MA Global Development Politics Programme Specification 2024-25

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1	ACADEMIC QUALITY TEAM
2	Programme Specifications 2024-25
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5	Programme Title			MA Global Development Politics
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7	This document applies to students who commenced the programme(s) in:			2024			Award type			MA
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9	What level is this qualification?			Level 7			Length of programme			1 Year
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11	Mode of study (Full / Part Time)			Full and Part Time
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13	Will the programme use standard University semester dates?			Yes			For York Online programmes, will standard dates for such programmes be used?			N/A
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15	Awarding institution			University of York			Board of Studies for the programme			Politics
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17	Lead department			Politics			Other contributing departments			History, Environment and Geography, School for Business and Society
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19	Language of study and assessment			English			Language(s) of assessment			English
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21	Is this a campus-based or online programme?			campus-based
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23	Partner organisations
24	If there are any partner organisations involved in the delivery of the programme, please outline the nature of their involvement. You may wish to refer to the Policy on Collaborative Provision
25	Five partner organisations will be involved in the delivery of the program through the Global Classroom series and the proposed Summer School. The Global Classroom will be piloted through a series of joint seminars designed and delivered by a collaborative team of academics drawn from York and four partner institutions, namely Jindal Global University (India), Brazilian Centre for Analysis and Planning (Brazil), Mahidol University (Thailand) and University of Witswatersand (South Africa). One member of staff from each institution will work with their counterparts in each of the other universities to implement this throughout the year. They meet collectively at the start of the year, take responsibility for an equal number of seminars (if they plan a total of 8, then 2 each; if 12, then 3 each etc.) and deliver it. Seminars would be open to all colleagues (students, staff, post-docs) on the program. Attendance will not be compulsory (and no element will be assessed). The summer school will be delivered in collaboration with CITY College, Thessaloniki whereby students will spend two weeks together in Greece. It is proposed as an optional activity for the program and will not be credit-bearing. It will serve four functions: (1). Illustrate the “global” dimension of development as evidenced by the blurring of binaries between Global North and Global South, which is a key message throughout the programme (2). Facilitate completion, through structured sessions and self-reflections, of the students’ MA dissertation by consolidating the lessons learned throughout the MA programme (3). Offer opportunities, through visits to three distinct practitioner sites, for students to understand the skills and expertise they will need to make their placements successful. (4). Reinforce key concepts and theories taught on the Global Development MA through a ‘live’ experience of infrastructure construction, migration and the dynamics generating poverty and inequality.
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27	Reference points
28	Please state relevant reference points consulted in the design of this programme (for example, relevant documentation setting out PSRB requirements; the University's Frameworks for Programme Design (UG or PGT); QAA Subject Benchmark Statements; QAA Qualifications and Credit Frameworks).
29	University Framework for Programme Design
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31	Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
32	Will this programme involve any exemptions from the University Policy and Procedures on Credit Transfer and the Recognition of Prior Learning? If so, please specify and give a rationale
33	No
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35	Exceptions to Regulations
36	Please detail any exceptions to University Award Regulations and Frameworks that need to be approved (or are already approved) for this programme. This should include any that have been approved for related programmes and should be extended to this programme.
37	None
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39	Internal Transfers
40	Please use the boxes below to specify if transfers into / out of the programme from / to other programmes within the University are possible by indicating yes or no and listing any restrictions. These boxes can also be used to highlight any common transfer routes which it would be useful for students to know.
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42		Transfers in:	Students who meet the entry requirements will be allowed to transfer into the programme until Week 4 of Semester 1				Transfers out:	Students who meet the entry requirements will be allowed to transfer into another Politics MA programme until Week 4 of Semester 1
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45	Statement of Purpose
46	Please briefly outline the overall aims of the programme. This should clarify to a prospective student why they should choose this programme, what it will provide to them and what benefits they will gain from completing it.
