Rural Development Dynamics

This programme focuses on the deepening understanding of the social and economic aspects of development, including institutional and organisational issues, and their link with technical aspects of rural service delivery and innovation. The programme comprises a research methods core giving advanced training in social science methodologies and particular applications of these approaches. This includes substantial training in social research principles, approaches and methods, applied research tools for use in diagnostic and baseline studies, situation analysis, process monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment.

Candidates select two options from a range of specialist courses. Individual interests are further developed through the independent research project, submitted as a dissertation.

• To build understanding of social and economic aspects of rural development.
• To improve rural development practice, including the organisation and delivery of services based on an in-depth understanding of household and field-level issues in development .
• To improve capacity to address issues and opportunities for positive change in rural communities in developing countries.

Core courses (a total of 120 credits)

• Social Research Methods I: Origins and Defining Features of Social Science (30 credits)
• Social Research Methods II: Advanced Social Research (30 credits)
• Understanding Rural Change: Core Concepts and their Application (30 credits)
• Project Dissertation (60 credits)

Options: Specialty courses (a total of 30 credits to be selected from the following):

• Agricultural Innovation for Development (15 credits)
• Corporate Social Responsibility and Natural Resources Management (15 credits)
• Economics, Agriculture and Marketing (15 credits)
• Livestock and Sustainable Agriculture (15 credits)
• Risk Analysis for Agriculture and Environment (15 credits)
• Tools for Sustainability (15 credits)