MA Science, Society and Development

MA Science, Society and Development

What will future health and agricultural systems look like? Who will benefit from genetically modified crops or new vaccines? With climate change, will there be enough water for people to survive the 21st century? What are the implications of global pandemics of HIV/AIDS or bird flu? What does a global knowledge economy and society mean?

Focusing on such pressing practical and policy questions in health, environment and agriculture, this Masters (MA) programme provides students with a solid grounding in development concepts and theories, in combination with an understanding of the politics and governance of scientific knowledge and policy processes. Through exploring a combination of theoretical and practical perspectives, the course asks how science and technology can contribute to poverty reduction, social justice and environmental sustainability in the developing world.

The Masters (MA) programme, hosted by the IDS Knowledge, Technology and Society (KNOTS) Team, is linked to a new IDS-SPRU (Science and Technology Policy Research) research centre called Social, Technological and Environmental Pathways to Sustainability (STEPS). Throughout the programme students work closely with individual supervisors from the KNOTS team, which encompasses a wide range of disciplinary and professional backgrounds, all with extensive experience in the developing world.

Over three terms there are four compulsory courses and a series of shorter options. The lecture-based courses are combined with tutorial and supervisory support and a series of workshops, focusing on themes such as research methodology and professional skills. Students are assessed primarily through term papers (of 3,000 - 5,000 words) and a dissertation (10,000 words).

Terms Schedule:

Autumn Term (Oct - Dec):

• Core Course One: Ideas in Development and Policy, Evidence and Practice in Development; Introduction to Economics.
• Core Course Two: Sociological Perspectives on Science, Technology and Sustainable Development.

Spring Term (Jan - March)

• Core Course Three: Science, Knowledge and the Politics of Development.
• Core Course Four: Science and Policy Processes: Issues in Health, Environment and Agriculture.

Summer Term

• Specialised Courses Dissertation (submit early September): Choose 2 half-length options 10,000 words.

Professional Skills for Development workshops will run through the terms.

Ideas in Development and Policy, Evidence and Practice in Development (autumn term)

This course is the foundation for all the Masters' programmes at IDS. It provides students with the opportunity for shared learning across the different programmes as well as to meet IDS researchers from across all the disciplines and points of view represented in the Institute. Part one provides students with an appreciation of different perspectives on development theory and history as presented by some of the Institute's most distinguished Fellows. Part two explores how these ideas have shaped what is understood, researched and debated as evidence for policy making, and looks at this in relation to different institutional structures and systems of development. Taught across the IDS MA programmes, the course will be supported by a tutorial series for MA Science, Society and Development students.

Sociological Perspectives on Science, Technology and Sustainable Development

Jointly run with SPRU, this course provides a theoretical foundation for the MA, introducing a range of sociological, historical, economic and political theories which stem from Northern contexts, but which underpin many development and policy debates about science-society relations. Critical reflections on different approaches allow students to gain a solid social-science grounding in contemporary thinking.

Science, Knowledge and the Politics of Development (spring term)

This course explores the governance of science and technology for development, and the implications for the relationships between science and citizens. Through lectures and tutorial discussions, it critically examines themes such as the politics of the ‘knowledge economy'; citizen engagement, political action and social movements; innovation systems in developing countries; public-private partnerships in technology development; technological risks, uncertainties and regulation; and how institutions shape poorer people's access to and delivery of technology-related services. The inclusion of a ‘Science and the Media' session, including filmed presentations and press briefings, provides practical experience in the critique of policy.

Science and Policy Processes: Issues in Health, Environment and Agriculture

This course provides an in-depth analysis of the relationship between knowledge, power, science and policy processes. First the course examines the historical and philosophical roots of key science and policy debates in agriculture, environment and health arenas. A case study approach is used to explore real examples from agricultural biotechnology, green revolutions and agri-food system dynamics, forests, HIV/AIDS, occupational disease, pastoralism and livelihoods, avian influenza, vaccines, veterinary policy, water resources, water and sanitation and global environmental change. Next the course aims at sharpening and applying the knowledge and skills developed in the first half. Small teams of ‘consultants' investigate urgent science policy issues, conduct (rapid) desk-based research and present short consultancy reports (incl. technical findings and policy recommendations) to a panel of ‘expert decision makers'.

Specialised Options (summer term)

Before starting their dissertations, students choose two half course units from a range of options. Courses vary from year to year, but may include;

• Decentralisation and Local Government
• Governance of Violent Conflict and (In)security
• Management of Public Finance
• Politics of Pro-poor Policies
• Rethinking Health Systems
• Aid and Poverty: the Political Economy of Internatiional Development Assistance
• Analysing Poverty and Vulnerability
• Climate Change and Disasters
• Post-conflict and Very Poor Countries: Development Challenges
• Doing Gender and Development
• Reflective Practice and Social Change
• China in Development
• Competing in the Global Economy
• Mobilising Knowledge for Development.

Professional Skills for Development

This workshop series focuses on the practical and methodological processes associated with development research, including sessions on topics such as participatory development, quantitative and qualitative research methods, monitoring and evaluation and project management.

Course Objectives:

At the end of the course, students will have gained:

• Critical skills that enhance their employment opportunities in government, business, non-government organisations and industry;
• Knowledge of the main theories, concepts and debates in development situating them in their historical and contemporary contexts and the ability to critically enage in policy analysis;
• A specialised focus on science, society and policy interactions, and particularly the political and governance concerns arising around health, agriculture and environment;
• A practical understanding of research and analytical methodologies and their application in diverse policy contexts.