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What is DS?

Requirements

Pre-approved Courses

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11 courses + language

Required CoursEwork

Concentrators in Development Studies must complete a total of 11 courses based on the following general guidelines. Any course may be substituted by a similar course approved by the Deputy Director. 

Core (4)

  • DEVL 1000: Sophomore Seminar (SOC1871D - spring only)
  • DEVL 1500: Research Methods and Design
  • DEVL 1980: Senior Seminar
  • ECON 0510: Development and the International Economy

Disciplinary Courses(2)
The courses must focus on different regions. Substitutions approved by the Deputy Director.

  • ANTH 1320: Anthropology and International Development
  • ANTH 1229: Democracy and Difference
  • ANTH 1310: International Health: Anthropological Perspectives
  • ECON 1210: Intermediate Macroeconomics
  • ECON 1500: Current Global Macroeconomic Challenges
  • ECON 1540: International Trade
  • ECON 1550: International Finance
  • ECON 1560: Economic Growth
  • ECON 1850: Theory of Economic Growth
  • POLS 1240: Politics, Markets, and States in Developing Countries
  • POLS 1450: Political Economy of Development
  • POLS 1460: International Political Economy
  • SOC 0150: Economic Development and Social Change
  • SOC 1600: Comparative Development
  • SOC 1620: Globalization and Social Conflict

Advanced Seminar(1)
An advanced senior seminar at the 1800-level or above, and related to development. If the course does not focus on the developing world, students may write a paper that expounds a linkage with development.

Elective Courses(3)
At least TWO of the three electives must focus on different regions of the developing world. Students should choose from the list of pre-approved electives, with substitutions approved by the Program Advisor.

Language
Advanced competency (600 level) or above.

Senior Capstone(1)

  • DEVL 1980: Independent Study. Students may complete a conventional senior thesis; a group project (would not qualify for honors); or a multimedia project.
  • Must incorporate language skills.

Additional Courses
Strongly recommended to prepare for capstone. Course lists provided in ANTH, ECON, HIST, SOC.

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Core (4)

DEVL 1000 Sophomore Seminar in Development Studies. This course, with variable content according to different instructors, introduces the debates and perspectives in DS. (Offered as SOC 1871D - spring only)

DEVL 1500 Research Methods and Design in Development Studies. Open to juniors, the course aims to help students develop a thesis prospectus. It will be offered in the spring semester of each year.

DEVL 1980: Thesis Writing Seminar in Development Studies. All concentrators are required to take DEVL 1980. This course, which is offered only in the fall, is designed to guide students in completing their senior thesis (or the written parts of a multi-media capstone project). It is a demanding, writing-intensive course. Most students take this course in their Senior year, but under special circumstances it can be taken in the Junior year (6th Semester).

ECON 0510 Development and the International Economy. This course provides a basic understanding of the economics of lesser developed countries and interactions with the world economy, including trade, international capital flows, aid, and
migration. This course should be taken by the end of the junior year. Prerequisite: ECON 0110, AP exam or IB in econ. (A-levels not automatically accepted.)

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Language Requirement

All concentrators must acquire advanced proficiency in a language spoken in the developing world, ideally in the country or region of the world where the student plans to focus his or her senior capstone project. Advanced proficiency encompasses listening, speaking, reading, and writing capabilities that will enable to the student to conduct research or study abroad. No student is exempt from the language requirement.

This requirement can be fulfilled in the following ways:

  • Completing the 600 level coursework for the language (six semesters)
  • Students who came to Brown with language skills, and place into the 600 level of that language, must take the 600 level course and one additional advanced course.
  • Students who came to Brown with language skills, and place into the 700 level of that language, must take two courses. These can be advanced courses in the same language, or an introductory two-course sequence in a developing world language that is new to you.
  • Students who are native speakers of a developing world language must take a two-course sequence in a different language. Native fluency can only be demonstrated with high school records that indicate that the primary language of instruction was that language.


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Disciplinary Courses (2)

These courses deal with the theory and study of development within a given discipline. Students will take at least two of these by the end of the junior year, focusing on different developing regions. Substitutions approved by the Deputy Director.
• ANTH 1320: Anthropology and International Development
• ANTH 1229: Democracy and Difference
•ANTH 1310: International Health: Anthropological Perspectives
• ECON 1210: Intermediate Macroeconomics
• ECON 1500: Current Global Macroeconomic Challenges
• ECON 1540: International Trade
• ECON 1550: International Finance
• ECON 1560: Economic Growth
• ECON 1850: Theory of Economic Growth
• POLS 1240: Politics, Markets, and States in Developing Countries
• POLS 1450: Political Economy of Development
• POLS 1460: International Political Economy
• SOC 0150: Economic Development and Social Change
• SOC 1600: Comparative Development
• SOC 1620: Globalization and Social Conflict

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Advanced seminar course related to development (1)

An advanced senior seminar at the 1800-level or above, and related to development.

For example:
ENGN 1930: Social Entrepreneurship, POLS 1821O: Politics of Economic Dev. in Asia; POLS 1822H: Corruption and Clientelism in the Developing World

Ideally, the course will focus on the developing world; if that is not possible, speak with your advisor about authoring a paper that expounds a linkage with development.

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Elective Courses on Developing Regions (3)

At least TWO of these courses must focus on different regions of the developing world.
See the list of pre-approved electives.

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The Senior Capstone (1)

DEVL 1990: Independent Study with capstone advisor

All Development Studies concentrators are required to produce a senior capstone. The capstone is the intellectual highlight of the Development Studies program. Students should register for DEVL 1990 in the eighth semester.
Read more about the senior capstone.

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