Compulsory Courses:

2440601 Development Theory and Practice: Survey of social science theories relevant for understanding development problems in different historical and geographical contexts particularly in East Asia, the theoretical and methodological concerns of the “interlocking problem” between theory and practice in development, and the positive contributions of East Asian experience in illuminating the specificity of Euro-centric and positivist development; understanding the thought behind existing development strategies and approaches, liberalism, Marxism, postmodernism, and alternative development ideas.

2440603 The Politics of Public Policy: Key concepts of public policy and the structure and dynamics of public policy processes; analysis of cases drawn from various policy areas of development using a number of analytic approaches to critically discuss the process of formulation, implementation, and evaluation; understanding political dimensions and multiple roles of various actors in the policy process; the role of non-state actors, collective actions of social and political movements, interest and pressure groups, civil society organizations, and people’s participation in political and social change.

2440602 Globalization and Development in the Asia and Pacific: Examination of globalization, its socio-economic consequences, and their implications for state power and governance; focusing on the relationship between politics and economy and the interplay of domestic societies and transnational and international forces, opportunities and tensions arising from increasing cross-border transactions and spillovers, differences within and among countries, the autonomy of governments, the changing function of the state, and international governance based on the principle of nation-state sovereignty; analysis of globalization and limits to politics, and impacts on the nature of governance.

2440604 Research Methods in Development Studies: Research methods and techniques, both quantitative and qualitative, currently used and abused in development studies; inferential statistical techniques, social surveys, participant observation, interviewing, and the analysis of documents and census and historical data; examining the process of defining researchable development problems, and analyzing when, where, and why certain quantitative and qualitative methods may be appropriate for exploring particular substantive research problems; enabling students to conduct their own research projects as well as to evaluate the quality of research reports and findings by others from a methodological point of view.

Elective Courses

2440606 Conflict Resolution: Understanding conflicts from the post cold war period to today’s increasingly globalized society, focusing particularly on conflicts between the state and the people in the development process; analysis of conflicts as an important step to resolution including evaluation of root causes, dynamics, impacts and consequences of conflicts; the relationship between development and conflicts will be examined with an emphasis on the role of globalization in shaping the nature of conflicts and resolutions; observation of the use of violence in conflict processes and exploration of various possibilities of non-violent approaches to conflict resolution, including mediation, negotiation, and mechanisms in democratic decision-making processes.

2440607 Development Project Management: Focus on adaptive and learning processes for translating development theory to practice; principles and techniques of management, budgeting, finance, and planning; finding problems and defining objectives of development projects, including feasibility studies, assessment of social and environmental impacts, and development project evaluation.

2440608 Environmental Politics and Policy: Environmental policy as a complex and constantly evolving area of public policy; examining major concepts used to define contemporary environmental policy with the aim to understand developments in this field at the regional, national, and international levels; focusing on how these concepts apply to certain environmental issues with particular attention to the political dimension of environmental policy formulation and implementation; developing the analytical skills needed to deal with a wide range of policy situations concerning the environment.                                                             

2440609 Human Rights and Gender Problems in the Asia and Pacific: Application of theories of gender and human rights to contemporary ethical and social issues arising from “development”; exploring specific and controversial topics in the areas of poverty, social justice, individual and group rights, administration of justice, living standards, work, bio-ethics and genetics, environment, sexual and racial equality, child labour, mental health, illness, human and social security, energy, corruption, Asian values, and cultural diversity; linking these specific and practical areas into gender and human rights questions relevant to the experiences of East and Southeast Asia.

2440610 Migration as a Development Issue: Critical framework of economic and sociological approaches to international migration policies; the nature of flows and patterns of population movements in the region and major types of mobility, as well as policy issues in international migration and their implications for regional economic, social and political stability and development.

2440613 Individual Studies

2440614 Seminar in Development Problems: An in-depth examination into specific development issues based on students’ research interests

2440615 Development Practicum: An opportunity for practical application of previously studied development theories, conceptual frameworks and methodologies, including problem analysis and needs assessment, project development and innovation, assessment and evaluation, and problem solving activities; working with development organizations for a short period of time on a mutually agreed subject.

2440616 Critical Issues in Development Studies: Contemporary fundamental development problems as well as new emerging social phenomena: intellectual property rights, debt crisis, poverty, development assistance, bio-diversity, and new forms of risk societies.   

2440617 Innovation for Inclusive Development in Southeast Asia: New ways of thinking about poverty and its alleviation in Southeast Asia; principles, policy planning, technology and innovative methods for inclusive development; work collaboration between students and organizations as guidelines for effective solution to problems related to poverty.

2440811 Thesis: 12 Credits Total

Note: Courses that are italicized are open on a regular basis. Not all courses are offered every year, due to various interest of students of each batch and other circumstances.