Module: Introduction to Development

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Introduction to Development
Module Code	POL1020 (ITS: LG123)
Faculty	Law & Government	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

This course introduces students to the challenges of global development. Why does poverty and inequality persist? What explains regional variations in levels of development?

Learning Outcomes

1. understand the key debates on global development
2. analyse the underlying causes of underdevelopment
3. explain why underdevelopment, poverty and inequality persist
4. apply different theories of underdevelopment to particular contexts

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Lectures
Independent Study	89	Reading, preparation and submission of work
Total Workload: 113

Section Breakdown
CRN	20912	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Niamh Gaynor	Module Teacher	Walt Kilroy

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	Learning journal	30%	n/a
Assignment	Essay	70%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Course overview
This course is designed to introduce students to development studies and the theories that attempt to explain the different ways that development has taken place over time. The course aims at developing students’ abilities to understand the key contemporary development challenges, to critically analyse their root causes and effects, and to explore the interests and actions of the different actors involved. The course focuses on the sustained levels of poverty and inequality which exist in our world, and will look critically at some of the explanations provided by development studies for this reality, including key theories which have influenced development such as modernisation, dependency, neo-liberal and post-development theories, together with more contemporary trends.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Willis, Katie: 2005, Theories and Practices of Development, Routledge,
Grieg,Alastair, David Hulme and Mark Turner: 2007, Challenging Global Inequality: Development Theory and Practice in the 21st Century, Palgrave,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

other readings: these will be pasted each week on Moodle,