MACHAKOS UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
Course Outline
Semester: SEPT-DEC 2024
Course: UCU 101 Title: Development studies Credit Hours: 3
Class Meetings: [Link] -1.00pm
Lecturers’ Name: S. Kyuvi
Dr. Jacktone Akello
Lecturers’ Contacts: [Link]@[Link]; [Link]@[Link]
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COURSE DESCRIPTION
Development studies, as an academic discipline, is a branch of social sciences, which
addresses issues of concern to nations. The course aims at enabling students to get knowledge,
tools and skills to analyze different development processes and approaches. This will engage
students to undertake comparative analysis of different development processes in different
countries. At the end, the course will expose students to global political and socio-economic trends
and relations, and their implications to Kenya, Africa and the world at large
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this unit the student must be able to:
Explain what development is and its related concepts
Present a clear picture of national, regional, and global development issues and concerns
Understand the approaches used development
Demonstrate the interconnectedness between development, poverty, culture and gender
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Students will understand different development theories, discourses, struggles for
development and struggles against external forces.
2. Students will understand and acquire knowledge and skills for analyzing development
processes and problems.
3. Students will be imparted with the knowledge of good and responsible citizenship as well
as good leadership.
OURSE OUTLINE AND SCHEDULE
WK LECTURE TOPIC LECTURE DETAILED OUTLINE
1 &2 Introduction to the
course Introduction to development studies
The goals and objectives of development studies
Concepts in development studies
Development versus Growth versus Development
Underdevelopment
Underdevelopment
Development as freedom
Obstacles to development
3&4 Theories of Development Modernization Theory
Rostows Five Stage Linear Theory
Underdevelopment /Dependency Theory
Neoliberalism theory
Post development theory (PDT)
5 Approaches to Human Social Development as an Approach to
development Development
Participatory Development
6 CAT 1
Understanding Gender and Development
Gender and
7 Development The Role of Gender in Development
Gender Mainstreaming
Ways Gender Mainstreaming Can Change the Way We
Do Development
Development Actors Government and development
8 International community
Civil society organization
Religious and Faith-based organization
Historical Perspectives of Overall trends in development; Urbanization,
development in Kenya Agriculture, Trade and Industry; Livestock and fisheries
9
Policy initiatives in development
10 CAT 2
Contemporary Decentralization and development
Discourses In
11 Globalization and development
Development
Inclusivity and development
Urbanization
Climate change
Emerging Issues In Sustainable development
12 African Development Millennium development goals (MDGs)
Sustainable development goals (SDGs)
WEEK Role of information and Forms of ICT
13 communication Practical uses of ICT communication
technology (ICT) in The ICT industry in Kenya
development Factors hindering wide spread use of ICT in Kenya
WEEK Factors hindering Corruption & public accountability
14 development Population bulge
Poverty
Environmental factors
Politics and political governance
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Regular attendance and participation in class discussions;
Signing class attendance sheet
Sitting all the required CATS and the final examination;
Completing the assignments on time;
TEACHING METHODOLOGIES: TEACHING EQUIPMENT/TOOLS
Lectures Course outline guide
Open forums Journal articles/Publications
Student presentations Policy briefs
Assignments Internet
ASSESSMENT
Semester course assessments will include two continuous assessment tests (compulsory sitting
CAT and Take away assignment to be submitted at the same time). The distribution of Marks is
as follows:
CAT 1 – 30%
CAT 2 - 30%
EXAM – 70 %
FINAL GRADE = (AVERAGE OF THE 2 CATs) + EXAM
REFERENCE
Haynes J. (2008). Development studies, Cambridge polity press
Michael Tribe, Fredrick Nixson and Andy summer (2010) Economics and development studies.
USA and Canada. Routeldge
Sen Amartya (2000); development as Freedom; New York
Kothari, U. (ed), A Radical History of Development Studies: Individuals, Institutions and
Ideologies – but see The Journal of Peasant Studies 34/1 (2007) for an alternative view.
Kothari, U. (ed), A Radical History of Development Studies: Individuals, Institutions and
Ideologies
Tandaro Michael (2008) Economics for a development; Dorling Kindersley (india) Pvt Ltd
Sen Armatya (2000). Development as freedom. New York
Vandana desai, Robert Potter (2008) the companion to development studies (2 nd edition) Great
Britain. Hodder education
Binns, Tony, et al. Geographies of Development: An Introduction to Development Studies, 3rd ed.
Harlow: Pearson Education, 2008.
Subrata Ghatak (2008) Introduction to development economics; USA and Canada
Ahbub ul Haq (1995) “The Advent of the Human Development Report” Chapter 3 from
“Reflections on Human Development”, Oxford University Press.
Amartya Sen (1999) “The ends and means of development” Chapter 2 from “Development as
Freedom”, Oxford University Press.
Selim Jahan (2002) “Evolution of the Human Development Index,” Section 2 from “Handbook
of Human Development”, Oxford University Press.
Stewart (2013) “Capabilities and Human Development: Beyond the individual – the critical role
of social institutions and social competencies”, Human Development Report Office Occasional
Paper, 2013/03.
Oakley, P et al (1991) Projects With People: The Practice of Participation in Rural Development.
(Geneva: International Labour Organization), pp. 9-10