Course Outline

SCS201 International Development and Global Justice

Course Coordinator:Harriot Beazley (hbeazley@usc.edu.au) School:School of Law and Society

2026Trimester 1

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Online

Online You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

Although highly contested, the term 'development' suggests that poverty and oppression are not inevitable; that social justice and freedom for all in a sustainable society are possible. However, in a globalising world of multiple conflicts and extreme disparities between rich and poor, the prospects for achieving this possibility are challenging. This course examines a variety of frameworks for understanding such challenges and prospects, equipping you with the knowledge and skills to work in a variety of contexts within international development that are equitable, participatory and sustainable.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Online learning materials 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On-campus (face-to-face) workshop. 2hrs Week 1 10 times
Online
Learning materials – Online learning materials 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Online tutorial. 2hrs Week 1 10 times

Course Topics

  • Global Sustainable Development in international contexts
  • Development and underdevelopment in a global era
  • Major theories of development
  • Economic Development: Globalisation, neo-liberalism and Development
  • Participatory Approaches to Development
  • Environment and Development
  • Social inequalities and Development (Urban/ Rural)
  • Health care, Education and Development
  • Gender and Development
  • Children, Young People and Development
  • Post-development and Localisation

What level is this course?

200 Level (Developing)

Building on and expanding the scope of introductory knowledge and skills, developing breadth or depth and applying knowledge and skills in a new context. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally, undertaken in the second or third full-time year of an undergraduate programs.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Understand the key concepts and terminology used in development theory and practice Knowledgeable
2 Critically analyse dominant development theories and practices on the basis of available evidence Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
3 Understand the principles and practice of community development in international contexts Ethical
Sustainability-focussed
4 Evaluate the effectiveness of various 'alternative' development projects from a community development perspective. Creative and critical thinker
Sustainability-focussed
5 Communicate effectively, appropriately and persuasively. Knowledgeable
Empowered
Ethical

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Not applicable

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

In week 4 an online test will be administered to provide some early feedback on your engagement with the learning materials covered up to that point. This will enable your tutor to identify any issues you might be having with the material and suggest appropriate strategies for improving your learning.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Quiz/zes Individual 20%
10 short answer questions
Week 4 Online Submission
All 2 Oral Group 35%
500 words plus guidance of tutorial, including answering student questions about the reading
Refer to Format In Class
All 3 Essay Individual 45%
1700 words
Week 12 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Online Test of Basic Conceptual Terms in International Development Theory
Goal:
The goal of this assessment is to test your knowledge and comprehension of some basic conceptual terms in international development theory.
Product: Quiz/zes
Authorship Statement:
Format:
You will be required to undertake a test that addresses material from the SCS201 readings and learning materials between weeks 1 and 4.  You must answer each question in 100 words.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Correct identification of the definition and use of basic conceptual terms in development theory.
1 3
Generic Skills:
All - Assessment Task 2:Case study based presentation
Goal:
This task aims to engage students in critical exploration of an international development issue in a low-income, developing country/region, for class analysis and discussion.
Product: Oral
Authorship Statement:
Format:
In the first tutorial, you are required to select one week during the trimester when you will guide the tutorial discussion. For that tutorial, you will present a brief overview of the topic, including the required reading for your chosen week. You will then present a question for the class to stimulate a tutorial discussion about the topic and class readings. 

A written commentary about the week's topic will also be submitted. The commentary will be about 500 words including referencing the reading. You will submit your written commentary via Canvas following the tutorial.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Ability to accurately locate and explain the origin, history, objectives, values, and mission of a chosen international development agency
3
2
Ability to critically and empirically explain the context and condition of development issues with which the chosen international development agency is engaging in a country/region
3
3
Ability to critically assess and evaluate the need of chosen international development agency in that particular country/region especially in the area of development issues with which it is engaging
3
4
Ability to discuss and assess the ways the chosen international development agency positively contributes to the country/region and its development issues
3
5
Ability to locate and analyse the approaches, strategies, and worldviews that the chosen international development agency embraces, as well as ability to compare these vis-à-vis development theories and perspectives
1 2 3
6
Ability to present effectively and creatively, as well as show interest to respond to the questions arising from the presentation
1 2 3 5
Generic Skills:
Communication, Collaboration, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Essay
Goal:
To critically examine and apply your knowledge of international development issues in relation to a specific development topic.
Product: Essay
Authorship Statement:
Format:
You will be required to write an essay of 1700 words in response to one of a selection of questions concerning issues raised during the trimester. Questions will be made available on Canvas.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Ability to accurately report the chosen international development agency
3
2
Ability to assess and argue the limitations of chosen international development agency in that country/region from an alternative development perspective
3
3
Ability to propose alternative development arguments than the chosen international development agency
1 4
4
Ability to critically compare how the proposed alternative development arguments synergise with Ife’s community development principles
1 4
5
Ability to write scholarly
5
Generic Skills:
Problem solving

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required Katie Willis 2020 Theories and Practices of Development 3rd Edition Routledge Perspectives on Development

Specific requirements

Nil

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: