ECN450 Development and Global Change

Credits (ECTS):10

Course responsible:Stein Terje Holden

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Engelsk

Course frequency:Annually.

Nominal workload:300 hours

Teaching and exam period:This course starts in Spring parallel. This course has teaching/evaluation in Spring parallel.

About this course

The course focuses on global challenges and threats to/opportunites for sustainable development. It includes controversies in development where there are competing views and theories. The global challenges include climate change and policy responses, population growth and employment creation, migration and youth unemployment, land degradation and land policies, local and global food security, inequality and social stability/conflicts. Contradicting perspectives include theories on rationality of agents, Malthus versus Boserup, Hardin versus Ostrom, Free Trade versus Protectionism, human rights, national sovereignty and the role of UN.

Learning outcome

Students will familiarize themselves with many of the big development challenges and learn about alternative perspectives related to these, based on literature and internet sources provided through Canvas.

Each student will select two issues that they will dig deeper into and write two essays each about using a scientific style of writing. This will give them training in focusing, outlining and writing literature reviews in English.

They will learn to search for relevant literature for their issues papers by use of Google Scholar.

They will get experience with scientific writing with careful use of references (in English).

The students learn through presenting their essays to each other (compulsory workshops).

They learn to give constructive written and oral comments to two papers each on the topic and how it was presented.

They will learn through the comments they get on their own papers and the revisions of their papers based on the comments before they submit their final papers.

    • Self-study of material in Canvas.
    • Choice of two topics for two scientific style papers with focused research questions and paper outline.
    • Search for relevant literature in Google Scolar for own chosen topics.
    • Writing of two own papers in English with proper scientific use of references.
    • Presentation of own papers for other students (and teacher).
    • Give written and oral comments to two papers written by other students.
    • Revise own papers based on comments from other students and the teacher.
  • Canvas material (literature, YouTube links, exercises, guidelines for essay writing).

    Digital lectures on Choice of topics, Choice of Research questions, outlining of papers, literature search, and writing.

    Comments on paper outlines and drafts by teacher.

    Supervision related to paper topic choice and paper writing.

    Comments from other students on own papers.

  • Basic knowledge in Economics. English writing and speaking skills.
  • Portfolio: Course grades (A-F) based on:

    Submission of two draft papers per stated deadlines in the course. Oral presentation of own two papers in two course workshops. Provide written and oral comments to two papers by other students in the two course workshops. Revise the two own papers based on comments from other student and teacher and final submission of the two papers within set deadlines.

    1. 2 completed and submitted papers (by the deadline set) and presentations (2*40%).
    2. 2 comments given (written and oral) to two papers presented by other students (2*10%).
  • External sensor assesses the course outline and material. The grading is done by the teacher(s).
  • Participation in two course conferences presenting own papers and commenting on two papers by other students
  • The course is organized jointly with a MSc-version of the course (ECN350). A higher standard is set for the papers in ECN450 than in ECN350.
  • The course is run jointly with ECN350
  • Letter grades
  • The course is for PhD-students.