Bachelor of Arts (AB) in Development Studies
Degree Codes: Program- AB Plan- AB-DVS
Program Orientation
The Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies was instituted in 1995 as the university’s response to the need to help the Philippines achieve total human development. The program is oriented towards a systematic study of development theories, models and strategies based on the experiences of developed and developing countries. It is envisioned that by providing the students with adequate knowledge, skills and appropriate values, the students’ ability to formulate and implement people-centered development programs in the country will be enhanced.
The program consists of five areas: development theories, development models, development administration techniques, development research, and social mobilization strategies. Development studies will draw on perspectives from the fields of political science, economics, public administration, sociology, anthropology, history, management and community development.
The curriculum includes general education courses, major courses and elective units. With the program’s integral approach to development studies, the students are given the opportunity to harness their potentials in preparation for a development work career in the government, non-government organizations, research institutions, and academe.
Program Design
The AB Development Studies Program is designed to equip students with knowledge, skills and appropriate values necessary for development work. It is focused on developing the students’ abilities in the following areas:
- Theory-development and Model-building: research, analysis and conceptualization of theories that promote understanding of development trends and issues; analysis of current models to develop new strategies, policies and concepts according to the country’s needs at the national and local levels;
- Action-Oriented Research: assessment of development needs, constraints, resources, and policies through situation analysis, socio-economic and environmental impact assessment, profiling methods, process documentation, and other action-oriented methodologies;
- Administration and Management Techniques: development planning (including demography), project management, human resource management, conflict management, organization development, monitoring and evaluation, and financial management.
- Social Mobilization: development of communication and advocacy strategies, political negotiation skills, community organizing and development approaches, education and training.
Major Courses
Major Year 1, Second Term
Social Development (SOCDEVT) 3 units
Comparative analysis of social development theories, with emphasis on their evolution and growth in the Philippine context.
Prerequisite: POLIGOV
Development Economics (DEVECON) 3 units
Comparative analysis of micro and macro theories and models of economic development and their implications to Philippine development.
Prerequisite: POLIGOV
Philippine Development (PHILDEV) 3 units
A study of political, economic and socio-cultural factors and forces that influence Philippine development or underdevelopment.
Prerequisite: POLIGOV
Major Year 1, Third Term
Development Management (DEVTMAN) 3 units
A course on the different processes and strategies in implementing public and non-governmental development programs and projects. This includes discussion on organization development, conflict management and human resource management.
Development Finance (DEVEFIN) 3 units
A study of the fund-sourcing mobilization strategies and administration of government, NGOs and non-profit sector.
Prerequisite: DEVECON
Development Planning (PLANDEV) 3 units
A course on the different models, processes and strategies of development planning (national, regional, provincial, municipal, barangay, urban and rural development planning). This includes discussion of demographical considerations such as the size, distribution and composition of population, and the implications of population problems to development planning.
Prerequisite: SOCDEVT and DEVECON
Major Year 2, First Term
Development Communication (DEVCOMM) 3 units
Discusses the role of information, education and communication in mobilizing people to participate in the development processes, e.g. planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of development programs and projects. This also includes advocacy strategies and political negotiations skills-building.
Prerequisite: DEVTMAN
International Development (INTDEVT) 3 units
A comparative study of development perspectives, trends and patterns in the First World Countries, Latin America, Africa and Asia.
Prerequisite: SOCDEVT and DEVECON
Management of Development Projects (MANPROJ) 3 units
Discusses the project cycle, e.g. from identification to monitoring and evaluation of development programs. The course is geared towards skills-building in writing project feasibility studies, project appraisal and monitoring and evaluation.
Prerequisite: DEVTMAN
Major Year 2, Second Term
Community Development (COMDEVT) 3 units
A course on community-based strategies for development such as community organizing, cooperative-formation, community-based enterprise development and leadership formation. This includes discussion the theories and models of community organizing and development.
Prerequisite: SOCDEVT
Action Research in Development (ACREDEV) 3 units
An introduction to theories, methods, techniques and research processes. It also discusses methodological issues in the study of development. The students are expected to come up with an action-oriented research addressing major development issues in the country such as poverty-reduction, promotion of social equity, employment, among others.
Prerequisite: SOCDEVT and DEVECON
Major Year 2, Third Term
Practicum (PRCDSM1) 3 units 120 hrs.
This course aims to apply the learnings of the students through actual practice in an NGO or government-based development program or project.
Prerequisite: Completed all major courses
Integration Requirements
The students are required to undergo a practicum to earn their degree in AB Development Studies.
Minor Courses
The Department also offers minor courses for both Political Science and Development Studies that provide non-major students an overview and understanding of the basic concepts of political science and development studies. The courses are offered exclusively to students of the minor program and are offered on a rotating basis.
