Why Study International Development Studies?
Issues of development and underdevelopment have risen to the fore in the last 15 years as governments and individuals have come under pressure to think in international as well as in national terms. This is partly because of the increasingly global nature of economic, political and cultural flows and growing awareness of the interrelationships that exist between developed and developing countries in an era of intensifying globalisation. There is also recognition of increased exposure to risk because of global forces.
The international agenda is driven by groups representing interests ranging from environmental and humanitarian affairs, to the needs of business, trade and global security. Issues that have gained considerable media coverage in recent years include: global citizenship, climate change, sustainable development, poverty and debt, free trade and fair trade, migration and political asylum, anti-capitalism/anti-globalisation, HIV/AIDS, child labour and corporate responsibility, international terrorism and the global credit crunch.
Why Study International Development Studies at Chester?
This programme explores development from a range of perspectives to present holistic analyses of international affairs. Study is at a range of scales, from global (e.g. international economics, global warming, the ‘War on Terror', global institutions and power relations) to local, e.g. grass-roots development, participatory approaches, appropriate technology, Local Agenda 21. Government and international initiatives, such as the actions of the G8, are studied alongside the work of non-government organisations (NGOs) and civil society.
There is the opportunity to complete a work placement in an international context at the end of the second year of study. The final year includes a study visit to the United Nations in Geneva to explore at first hand the roles and activities of a range of UN agencies.
The core programme is augmented by a wide range of extra-curricula seminars, events and voluntary opportunities in and around Chester.
In summary, distinctive features of this course include:
- Examination of the theory, rhetoric, policy and practice of development and underdevelopment
- Investigation at a range of scales (global to local), and in different socio-economic, political, cultural, historical and environmental contexts
- Opportunities to complete a work placement in an international development context at the end of the second year of study
- Active employer / practitioner engagement
- Includes a study visit to the United Nations in Geneva in Year 3.
All this, in a department that is the only department of its type in the country to have scored 100% for student satisfaction for two years running, in the National Student Surveys of 2007 and 2008 (www.unistats.com)!
Programme Structure:
You study three modules of International Development in your first two years, and up to four modules in the final year - the majority of these modules run from October through to April/May. The First Year is a foundation year that exposes you to a wide range of skills and knowledge, from which to specialise in Years 2 and 3.
Level 4 (First Year)
You study core modules on World Development and People, Hazards and Resources, introducing and exploring key themes such as the meanings of development, the origins and current expressions of global inequality, resource use/overuse and human vulnerability. You explore social and political perspectives of development, including the role and purpose of the Millennium Development Goals. Foundations for Successful Studentship is another core module, designed to help you make an effective transition into study in higher education. It includes bespoke fieldwork activities for IDS students, working with black and ethnic minority organisations in Liverpool.
Level 5 (Second Year)
The core double module Challenges of Development explores the challenges presented by global power relations and the activities/responsibilities of global institutions such as the UN, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Globalisation, trade, debt and the role of transnational corporations are considered in the context of global security. The global environmental challenges of flooding, land degradation and famine are discussed in the context of risk and vulnerability of populations in the developing world, in particular in Africa and Asia. Enquiry and Research Design in Development Studies provides training in field and desk-based survey and data analysis methods, before focussing on the process of designing a small research project of your own (which may ultimately translate into a Level 6 Dissertation or Independent Project on an IDS topic - see below).
In the summer term students complete an experiential learning module or a four to six week WBL (Work Based Learning) placement. For those seeking ‘hands-on' experience of development work, WBL can be undertaken in a UK or international development context. Work placements abroad (e.g. with a NGO) can be arranged on an individual basis, or through the University. Students in recent years have worked in a wide range of countries including the USA, South Africa, Philippines, Kenya, Uganda, Brazil, Ghana, Vietnam, Honduras, Mexico and Costa Rica.
Level 6 (Year 3)
You have the option to major in IDS (four modules), minor in IDS (two modules) or continue to study your two subjects in equal proportions (three modules of each). The emphasis in IDS is on the application of specialist skills and knowledge in a development context. The core (double) module is Development in Practice, which examines the major players in development practice and the frameworks and effectiveness of development strategies and programmes. This module includes a four-day study visit to the offices of the United Nations in Geneva, to study at first hand the activities of a variety of key development agencies including UNDP, UNCTAD, UNHCR, WTO and WHO.
Beyond this there is a selection of optional modules to choose from at Level 6, including: IDS Dissertation (research project on a development topic of your choice), Emerging Nations: China and India, Sustainable Futures, Tourism and Development, Excluded Peoples: Migrants and Refugees and Environment, Poverty and Health. Most final year modules involve collaboration with external agencies/practitioners.
You learn through a combination of lectures, practicals, seminars, tutorials, group projects, fieldwork, laboratory work and on-line digital resources - as well as through one-to-one work with tutors in the case of dissertations and individual project work. The actual mix varies with topic, but at Level 4 (Year 1) a module typically involves two-three hours contact per week, one hour in a lecture and one-two hours practical. At Level 6 (Year 3) the norm for a single module is a two-hour session with a mix of lectures and practicals.
Assessment is through a combination of examination and continuous (coursework) assessment. In Year 1 the majority of modules use a 50:50 examination/coursework assessment pattern, although Foundations is assessed entirely through coursework - much of this based on fieldwork activities. In Year 2 approximately 60% of all assessment is through coursework, while in Year 3 up to 75-80% of assessment derives from coursework. The department engages in a wide variety of innovative and imaginative coursework assignments, from podcasting, video presentations and posters to briefing papers, consultancy reports and essays.
Your final degree is calculated on the basis of results from your second (33% of overall final mark) and third (67%) years of study. The choice between - and within - your IDS modules increases through the three years of your degree to allow you to specialise to suit your interests, abilities and career aspirations.
The programme has a strong vocational orientation, and is distinctive in providing the opportunity to combine academic training with practical hands-on experience of development work in this country or abroad.
It aims to produce graduates that will be attractive to employers because of their broad suite of transferable skills (e.g. in communication and negotiation, report writing and seminar presentation, information gathering and data analysis), their understanding of global-local links, and their rounded knowledge of international affairs and the defining initiatives/agendas of our time.
In addition, it aims to equip students who major in IDS with the specialist knowledge and skills appropriate to employment/further study in the development field.
Possible career paths include: overseas development work (e.g. for a NGO or government development agency), national/regional development agencies, business, journalism (international affairs), tourism, community work, teaching and development education (citizenship), local or regional government, postgraduate Masters study and more advanced research.
Every two years the department hosts a very successful employability conference that welcomes back previous students to share their work experiences with current undergraduates.
Combined Honours
| UCAS: |
A minimum of 240 - 280 UCAS points from GCE A Levels or equivalent |
| BTEC: |
BTEC National Diploma/Certificate: merit/distinction profile
|
| Irish/Scottish Highers: |
B in 4 subjects
|
| International Baccalaureate: |
26 points
|
| QAA: |
QAA recognised Access to HE Diploma, Open College Units or Open University Credits
|
| OCR: |
OCR National Extended/Diploma: merit/distinction profile |
| Extra Information |
- Welsh Baccalaureate (core) will be recognised in our tariff offer
- The Advanced Diploma: acceptable on its own
|
To find out which subjects may be combined with International Development Studies please visit the UCAS website.
