Security will escort individuals day or night -- call 220-5333 for assistance. Use any campus phone, emergency phone or the yellow phone located at most parking lot booths.

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

Week	Date	Topic	Readings	Task
Wk1	Jan 16	Introduction	None
Wk2	Jan 23	What is development studies?	Ch.1	Quiz
Wk3	Jan 30	Fads in development	Ch.2	Quiz
Wk4	Feb 6	Colonial legacies	Ch.3	Quiz
Wk5	Feb 13	The development actor	Ch.4	Quiz
Reading Week Feb 17-24 - no classes
Wk6	Feb 27	Aid	Ch.5	Quiz
Wk7	Mar 5	Political economy of development	Ch.6	Quiz
Wk8	Mar 12	Poverty and rights	Ch.7	Quiz
Wk9	Mar 19	Gendering development	Ch.8	Quiz
Wk10	Mar 26	Environmental discourses	Ch.9	Quiz
Wk11	Apr 2	Non-governmentalism	Ch.10	Quiz Research paper
Wk12	Apr 9	Class presentations	None	NGO Project
Wk13	Apr 16	Class presentations	None	NGO Project