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The EPD Core Requirements (Three 3-point courses)
1. Introduction to International Development – U6253
This course is the gateway introductory course for those concentrating on Economic and Political development. As such, this course will provide participants with a framework and context for their programmatic work over the next two years. The first portion of the course systematically goes over how the development field emerged after World War II and how approaches, actors and perspectives have changed over time, in the process generating a multiplicity of debates concerning not only how to promote development (means) but also what constitutes “development” (ends). The second portion of the course gives students a concrete grounding in current debates over development, including questions at the intersection of development, human rights and humanitarian affairs.
OR
State and Society in the Developing World – U8457
This seminar presents political economy perspectives on development focusing in particular on the role of the state in development, the impact of state intervention on social structure and economic changes as well as recent transformation of such relations under the pressure of globalization. This course emphasizes comparative methods and introduces students to a wide range of social science theories applied to different parts of the developing world. Ideally students taking this more advanced seminar have taken an introductory course on development theory.
OR
Political Development in the Third World – G6465
The major issues of political development relevant to both policy and comparative analyses. Topics include ethnic, regional and class stratification, state bureaucracy, patronage, parties and the military, economic development and dependency, and the process of reform, revolution and democratization.
2. Economic Development for International Affairs - U6602
This course provides students with an overview of the economics of development. The primary objective is to give students a basis for thinking about the processes driving economic development as well as the policies used to promote economic development using the analytical frameworks and models developed by economists.
OR
Advanced Economic Development for International Affairs – U8145
This is an advanced course in development economics, designed for EPD concentrators. The treatment of the material will be rigorous, and will presume knowledge of calculus. Topics will include the economics of growth; the relationship between growth and poverty and inequality; the role of population pressures and rural-urban migration; the interaction between agrarian institutions in land, labor, credit, and insurance markets; management of common-property resources and sustainable development; and trade and globalization from the perspective of developing countries. The course will integrate theoretical ideas and empirical analysis, with an emphasis on questions relevant for economic policy. Prerequisites include a calculus-based micro-economics course (INAF U4600 or PUAF U8213). NOTE: Economic Development for International Affairs (INAF U6602), is NOT a pre-requisite
PLEASE NOTE that the above courses are designed specifically for EPD students and are fundamentally important to an understanding of the economic and non-economic dimensions of development. It is recommended that you take these courses in your first year.
3. Advanced Topics in Development (1 course)
An 8000 level seminar course related to your professional focus, regional interest, or development more broadly. This requirement is designed to afford students the chance to enhance their research, writing and presentation skills in their respective fields and/or regions of development. As such these courses are run as seminars with low class enrollment and are discussion-driven and based on classroom participation and presentation.
Each year there is a range of such seminars offered throughout the university at SIPA and in other departments. To find out about current course offerings check the MIA/MPA Registration Guide, the university’s list of all courses on Courseworks, and individual department websites.
Some examples of courses that EPD students have taken to fulfill this requirement include:
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Democratic Theory and Practice in Africa
Global Poverty Policy Choices
Gender in International Human Rights
Gender, Politics and Development
Humanitarian Assistance in Complex Emergencies
Issues in Development
Labor in the Global Economy
Local Level Development
Modern Political Economy
Political Economy of Development
Social Movements
Workshop in Applied International Conflict Resolution
Preventive Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution in the United Nations
Conflict Assessment
Democratization & De-democratization: The Middle East in Comparative Perspectives