Overview

Development Studies is an interdisciplinary field of teaching and research that takes 'development' as its central concern. It intends to study the improvement in people’s lives through the lens of human development which Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen has eloquently stated as the goal of providing people the freedom to … For more content click the Read More button below.

Course offerings

Bedford Park
Flinders

Courses / qualifications may not be offered in all locations and modes each year.  For more information on Mode of Delivery, visit Mode definitions

Student guidance

Study planner
Program of study overview
Program of study notes

Program of study
72 Units

Year 136 Units
Year 236 Units

Admission requirements

Admission requirements
English Language requirements

Aims

The course aims to:

  • Provide students with a comprehensive understanding of current development issues and policy areas and the theories that inform them
  • Enable students to develop critical awareness, knowledge and skills required for careers in public, private and non-governmental sector organisations that operate in in the field of development
  • Allow students to gain critical research and presentation skills in the analysis of key development issues such as poverty, human development and wellbeing from local and global case studies that will equip graduates to work in fields of development

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course you will be able to:
1.
Appraise contemporary theories in the field of development studies and the socio-economic, political, cultural and environmental forces that shape developing countries
2.
Evaluate different types of information including big data sets relevant to the problems of development
3.
Determine appropriate analytical tools (e.g., Human Development Index) and conceptual frameworks (e.g., Muti-dimensional Poverty) used by development practitioners
4.
Assess development problems within the broader political and institutional context of international development at local, national and international scales
5.
Defend research principles and methods and complete a research project

Student progression rules

Note that students who wish to use their masters qualification to satisfy entry into a Flinders University research higher degree program are required to have completed at least an 18 unit postgraduate research component.