Undergraduate Concentration
Concentrating in DS
Advising
Declaring the Concentration
Study Abroad and Foreign Languages
Honors
Important Dates
DS Blog
Concentrating in DS
Development Studies is an eminently interdisciplinary social science concentration. The study of the complex processes of social, economic and political development has theoretical, methodological, practical and ethical dimensions, and calls as such on a wide range of academic disciplines. Development Studies concentrators are encouraged to develop the combination of skills and specialized knowledge that is best suited to their area of interest. The study of development in a particular region or nation requires an intimate knowledge of internal factors, as well as an understanding of larger global processes. Students are encouraged to approach the geographical area of their special interest comparatively by including in their programs of study a number of courses dealing with at least one other region of the developing world.
The concentration emphasizes what is distinctive - both historically and culturally - about particular regions and the ways in which their development reflects general processes of socio-economic change. Thus, each individual program of study should include analytically oriented courses that cut across particular regions as well as courses that deepen local and historical knowledge.
While the concentration is designed to produce graduates with expertise in the study of development rather than area specialists, the large majority of concentrators combine their course work with some kind of first-hand experience in the developing world. Almost all students have spent time in developing countries.
The main strength of the concentration has been the concentrators themselves. They have achieved impressive results academically and have taken numerous initiatives in organizing activities on campus.
Advising
In order to design a coherent program of study with clearly stated goals, concentrators are encouraged to discuss their course plan and thesis interests with a DS faculty advisor (listed below).
The filing and revision of concentration forms is to be done with the DS Deputy Director, Prof. Ban. The Advisor must also be consulted about any curricular exceptions or about matters involving policies concerning the Development Studies concentration. Students are encouraged to speak with either the Advisor or the Director about any concerns or comments they might have about the DS concentration.
The Watson Institute’s Academic Programs Coordinator is available during office hours to speak with students about routine matters concerning the concentration or other procedural issues that may arise in dealing with the University’s administrative offices.
Development Studies Faculty Advisors
Cornel Ban (DEVL 1980), Deputy Director and Principal Advisor, Development Studies
Areas: Comparative Political Economy, Policy Diffusion, Social Policy and Labor Market Deregulation in the EU, Eastern Europe
Office Hours: DEVL 1500 students: Mon. 9:30-1:30, WIIS 207
Cornel_Ban@brown.edu
Gianpaolo Baiocchi, Development Studies and Sociology Department
Areas: Civil Society, Local Government, Theory. Latin America, esp. Brazil
Keith Brown, Watson Institute for International Studies
Areas: South Eastern Europe, Democracy promotion in post-conflict settings History and Memory.
Office Hours: Wed. 9-10:30am, WIIS, 336
Keith_Brown@brown.edu
Lina Fruzzetti, Anthropology Department
Areas: Social anthropology, gender in India, nationalism and postcolonial studies, development and culture, ethnographic film making. identity and citizenship within Islam and Hinduism, East and North Africa communities
Office Hours: Thurs. 10-Noon, Anthro, 214
Lina_Fruzzetti@Brown.edu
Patrick Heller, Sociology Department
Areas: Development and comparative political economy, globalization, democratization and civil society with a focus on South Asia and Southern Africa, Brazil, labor and inequality
Office Hours: Mon. 11-1pm, WIIS, 356
Patrick_Heller@brown.edu
Paget Henry, Sociology and Africana Studies Departments
Areas: Political Sociology, Critical Theory, Caribbean Studies, Political Sociology, Critical Theory, culture and development, Colonial Cultures
Office Hours: Wed. 3-5pm, Churchill 207
Paget_Henry@Brown.edu
José Itzigsohn, Sociology Department
Areas: Racial and ethnic identity formation, Latino migration, Labor and self-management, development and the labor market.
Office Hours: Wed. 10:30-11:30am; 1:30-2:30pm, Maxcy Hall 203
Jose_Itzigsohn@Brown.edu
Louis Putterman, (Graduate Advisor, DS MA Program) Development Studies and Economic Departments
Areas: Development Economics, Experimental Economics
Office Hours: Mon. 10-10:50am and Fri. 3-3:50pm, Robinson Hall 206
Louis_Putterman@brown.edu
Daniel Smith, Anthropology Department
Areas: The relationship between socio-cultural and demographic processes, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa; rural-urban migration; medical anthropology; HIV/AIDS; contemporary marriage; reproductive health and behavior; corruption in Nigeria
Office Hours: Tues.2-4pm
Daniel_J_Smith@Brown.edu
Richard Snyder, Political Science
Areas: comparative politics, with an emphasis on the political economy of development, political regimes, and Latin American politics, Neoliberalism, esp. in Mexico
Office Hours: Mon. by appt, Prospect House, 206
Richard_Snyder@brown.edu
Declaring the Concentration
New Procedure for Filing Concentration Forms
In 2010-2011, all filing of concentration forms (including revision of concentration) should go through DS Deputy Director Cornel Ban. His office hours are Friday, 12:30-1:30 (walk-ins) and Tuesday and Friday, 9:30-12:30 (by appointment).
