Course Code: C135

Course Title: Socioeconomics of rural livelihoods

College: SOAS CEDEP

Course Director: Andrew Dorward

Course Description: This course is about understanding the livelihoods of rural people, particularly poorer rural people who live in poorer rural areas. We place particular emphasis on insights gained from the study of the livelihoods of peasants. These are normally defined as people who gain their livelihoods from farming and a range of other activities, and their livelihoods are often the predominant livelihoods in poor rural areas. However, peasant livelihoods are also of wider interest as we look to deepen our understanding of non-peasant livelihoods, as the study of peasant livelihoods is rich in insights into critical features of the life of poor people whose livelihoods are largely situated in and dependent upon diverse activities in the informal economy. The course therefore examines what is meant by rural and peasant livelihoods. We use insights from economic and other social theory to analyse different aspects of these livelihoods, with the overriding aim of developing understanding of the situations that peasants and other poor people face, and the reasons they behave as they do.

By the end of the course, you should be able

• To define rural livelihoods and discuss their characteristic features and environments.

• To summarise a range of theoretical explanations of peasant behaviour and critically appraise their usefulness and limitations.

• To use analytical tools and techniques to identify and assess the opportunities and constraints affecting rural livelihoods.

• To apply the module material to gain understanding of and insights into the implications of a range of issues and policy areas affecting rural livelihoods.

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