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SP40215: Critical issues in social development

[Page last updated: 15 October 2020]

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2020/1
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Social & Policy Sciences
Further information on credits Credits: 6      [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Further information on notional study hours Notional Study Hours: 120
Further information on unit levels Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Further information on teaching periods Period:
Semester 2
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Coursework 100% (CW 100%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Description: Aims:
To introduce students to key current issues in social development, and equip them with analytical skills to address these.

Learning Outcomes:
Participants should gain some knowledge and understanding of key issues and approaches in social development, and be able to locate these in a broader analysis of societies and culture.

Skills:

* Cross-cultural and interpersonal sensitivity (Taught/Facilitated)
* Comprehensive and scholarly written communication (e.g. essays) (T/F/A)
* Concise, time-bound and effective written communication (e.g. briefings )
* Effective oral communication (e.g. seminar presentations) (T/F)
* Ability to select, summarise and synthesise written information from multiple sources (T/F/A)
* Ability to develop rigorous arguments through precise use of concepts and models (T/F/A)
* Ability to select and use appropriate ideas to produce a coherent response to a pre-set question (T/F/A)
* Ability to produce work to agreed specifications and deadlines (T/F/A)
* Ability to work effectively as part of a group or team (T/F)
* Ability to reflect critically on own experience (T/F).

Content:
The core of social development is the recognition that development is done for, by, and with people. Sound understanding of social life and culture is critical to the impact of policies on the ground. Beyond a duty of care for the relatively disadvantaged, this requires critical analysis of the social dynamics through which identities are constructed and resources distributed. With particular reference to gender and child rights, this unit examines some of the key approaches in the field of social development, and explores the analytical issues that these raise. Considering underlying issues of culture and political economy, it locates present approaches within the broader traditions of analysis. Reflection on personal experience is also encouraged. Finally, it reviews breaking issues in social development, such as wellbeing, commodification, the significance of psychology, race, and violence.
Illustrative content: targeting women; planning gender; men and masculinity; child rights; child labour; child participation; wellbeing and livelihoods; commodification and consumption; race and racism; health and culture; psychologies in development; violence.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

SP40215 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
  • UHPL-AYB13 : BA(Hons) French and Politics with Year Abroad (Year 4)
  • UHPL-AYB12 : BA(Hons) German and Politics with Year Abroad (Year 4)
  • UHPL-AYB16 : BA(Hons) Italian ab initio and Politics with Year Abroad (Year 4)
  • UHPL-AYB15 : BA(Hons) Russian ab initio and Politics with Year Abroad (Year 4)
  • UHPL-AYB17 : BA(Hons) Spanish and Politics with Year Abroad (Year 4)
  • UHPL-AFB30 : BSc(Hons) Politics and International Relations (Year 3)
  • UHPL-AAB30 : BSc(Hons) Politics and International Relations with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • UHPL-AKB30 : BSc(Hons) Politics and International Relations with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • UHPL-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Politics with Economics (Year 3)
  • UHPL-AAB10 : BSc(Hons) Politics with Economics with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • UHPL-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Politics with Economics with Year long work placement (Year 4)
Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • THXX-AFM12 : MRes International Development
  • THXX-AFM22 : MRes International Development (Leading to PhD)
  • THXX-APM06 : MRes International Development
  • UHSP-AFB14 : BSc(Hons) Applied Social Studies (Year 3)
  • UHSP-AFB21 : BSc(Hons) International Development with Economics (Year 3)
  • UHSP-AKB21 : BSc(Hons) International Development with Economics with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • UHSP-AFB16 : BSc(Hons) Social Policy (Year 3)
  • UHSP-AKB16 : BSc(Hons) Social Policy with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • UHSP-AFB05 : BSc(Hons) Social Sciences (Year 3)
  • UHSP-AKB05 : BSc(Hons) Social Sciences with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • UHSP-AFB04 : BSc(Hons) Sociology (Year 3)
  • UHSP-AKB04 : BSc(Hons) Sociology with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • UHSP-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Sociology and Social Policy (Year 3)
  • UHSP-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Sociology and Social Policy with Year long work placement (Year 4)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2020/21 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2021/22 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2020/21.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.