Declaring the Concentration
Students must have taken, or be enrolled in, DEVL 1000 in order to declare the concentration
Students are then strongly encouraged to meet with one of the DS faculty advisors to discuss their interest in DS and develop a curricular program that best meets the student's interests and fulfills the concentration requirements. In order to formally declare, students must list the 10 courses chosen for the concentration, as well as DEVL 1980, on the first page of the Registrar's three-page concentration declaration form. (The form can be downloaded from the Registrar's website or picked up at the Registrar's Office). Forms are to be dropped off with the Director for signatures. The yellow and white copies (or photocopies of the downloaded version) of the signed declaration form should be submitted to the Registrar as soon as possible, and the blue copies (or an additional photocopy) remain with the Development Studies Program Office in the Watson Institute for the student's DS file.
Students who have declared the concentration for the first time before 2007-2008 are not bound by the new requirements (with methods etc.) but are strongly encouraged to follow the program.
Changing Your Program
Students can substitute other courses for those listed on their concentration declaration form only if the new course appears on the pre-approved list on this website. Approval for other courses can be gained by writing to ds_advising@brown.edu. Care should be taken to ensure that requirements are still being met. Any student who has made any changes must, however; submit a revised Declaration of Concentration (the first page only of the declaration form) signed by the Director no later than March of their senior year. The blue copy (or photocopy) will be filed at the DS Program Office. Since students need to maintain an academically coherent program of study, they are strongly encouraged to discuss major changes to their curricular program with a DS faculty advisor.
Senior Year and Revising Concentration Forms
During Senior year, graduating DS students are required to submit a revised Declaration of Concentration (the first page only of the declaration form) signed by the Director no later than March if any changes have been made. The blue copy (or photocopy) will be filed at the DS Program Office. Seniors are strongly encouraged to contact the Director early in the year to discuss completing the concentration requirements.
Double Concentrators
Students may opt to concentrate in another field in addition to Development Studies. Often this includes a field that overlaps in part with DS, such as one of the component disciplines (e.g. Environmental Studies) or an area studies program (e.g.Latin American Studies). Such double concentrations are permissible, but no more than two courses used to fulfill the requirements of another concentration may be applied to meet the requirements of Development Studies. Note that the same thesis often will not be accepted by two different concentrations, so the other concentration should be one that doesn't require a thesis (or that will accept your DS thesis as meeting their thesis requirement also).
Study Abroad and Foreign Languages
For many DS concentrators, studying abroad for a semester or more may contribute greatly to their respective curricular plans. When considering study abroad programs in the developing world, students are urged to discuss their academic intentions with concentration advisors and the Office of International Programs during the earliest stages of planning. The vast majority of DS concentrators have studied abroad in developing countries; field experiences and knowledge have often been integrated into senior theses. Acquisition of relevant foreign language skills is also considered an important part of training in the study of development.
Honors
Students who demonstrate exceptional scholarship are recommended for honors in the concentration. DS students do not have to apply for honors.
The guidelines for graduating with honors:
- a grade of "A" in 7 out of 11 DS concentration courses. Grades of "S" are equivalent to a "B".
- a thesis judged by both advisors as meriting honors ("pass with distinction").
In addition to graduating with honors, students who receive their B.A. in Development Studies may be recommended to the Dean of the College to receive special prizes upon graduation, typically consisting of modest monetary awards. These recommendations are made by the DS Advisory Committee on the basis of (1) an evaluation of the overall work of the students in the concentration (especially in the senior seminar), and (2) DS related extracurricular activities.
The guidelines for receiving a pass with distinction:
1. Systematic and extensive use of primary AND secondary sources.
2. Generally 80-120 pages, double-spaced.
3. Well-written and makes a clear contribution to a debate.
4.
The thesis is considered by the committee to make a clear and
important theoretical and/or empirical contribution to the field of
development studies.
5. Both readers must agree that the thesis deserves a pass with distinction
6.
The first thesis draft is sent to the advisor on March 15.
7. The final thesis draft is sent to the advisor no later than April 10.
Important Dates For Development Studies Concentrators
Declaration of Concentration December 2013 graduates: October 15, 2011 May 2014 graduates: April 1, 2012 |
Sophomores must see the DS Program Advisor during the month preceding the final deadline for declaration of concentration. Students are encouraged to seek academic advice from other faculty associated with the concentration, but completed forms must be signed by Prof. Ban. |
Revision of Senior Concentration Forms December 2011 graduates: Sept. 20 , 2011 May 2012 graduates: December 3, 2011 |
Seniors wishing to make changes to their original concentration plan must see the DS Program Advisor and obtain a signature on a revised concentration declaration prior to this date. |
Senior Thesis Due Date May and mid-year graduates: April ??, 2012 |
Seniors should hand in their first completed drafts at least a month before this date (that is, on March ??) to both advisors in order to ensure enough time for final revisions. April ??, 2012 is a firm deadline for the complete, revised thesis. |
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Commencement |
May 27, 2012 |
Study Abroad |
Students must contact the Office of International Programs (OIP) at 863-3555 for specific details about application due dates for the programs in which they are interested. For any signatures needed on behalf of the DS concentration, students should see Prof. Ban. |
