Sociology of Development

  1. Course Title: EE 307: Sociology of Development            
  2. Course aim: The aim of the course is to equip students with knowledge and skills on how development affects society and mitigate adverse impacts.
  • Course Expected Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course students should be able to:

  • Analyse major social issues in development
  • Identify indicators and measurement of development
  • Analyse developmental challenges that developing countries face with the view of appreciating the social dimensions of the rural development process
  • Apply that understanding in the social dimensions of the rural development process
  1. Course status:            Core
  2. Credit rating: 9 Credits
  3. Total hours spent: 90 hours

                                    Lecture                        36 hours

Seminars/Tutorials       18 hours

Practical                      9 hours

Assignment                 9 hours

Independent Research            18 hours

Pre-requisite: EE 101 /EE 201 (any one of these)

  • Course Content:

Defining development; indicators and measurement of development; contemporary rural societies: hunters and gatherers, pastoralism and agricultural societies in terms of their features and challenges in developing countries, major rural development issues in Tanzania: land tenure including land conflicts and demographic changes; social problems in rural societies: drug abuse, rural to urban migration, and rural crime.

Practical: Case studies will be used to develop practical skills. These will be complimented, where necessary and where financial resources allow, with field trips to relevant sites. Alternatively, candidates will be involved in analysing selected case studies of selected problems/issues and demonstrate level of articulation and proficiency through their participation in seminar presentations.

  • Teaching and Learning Activities

Teaching will involve lectures, practical, group assignments and seminar presentations, individual assignments to capture self- reading. Use of case studies in teaching for some practical aspects will be employed.

  1. Assessment Methods

The assessments will be through continuous assessments were written timed tests (theory and practical), quizzes, seminar presentation, practical reports, and submission of individual/group assignment papers will be used. The assessment will also include final University written examination.

 

  1. Reading List

Alavi, H. and T. Shanin (eds) (1982). Introduction to the Sociology of ‘Developing Societies’. Macmillan: London

Hess, B.B., E.W. Markson, and P.J. Stein (1996). Sociology. Macmillan Publishing Co. Mass.

Uphoff, N.T., W.F. Ilchman (1972). The Political Economy of Development. University of California Press. Berkeley.

Sklair, L. (1995). Sociology of the Global System. Prentice-Hall: London

Weeks, J.R. (1981). Population: An Introduction to Concepts and Issues. Wadsworth Publishing Co. Belmont.

Harrison, D. (1988). The Sociology of Modernisation and Development. Macmillan: London

Newman, D.M. (1997). Sociology: Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life. Pine Forge Press. London.

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