Global and local problems related to poverty, environment and social conflicts are central challenges for the world`s population in general, and for policy formulators, development practitioners and academics specifically. The programme offers a broad understanding of social science perspectives of societies, development, and change, as well as more specialised approaches to poverty reduction, conflict avoidance, and sustainable resource management. A problem- and process oriented learning approach in the program provides the students with crucial resources and tools for the transformation of knowledge into plans, projects, policies and critique. Job opportunities can be found in academia, in government agencies, in national and international development and environmental organizations and in private consultancy agencies.

Learning outcomes

After completing this study program the students should have the following competences:

Knowledge:

• Understand the meaning of development, the various approaches and theories related to the dynamics of development, and the critique of these.
• A specialized insight into a particular area of development, for example poverty, food security or institutions.
• Knowledge of theories and knowledge of understanding of different conceptions of development, including the disciplinary and interdisciplinary interpretations.

Skills:

• Utilize the competence in planning and carrying out field research, project management and development work, critically assess new academic developments, within the development studies field as well as policy directions.
• Carry out interdisciplinary analyses of development issues and evaluate past experience of various policy instruments in collaboration with colleagues from other academic fields.
• Use various understandings and methods of social relations and drivers of change.
• Analyze old and new directions within social sciences in understanding poverty, wealth accumulation, rights evolution and conflict.
• Evaluate and use primary, secondary and tertiary sources of data.
• Develop a critical perspective on power relations, ethical issues and conflicts of values related to social and environmental processes of change.
• Contribute to social innovation and propose new solutions to development challenges.

General competence:

• Plan and carry out independent research, develop innovative research questions and engage critically in policy formulation and project development.
• Solve theoretical and methodological and project and policy problems.
• Apply knowledge in new settings such as development, private sector management or teaching.
• Participate in networks, negotiations and public debates, and be able to collaborate with people from different cultural backgrounds and academic fields.

This degree program is normally a two-year duration. The program consists of 40 credits of compulsory courses: Introduction to Development Studies (5), Development Theory and Policy (10), Research methods (15) and Poverty (10). In addition, the students will combine elective courses according to interests. It is also possible to take courses at other departments and universities, although such courses must be approved in each case. Students must complete a master thesis based on individual date collection. There is a guided option to write a 30 or 60 credit master thesis.

The overarching approach to learning in the program is problem-based and process-oriented. This implies that in many of the core courses, the students will be given responsibility for developing assignments, finding information, and deciding on the form of the presentation. Problem-based work will usually take place in a group setting.

The development of collaborative and communicative skills is a central topic in the program, and problem-based learning within groups is an effective means of learning in this context. This type of work will also form the basis for continual evaluation of students. However, most of the courses will not solely rest on problem-based and process-oriented learning, but will include a mixture of teaching and learning methods and approaches. These will include lectures, seminars, tutorials, digital and visual methods and individual work. Teaching and learning methods will also vary somewhat according to the specialization the student is following.

Admission requires a Bachelor`s degree or equivalent education in a relevant field primarily in the Social Sciences, Development Studies, Political Science, Education, Anthropology, Sociology, Resource Management or Economics.

Applicants must meet the university’s requirement for English language proficiency and include a 1-page (A4) motivation letter.

Noragric has institutional cooperation with several international institutions, such as Aberystwyth University (Wales), American University (Washington DC), Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex (UK), Institute of Development Studies in Jaipur, India (IDSJ), Centre for Development Studies (CDS), India among others.