Course Instructor: Dr Guy Crawford - guy.crawford@queensu.ca
In Summary:
DEVS 100 provides students with an introduction to the field of global development studies and seeks to give an overview of key disciplinary concepts, theoretical approaches, types of development actor, contemporary policy debates, and socio-political struggles over the meaning and practice of development. To do this, students explore both contemporary and historical case-studies, and consider the place of Canada within networks of global, political, and economic relations.
Course Highlights: 
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From colonialization to the climate crisis, we explore the most important processes that have shaped, and continue to shape, our complex world.
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Students are introduced to theoretical approaches and key concepts that are utilized across the social sciences and humanities.
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Active and dialogic learning, consolidated through discussion within a collaborative “learning collective”, and assessed using a variety of methods.
Course Information:
The field of global development studies is an academic space where many disciplines meet to make sense of and explain forms of social and environmental change. From colonialization to the climate crisis, this field explores the most important processes that have shaped, and continue to shape, our complex world; in essence, it asks big questions about the most challenging issues facing the world today.
On DEVS 100, students examine diverse themes, including socio-economic inequalities, the environmental crisis, urbanization, the informal sector, economic development, gender and development, the politics of food, and much more! The course also centres the role of Canada within global development, by exploring Canadian missionaries, transnational private firms, and international aid. The nature of settler colonialism over indigenous peoples is also explored, introducing students to basic issues that relate to the field of Indigenous Studies.
This course has been developed based upon principles of active and dialogic learning. This is evidenced by its focus on collaborative inquiry, which is undertaken as part of a supportive “learning collective”. A variety of methods are utilized for assessment on this course.
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the course a successful student will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of global issues and outline historical and contemporary themes that relate to the idea of development.
- Critically engage with diverse forms of knowledge and theoretical perspectives that seek to explain types of social change.
- Identify and assess the contested nature and meaning(s) of development.
- Explain the nature and roles of a diverse ensemble of actors engaged in contested development processes.
- Utilize critical thinking skills to assess a multitude of complex development-related issues, with reference to real-world examples.
Experiential and Active Learning Opportunities:
During the 2022-23 academic year, DEVS 100 students ventured to the British Museum, London, to explore contestation surrounding the return of artefacts acquired during colonial rule; examined the idea of the “circular economy” in practice in Brighton; learnt of the histories of black diasporas, while walking the streets of Paris; and attended special guest lectures by scholars from the Department of Global Development Studies at Queen’s University.
Prerequisites and Exclusions:
Prerequisite None. Exclusion DEVS101; DEVS102; DEVS105.
Course applicable to the following Majors/Medials/Minors:
DEVS (core) / INDG (option) / LIBS (specialisation) / LLCU (option) / Con-Ed Teaching Subject (First Nations, Métis and Inuit Studies; Geography; History.