47	The MA in Global Development Politics is a unique programme that offers an interdisciplinary people-focused and collaborative approach to understanding the politics of global development. Drawing on decolonised approaches to global development, it will equip graduates to create and evaluate novel solutions to the fundamental challenges facing the world. The MA in Global Development Politics is guided by the understanding of politics as a two-level process that encompasses the broader “rules of the game” as well as narrower “games within the rules”. The modules taught under the rubric of the MA will prepare you to develop a critical understanding of the “rules of the game”(Core module I titled: Foundations of global development) as well as the “games within the rules” (Core module II titled: Challenges to global development) that shape emerging politics of global development. The programme offers the opportunity to expand your understanding of the ways in which the im/balance of power may be redressed in favour of justice for marginalised peoples. The programme enables you to effectively analyse and redress such imbalance of power at local, national, regional and global scales. It provides you with the conceptual and practical tools to reimagine a global order that promotes dignity, equality and fairness. Such strategies require changes in the attitudes of people in rich countries as much as in middle- and low-income countries. As a student of the MA in Global Development Politics you will appreciate that development is a complex of practices, policies and possibilities that encompass worldwide socio-economic and environmental transformation. It is a truly global project and not one that remains focused on countries that are labelled as “developing”. You will develop valuable practical skills readily applicable in careers relevant to global development. The advanced critical thinking you will obtain will help you become aware of the ways in which states, international organisations, private sector, non-government organisations, political parties, social movements, and collective and non-collective actors interact in contributing to, and resolving, global problems such as climate change, social and economic inequality, and erosion of political freedoms. You will gain practical skills in leadership, communication, collaborative working, cross-cultural fluency, building strategic partnerships, problem-solving, decision-making and operational project management. You will develop the ability to work independently as well as collectively as part of a team. The variety of assessments in this program will help you develop you communcation skills. The programme takes a novel approach to global development, based on an interdisciplinary programme of lectures and seminars, dissertation development and training by world-leading experts on the politics of global development and opportunities including the Global Classroom seminar series, a Summer School in Greece, and field trips in the UK and overseas. The program's novel approach will help enhance your analytical skills as well as critical thinking. The core modules will be complemented by optional modules from a range of disciplines across the sciences, social sciences and humanities. A variety of learning techniques including teamwork, debates, active learning and project work will enable you to deepen and widen your understanding of global development and develop your skill sets throughout the programme. You will benefit from support from the Department of Politics and the Interdisciplinary Global Development Centre, which provide opportunities to engage with leading researchers, connect with partner organisations and undertake internships, underpinned by the core values of innovation, fairness, partnership and responsibility. As a graduate of the programme, you will be prepared for a range of careers in the private and public sectors in international and national non-governmental organisations, advocacy, journalism and the media, and research and consultancy. Distinctive features: • Interdisciplinary approach to global development politics • Decolonisation-informed • Blur Global North/Global South binary • Explicit consideration of political freedoms • Opportunities including Summer school in Greece and Global Classroom seminar series "
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56	If there are additional awards associated with the programme upon which students can register, please specify the Statement of Purpose for that programme. This will be most relevant for PGT programmes with exit awards that are also available as entry points. Use additional rows to include more than one additional award. Do not include years in industry / abroad (for which there are separate boxes).
57	Exit Award Title			Is the exit award also available as an entry point?	Outcomes: what will the student be able to do on exit with this award?				Specify the module diet that the student will need to complete to obtain this exit award
58	Postgraduate Diploma Global Development Politics			Exit award only	Students exiting with a Postgraduate Diploma will have met PLOs 1, 2, 4 and 6 and will be expected to be making progress toward meeting the other PLOs.				To qualify for the PG Diploma in Global Development Politics, students must pass 120 credits, from the modules offered on the programme, which can include the ISM/Dissertation module (60 credits).
59	Postgraduate Certificate Global Development Politics			Exit award only	Students exiting with a PG Certificate will have met PLOs 1, 2, and 6 and will be expected to be making progress toward meeting the other PLOs.				To qualify for the PG Certificate in Global Development Politics, students must pass 60 credits out of any combination of the (core and optional) modules offered by the programme.
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61	Programme Learning Outcomes
62	What are the programme learning outcomes (PLOs) for the programme? (Normally a minimum of 6, maximum of 8). Taken together, these outcomes should capture the distinctive features of the programme and represent the outcomes that students progressively develop in the programme and achieve at graduation. PLOs should be worded to follow the stem 'Graduates will be able to...'
