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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.
  • Each student will select two issues that s/he will dig deeper into and write two scientific style papers.
  • Learn to search for the most appropriate (high scientific standard) literature for the chosen topics. Get training in synthesizing the most relevant literature in a logical way.
  • Learn to write in a scientific way and respond to comments through paper revision.
  • Learn how to present their papers and comment on papers of others in a conference-style situation.
    • Study of material in Canvas (Readings, links to YouTube films)
    • Preparation of two journal-style papers on two self-selected course-relevant topics (Mandatory)
    • Participation in a presentation of own papers in two digital course conferences (Mandatory)
    • Reading and commenting (written and oral) on two assigned papers of other students in the two course conferences (Mandatory)
    • Revision of papers based on comments before final submission (Mandatory)

  • 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%).


    Portfolio Grading: Letter grades
  • 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
  • The course is for PhD-students.