Provides students with a broad overview of debates relating to development and culture, including issues of religion, music, sport, art and literature, and how these interact with economic policy and political change.
After completing DEVS 240, students will be better equipped to:
Module | Week | Topic |
| 1. Introduction | 1 | What is Culture? What is Development? How do they matter together? |
| 2. Culture and Development: Ideas and Practice | 2 | Colonialism, Culture, Orientalism, and "The West" |
| 3 | Modernization Theory and the Invention of Poverty | |
| 4 | Globalization, Disjuncture, and Difference | |
| 5 | Hegemony and Cultural Policy | |
| 6 | Counter-Hegemony and Alternative Development | |
| 3. Culture and Development in Practice | 7 | Human Rights and Gender |
| 8 | Working in Development | |
| 4. Topics in Culture and Development | 9 | Food |
| 10 | Sport | |
| 11 | Religion and the Arts | |
| 12 | Course Summary and Exam Review |
This course explores the relationship between “culture” and “development” as concepts and practices and where they intersect. We examine how meanings of ‘the West,’ ‘civilized,’ ‘development,’ ‘modernization,’ ‘progress,’ ‘poverty,’ ‘tradition,’ ‘First World’ and ‘Third World’ are constructed and contested concepts. The course will exam how culture has been thought of historically within development ideas and practice as well as its contemporary manifestations. Moreover we examine how colonial perceptions and practices still imbue much development discourse today and how might they be more effectively challenged.
The course focuses on key sites where culture has been deployed to promote development and how these interact with economic policy and political change. Topics include human rights, tourism, religion, food, music and sports. Students will be able to research a wide range of other cultural phenomena as it relates to development for their major research project.
| Assessment | Components | Weight |
| Media and Reflection Diary | Diary and Reflection (2) | 2x5% |
| Discussion (2) | 2x5% | |
| Search-and-Share | Post and Discussion (2) | 2x5% |
| Research Term Paper | Proposal | 10% |
| Paper | 25% | |
| Infographic | 5% | |
| Proctored Final Exam | Identification Questions, Short Essays, and Long Essay | 30% |
**Evaluation Subject to Change**
Students must write their exam on the day and time scheduled by the University. The start time may vary slightly depending on the off-campus exam centre. Do not schedule vacations, appointments, etc., during the exam period.
CDS reserves the right to make changes to the required material list as received by the instructor before the course starts. Please refer to the Campus Bookstore website at http://www.campusbookstore.com/Textbooks/Search-Engine to obtain the most up-to-date list of required materials for this course before purchasing them.
There are no required texts for the course. All texts will be available online through the e-reserve system.
**Subject to change**
Students can expect to spend, on average, about 9 hours per week completing relevant readings, assignments, and course activities.
SOLUS is Queen’s Student On-Line University System. You’ll have access to a SOLUS account once you become a Queen’s student. You’ll use SOLUS to register for courses, add and drop courses, update your contact information, view financial and academic information, and pay your tuition.
onQ is Queen's online learning platform. You'll log into onQ to access your course. All materials related to your course—notes, readings, videos, recordings, discussion forums, assignments, quizzes, groupwork, tutorials, and help—will be on the onQ site.
Queen’s courses are weighted in credit units. A typical one-term course is worth 3.0 units, and a typical two-term course is worth 6.0 units. You combine these units to create your degree. A general (three-year) BA or BSc requires a total of 90 credit units.
To take an online course, you’ll need a high speed internet connection as well as a microphone and speakers to be able to watch videos, hear sounds, and participate in interactive online activities. A webcam is recommended but not necessary.
System Requirements:
See also Getting Started.
The deadlines for new applications to Queen’s Arts and Science Online courses are in our Upcoming Application Dates section.
Tuition fees vary depending when you start, your year, faculty, and program. Fees for Summer Term 2018 first-year Distance Career Arts & Science Domestic students are as follows: for a 3.0-unit course, $685.90; for a 6.0-unit course, $1371.80 See also Tuition and Fees.
The information below is intended for undergraduate students in the Faculty of Arts and Science. Academic Regulations in other Faculties may differ.
| Letter Grade | Grade Point |
| A+ | 4.30 |
| A | 4.00 |
| A- | 3.70 |
| B+ | 3.30 |
| B | 3.00 |
| B- | 2.70 |
| C+ | 2.30 |
| C | 2.00 |
| C- | 1.70 |
| D+ | 1.30 |
| D | 1.00 |
| D- | 0.70 |
| F | 0.00 |
GPA Calculators
Have your SOLUS grade report handy and then follow the link to the Arts and Science GPA calculators.
How does this affect my academics?
See the GPA and Academic Standing page.
Follow the link above for an explanation of how the GPA system affects such things as the Dean’s Honour List, requirements to graduate, and academic progression.
Frequently Asked Questions on the Grading Scheme
Please follow this link to the FAQ's
All textbooks can be purchased at Queen’s Campus Bookstore.
All Queen’s Arts and Science Online courses are open to students at other universities. Before applying as a visiting student, request a Letter of Permission from your home university that states that you have permission to take the course and apply it to your degree. See also Apply.
Please see Queen’s policy statement on academic integrity for information on how to complete an online course honestly.
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