School of Physical and Geographical Sciences  
 
 
GEG-30016 Economic Development and Environmental Transformation  
Co-ordinator: Dr Deirdre McKay    Room: WSF21, Tel:33601  
Teaching Team:  
Lecture Time: See Timetable...  
Level: 3 Credits: 15 Study Hours: 150  
School Office:
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for
Environment and Sustainability Single Honours (Level 3)
Environment and Sustainability Single Honours (Level 3)
Geography Dual Honours (Level 3)
Geography Major (Level 3)
Geography Minor (Level 3)
Geography Single Honours (Level 3)
Human Geography Dual Honours (Level 3)
Human Geography Major (Level 3)
Human Geography Minor (Level 3)
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
Prerequisites
None

Barred Combinations
None

Description

Are economic development and environmental concerns always opposed? Why doesn't environmental conservation seem to work? And what areas should be conservation priorities to sustain global ecosystems? What does international development assistance do for the people who depend most directly on their local environments for their livelihoods? This module helps students find their own answers to some of these pressing questions by introducing them to development geography. Students explore key ideas from this subdiscipline including political ecology - the study of environments as products of social action - and performative economy - the idea of 'economy' as an abstract realm we bring into being by describing it. Their own examinations of in-depth case studies of economy and ecology enable students to come to original conclusions about the probity and feasibility of different pathways towards - and definitions of - 'development.'
Aims
This module aims to provide students with an understanding of economic development and environmental transformation through an exploration of current debates in Human Geography. It introduces students to some of the key issues within the sub-discipline of development geography as well as allied debates in political and economic geography. The module aims to familiarize students with geographical understandings of economic and environmental history. It introduces the sectoral, area-based, and conceptual approaches that characterize much development geography research through case-studies of global economic and environmental concerns. Assessing case-study material drawn from across the developing world will develop the skills necessary for students to evaluate and critique explanations of the diversity of global development outcomes.
Intended Learning Outcomes
demonstrate systematic understanding, based on detailed knowledge of case studies, of conceptual approaches to economic development and environmental transformation will be achieved by assessments: 3
demonstrate ability to identify and critically evaluate different theories of economic development and environmental transformation, especially in relation to the ways these theories explain spatial inequalities among and with nation states and global regions; ability to describe and critique the empirical basis on which these differing theories were developed will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
demonstrate ability to select and interpret the relevant literature concerning current debates in development geography; to prepare and present in written form a reasoned argument evaluating research methodologies and differing and contested interpretations of development outcomes, and to place these interpretations in the context of wider and on-going debates in Human Geography and the social sciences will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
Study hours
10 x 1 hours lectures
10 x 1 hours seminars
55 hours essay preparation
15 hours essay plan preparation
20 hours seminar preparation
40 hours independent study
Description of Module Assessment
01: Essay-Plan weighted 10%
plan for coursework item 02
A 500 word proposal for Assessment 2 comprising a preliminary thesis statement; list of section headings with a short summary and word count for each; and annotated reference list with at least 10 relevant entries listed from the journal literature. NB - Students will be advised to consider this as an opportunity to receive feedback and cautioned that their mark will not necessarily be indicative of the standard they may attain (or not) on their essay/report submission.
02: Coursework weighted 70%
4000 words
Comprising either a consultancy report (4000 words) OR a review essay (4000 words) on a key aspect of global development, selected from a set list of topics
03: Oral Presentation weighted 20%
a group presentation on a keyword in development geography
A small-group presentation delivered to the seminar section of the module defining key terms in context, with slides to be posted on the KLE with a) possibility of moderating individual marks due to extenuating circumstances or disability and b) a peer-assessed contribution from within each group.
Version: (1.06B) Updated: 03/Oct/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.