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DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

Major combinations:
NQF Level: 5: DVA1501, DVA1502
NQF Level: 6: DVA2601, DVA2602, DVA2603
NQF Level: 7: DVA3701, DVA3703, DVA3704, DVA3705, DVA3706

Development Problems and Institutions - DVA1502
Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 5 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Purpose: The purpose of this module is to introduce students to integrated development problems. Those who complete this module will be able to identify, evaluate, reflect on and develop schemes to address development problems. The module considers development in the global South in general and in Africa in particular, and will focus on local solutions.
Projects and Programmes as Instruments of Development - DVA2601
Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 6 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Recommendation: Students to complete DVA1501 and DVA1502 before they enrol for this module
Purpose: To enable students insight into projects and programmes as instruments of development, and an understanding of functions and management techniques used in the development context.
Community Development and the Basic Needs Approach - DVA2602
Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 6 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Purpose: To enable students to demonstrate an understanding of the process and dynamics of community development by linking related concepts and theories to practice.
Urban Development - DVA2603
Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 6 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Purpose: To equip students with knowledge and skills required to foster an understanding of debates on urban sustainable development and related trends in the global South. Those who complete this module will be able to identify, evaluate, critically reflect on and address complex socio-economic problems and issues of sustainable development in urban spaces.
Development Theories - DVA3701
Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Purpose: To introduce students to key development theories and enable them to demonstrate understanding by comparing theories and by linking them to practical situations.
Development Policy and Strategies - DVA3703
Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Purpose: To gain insight into the process of formulating development policies and strategies at local, national and international levels, and to analyse the dynamics and issues of policy implementation.
Development Planning - DVA3704
Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Purpose: To gain insight into development planning theories and practices by reading texts and case studies on various approaches, actors and methods.
Empowerment and Popular Initiatives - DVA3705
Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Purpose: To gain insight into various debates on empowerment and popular initiatives, and to analyse concepts concerned with empowerment and popular initiatives in development.
Rural Development - DVA3706
Semester module NQF level: 7 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Purpose: To introduce students to debates and issues concerning rural development. Those who complete this module will be able to identify, evaluate, critically reflect on and address complex rural problems.
Development debates and Issues - DVA4801
Honours Year module NQF level: 8 Credits: 24
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: To equip students with advanced knowledge and understanding of the contemporary field of development studies in order to understand global dynamics, recent debates, theories and selected topical and symptomatic issues.
Human Security and Development - DVA4802
Honours Year module NQF level: 8 Credits: 24
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: The purpose of this module is to equip students with comprehensive and systematic knowledge of themes of human security, safety, and resilience in the development context, such as sustainable livelihoods, food security, and responses to economic insecurity, pandemics, environmental disasters, violence, and conflict. Students who qualify in this module can critically analyse risks and solutions to human security, vulnerability, resilience, adaptation, and deal with them in practice. The module provides students with in-depth knowledge and skills to assess and apply strategies and frameworks of human security to minimize human insecurity risks and vulnerability in a development context.
Governance and Development - DVA4803
Honours Year module NQF level: 8 Credits: 24
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: Firstly, this module aims to equip students with systematic knowledge and understanding of debates and issues of governance at global, national and local levels. Secondly, it aims to provide students with in-depth knowledge and skills to assess the governance of selected institutions with a specific focus on development assistence and interventions at global and local levels.
Introduction to Development Studies - DVA1501
Under Graduate Degree Semester module NQF level: 5 Credits: 12
Module presented in English
Purpose: To help students gain insight into basic concepts in the field of development studies.
Sustainable Development: Policy, Practice and Environment - DVA4804
Honours Year module NQF level: 8 Credits: 24
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: To equip students with well-rounded systematic knowledge and an understanding of key themes of sustainable development within the development context. Further, it is to provide students with in-depth knowledge and critical skills to assess and apply strategies and frameworks of sustainable development.
Gender and Development - DVA4805
Honours Year module NQF level: 8 Credits: 24
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: The purpose of this module is to equip students with the relevant skills, competencies and knowledge to be able to contribute, participate and analyse relevant discourses, debates and issues around gender and development at global, national and local levels. Students who qualify in this module can determine and understand gender equality, poverty and gender dynamics; discuss the emergence of gender as a key issue in the development debate; and analyse the gendered division of labour and determine the role and potential of micro-finance services in poverty reduction, equality and women empowerment within a gender strategy. This module provides students with in-depth knowledge and skills on how to empower women and establish gender mainstreaming as an integral part of a holistic and integrated approach to gender and development studies.
Research Methodology in Development Studies - HMDVA81
Honours Year module NQF level: 8 Credits: 12
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: To equip students with the necessary knowledge, skills, competencies, values and attitudes to be able to conduct empirical research independently within the field of Development Studies and report on it academically. Upon completion, qualifying students will be able to demonstrate understanding of research principles, of quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods research methodologies and appropriate data analysis. This will enable students to develop the research skills and knowledge necessary to undertake an independent research project.
Research Report in Development Studies - HRDVA82
Honours Year module NQF level: 8 Credits: 36
Module presented in English Module presented online
Purpose: To equip students with advanced knowledge and practical experience of research in the field of development studies at the Honours level. Qualified students will be able to conduct competent basic research.