Department of Economics & International Development, Unit Catalogue 2007/08 |
EC40150 Latin America regional specialism |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Masters |
| Semester: 2 |
| Assessment: CW 100% |
| Requisites: |
| In taking this unit you cannot take EC40148 or take EC40149 or take EC40151 or take EC40166 |
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Aims: To allow students to develop a more in-depth and contextual understanding of key development issues in Latin America. To give the student an opportunity to plan and implement a piece of research (based on secondary sources) on a topic of their own choosing.
Learning Outcomes: By the end of the unit students will have a deeper, more coherent and up-to-date multi-disciplinary understanding of development issues in Latin America. They will have improved their skills in locating and critically reviewing published research findings about the region and in discussing their views with others. They will have identified and examined in-depth a contemporary development issue in the region. Skills: * Cross-cultural and interpersonal sensitivity (Taught/Facilitated) * Comprehensive and scholarly academic writing style (e.g. essays) (T/F/Assessed) * Effective oral communication (e.g. seminar presentations) (T/F/A) * Ability to select, summarise and synthesise written information from multiple sources (T/F/A) * Ability to synthesise multidisciplinary perspectives on the same problem (T/F/A) * Ability to formulate a research question, then develop and present an original & coherent answer (T/F/A) * Ability to produce work to agreed specifications and deadlines (T/F/A) * Ability to work independently, without close supervision of guidance (T/F/A) * Ability to work effectively as part of a group or team (T/F/A). Content: Part 1 comprises a review of major economic, social, and political trends in Latin America, contemporary development debates and related literature. Part 2 comprises individual or small group tutorials aimed at helping each student to identify a substantive essay topic of their own choice. These topics are likely to draw on material covered in other Semester 2 units that do not have a regional focus. In this way this unit provides a way for students to develop expertise in the region by applying what they are learning in other units. Part 3 comprises a series of seminar presentations and discussions based on students essay topics. |