63	1	Articulate understanding of the origins and evolution of the discipline (from development studies to global development via international development) by demonstrating an in-depth knowledge of historical and contemporary political issues in global development [Substantively knowledgeable agent]
64	2	Apply different theoretical perspectives, methods to specific aspects of the politics of global development, such as the changing global order, climate change, persistent poverty and rising inequality, and growing challenges to human well-being, using advanced critical graduate-level reasoning and empirical testing (where appropriate) to assess their strengths and weaknesses and advance innovative arguments and solutions that challenge the frontiers of existing knowledge [Advanced critical thinker]
65	3	Undertake independent work relating to the field of global development politics by selecting and justifying the use of appropriate theories and concepts, gathering and interpreting data, and arriving at appropriate and justified conclusions based on a critical awareness of interdisciplinary and decolonisation-informed perspectives in dealing with problems in global development, taking into account ethical, social, political, geographical, environmental, historical, and financial factors, human rights, ethnicity, gender, and other intersectional considerations [Interdisciplinary problem-solver]
66	4	Communicate effectively to achieve collective aims in global development contexts, integrating and adapting practical, conceptual and interpersonal skills to engage with a wide range of stakeholders and provide evidenced, structured and well-supported advice, vital to graduate employment [Engaged communicator]
67	5	Engage with shared learning across different disciplines and develop an understanding of the values of tolerance, sustainability and inclusivity. (Professional skills)
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69	Diverse entry routes
70	Detail how you would support students from diverse entry routes to transition into the programme. For example, disciplinary knowledge and conventions of the discipline, language skills, academic and writing skills, lab skills, academic integrity.
71	The GDP programme offers an extensive induction activity to provide students with an overview of the programme learning objectives and the annual programme benchmarks including progression indicators. This orientation enables students to better assess their learning and studying requirements to successfully engage with the course materials and to navigate the theoretical and practical components of the programme. In addition, throughout the autumn term, the department run regular Study Skills sessions for PGT students. Sessions focus on: reading and taking effective notes; participating in seminars; and developing academic writing skills. For non-native English speakers these study skills sessions are supplemented by English language classes run by the Centre for English Language Teaching. All students participate in department-run Turnitin workshops and complete the University's academic integrity tutorial.
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75	Inclusion
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77	Please confirm by ticking the box on the right that the design, content and delivery of the programme will support students from all backgrounds to succeed. This refers to the University's duties under the Equality Act 2010. You may wish to refer to the optional Inclusive Learning self-assessment tools to support reflection on this issue.										TRUE
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79	Employability
80	Please give a brief overview - no more than 5 sentences - of how the programmes helps develop students' employability. Your Faculty Employability Manager can help reflection on this issue. This statement will be used by Marketing as the basis for external content with respect to employability.
81	The understanding of the discipline's origins and advanced critical thinking skills will prepare students for a variety of different careers, ranging from academic and policy research to government and journalism, and including employment in bilateral and multilateral institutions, International/ Non-Government Organisations (INGOs) and social activism. Graduates of previous CGD programmes have found work in central or local government, non-governmental organisations, community and voluntary organisations, social enterprise, higher education, accountancy and banking organisations, law firms, media companies and international and global development bodies. The PLOs emphasize the development of transferable skills such as communication, political analysis and critical thinking that will equip students for the job market. The program's encouragement of independent thinking will support students in adopting a problem-solving approach while the critical thinking will help them to ask the relevant questions in order to frame problems appropriately. The program comprises a variety of teaching environments - lectures, seminars, group work and opportunities for one-to-one tutorials - which have been designed to enable students to experience the tasks and demands that will be required of them in their future careers. The diverse assessments for this program include essays, podcasts, policy reports and an independent project that will be advantageous to graduates in their future careers.
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86	[For Undergraduate and Integrated Masters Programmes Only]
87	Are you offering any variations of this programme, such as additional years abroad or industry?
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89	Year abroad			FALSE		Will the year abroad programme be available directly via UCAS; for students to transfer in having entered the main programme; or both?				N/A
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91	Year in industry			FALSE		Will the year in industry programme be available directly via UCAS; for students to transfer in having entered the main programme; or both?				N/A
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93	Year in enterprise			FALSE
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95	Placement year			FALSE
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98	Description of Structure
99	Provide a BRIEF description of the structure of the first stage (UG) or programme (PGT): this is only necessary if this is not evident from the tables below. For instance, an entry might be 'students choose X modules in Autumn Semester from List A and Y modules from List B'. For York Online programmes using the 'carousel' model, the description should include whether any modules have to be taken in a particular order (e.g. if there is an introductory module and/or any constraints on the timing of option and/or ISM or ISM-related modules).
100	Full Time students will take the core moudle Global Development Politics plus two option modules from the available list in Semester One and three option modules in Semester Two plus the dissertation in Semesters 2 and 3. Note that all optional modules are indicative and cannot be guaranteed to run each year.