1. Political Science
Seminar in Legislation (LEGISLA) 3 units
This is an attempt to provide a detailed and comprehensive but non-technical study of the background and phases in the making of Philippine statutes, starting from the origin and development of an inchoate idea into a legislative proposal through its enactment into a statute and its approval by the President or Chief Executive, including its publication.
Philippine Political Issues (PIPOISU) 3 units
The course deals with contemporary issues in politics, and governance and development. Inasmuch as political issues cannot be treated in isolation from socio-economic and cultural dimensions, the course will touch on issues which have are of concern to the nation. External factors that have direct or indirect impacts on domestic affairs shall be the subject of the study.
Political Language (POLLANG) 3 units
Political language is to be understood in the broader context of political communication. Will examine, among others, the impact of the post-Cold War ethos, ethnic awareness, post-modern influences and cultural heterogeneity.
Philippine Political Economy (PIPOLEC) 3 units
The course studies social relations in the process of production, distribution, exchange and consumption.
Environmental Politics (ENVIPOL) 3 units
The wanton disregard for the environment has affected global plant, animal and human life on Earth. The ecology has emerged as one of the main issues of the 1990s. The effects of the massive destruction of the environment are now being felt worldwide and ecological awareness, advocacy and activism are now permeating global consciousness. This course will attempt to dissect the rise of environmental politics in industrial and developing states.
Political Personalities (FIGURES) 3 units
Aristotle noted that human beings are by nature political animals. Politics is essentially a human activity situated within a societal context. However, there are instances in which individual personalities rise to political preeminence for one reason or another. Machiavelli points toward the combination of virtù (political skills), necesità (the occasion for greatness), and fortuna (fortune) as the necessary ingredients for the emergence of political lions and foxes. This course is a study of selected political personalities who have emerged and made an impact (whether positive or negative) on the development of the Philippine nation-state.
Political Parties and Party Systems (PARTIES) 3 units
Party politics is an integral part of liberal democratic polities. The existence of political parties provides an avenue for the articulation of the demands of diverse groups and interests in society and the legitimation of the state. There are two major components in the study of political parties. The first is the study of party “units” and characteristics as discrete entities (e.g. various social bases, histories, goals and appeals, formal organizations and actual power structures). The other involves party systems, the competitive interaction patterns among party units or “the forms and mode of their coexistence”.
Political Marketing (POLMARK) 3 units
The end of the current century has been marked by sweeping transformations that have altered traditional structures of power relations. This power shift is enhanced by socio-economic and political changes, such as globalization and recent advancements in information technology. As a result, traditional assumptions about electoral competition are continuously being rewritten. Thus, the challenge of capturing the electorates’ imagination and support necessitates the need to effectively identify and target segments of the political market.
Political Contestation (CONTEST) 3 units
This course explores the interplay among various political forces such as political elites, parties, groups and social and political movements.
Politics of Sex (POLIGEN) 3 units
An examination of structures that influence relations among gender groups in formal and nonformal decision making systems. It also covers a discussion of an array of issues concerning the extent of representation and participation of gender groups in the institutions of governance and the processes of social change.
Women and Politics (WOMEPOL) 3 units
The course discusses the major debates concerning gender scholarship in general, and the role women play in politics and development in particular. It intends to trace the beginnings of the feminist discourse, contemporary feminist theories, and their relevance to emerging gender perspectives in the field of politics.
2. Development Studies
Development Issues (DEVISSU) 3 units
This seminar course answers the need for a comprehensive and intensive discussion of selected development issues and concerns at the national and international levels. Special topics will focus on the relationships between poverty and development, population and development, gender and development, among others.
Development Perspectives (DEVTPER) 3 units
An overview of emerging development models, trends and strategies at the national and international levels. With emphasis on new development models, implications of globalization, market-centered economy, donor-NGO relations, bilateral agreements between debtors and donor-countries.
Development Institutions (DEVINST) 3 units
A study of the dynamics and processes of development-oriented institutions such as the NGOS, non-profit sector, international NGOs and donor institutions.
Electives
Peace and Development (PEACEDE) 3 units
This course looks at the origin, approaches and dynamics of conflict and conflict resolution at the inter- and intra-state levels and discusses traditional and non-traditional security issues.
Sustainable Development (SUSDEVT) 3 units
The course explores the potential of sustainable development as an approach to and strategy for total human development.
Urban Development (URBADEV) 3 units
A discussion of the processes and dynamics of urban development. This includes discussion of current problems brought about by urbanization such as traffic congestion, pollution, rural-urban migration, and proliferation of slums. Its main emphasis is on the concept of urban renewal as a strategy for urban development.
Development Advocacy (DEVADVO) 3 units
Analysis of the different arenas for advocating social reforms and changes and political mapping of key forces in the development process.