Course Code: C130

Course Title: Rural development

College: SOAS CEDEP

Course Director: Andrew Dorward

Course Description: Most of the world's poor still live in rural areas, and whilst poverty in the world's growing cities is a major problem, a large proportion of the urban poor are migrants from rural areas. This course is about progress and change in the rural areas of developing countries. It is concerned with the factors driving rural change, how we define progress, and what can be done to bring about the overriding objective of rural development, which is to reduce, and eventually eliminate, poverty.

The world has changed considerably since rural development first began to attract the attention of academics and policy makers. Many of the challenges remain the same; however, there are also new ones, and the policies that were appropriate in the 1960s and 1970s are not necessarily those that are appropriate now. Indeed, a recurring theme in this module is the debate concerning agriculture's role in rural development, especially the role of smallholder agriculture. As the world becomes more integrated through markets and improved communication, there is also increasing diversity within regions, as urban centres and accessible rural areas forge ahead of rural hinterlands.

On completing this course, you will be able to:

• Recognise and explain current debates in rural development regarding the roles of markets, the state, institutions, property rights, agriculture and the rural non-farm economy

• critically evaluate past and current attempts to supply rural services, such as infrastructure, finance, research and extension

• analyse alternative development policy options in terms of their potential impact on rural poverty, equity and economic growth

• identify appropriate policies by taking account of different regional and geographical circumstances

Assessment: Exam 100%

Course Credit: All SOAS CeDEP short course students receive a certificate of completion. Students of SOAS CeDEP Short Courses who may wish to transfer credit to Certificate, Diploma or Masters-level programmes are advised to select short courses which also act as Core Modules on CeDEP's various programmes.

Course Study Hours/Duration: 240 hrs over 35 weeks

Schedule of Availability: Feb - Oct (Enrolment deadline prior to Feb start - 30th November)

Delivery Mechanisms: Print; CD-Rom; Online Discussion

Cost: £960

How to apply: To enquire about applying for this course, or for any other information, please contact the Course Administrator using the online Enquiry Form below