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Development Curriculum

The Development Concentration aims to train students with the background knowledge, capacity for critical thinking, and technical skills to have a successful career as a development practitioner or to pursue further academic study in this field. Like all programs in GPIA, the Development Concentration embraces an interdisciplinary approach that draws from political science, anthropology, economics, law, and health and environmental sciences, while also emphasizing practical skills, field experience, and unity of theory and practice. The distinguishing feature of the GPIA Development Concentration, as opposed to MA/MPP/MDP Economic Development programs at peer institutions, is a focus on critical analysis that draws more emphatically on heterodox approaches to development thinking such as structuralism, capabilities and human development, and human rights. Students are required to not only grapple with various conceptions of development and the variety of theoretical frameworks that are used to explain and understand development, but also to recognize the underlying assumptions and the international socio-political historical context in which theories and practices are embedded.

Curriculum

In addition to GPIA-wide required courses, students that concentrate in Development are required to take: Foundation Course: Development Economics

This course introduces the core literature of development economics. It centers around theories that explain the sources, processes and consequences of economic growth that are particularly relevant to policy choices. The course covers the following topics: (i) theories of development (ii) ethical foundations, including inequality, poverty, and gender issues (iii) industrial economics (iv) growth economics (v) taxation policies, state formation and poverty alleviation (vi) international trade theory and policy (vii) international capital flows and (viii) the developmental state. For each topic the course explores theoretical approaches, both mainstream and heterodox, along with their associated policy implications. One major aim of the course is to provide students with rigorous analytical foundations to understand key theory and policy issues in development economics.For registration information for this course please visit the Development Economics entry in the University Course Catalog.

Three Development Electives

Electives can be chosen from the course lists below. Students may also take development-related courses outside of these divisions with permission from their advisor.

Courses

Development students have a wide variety of course options available to them from GPIA, as well as from other divisions within and outside of Milano. Below is the most current listing of course offerings by semester and division.

Cross-Divisional Course Matrix for Development Concentration Students

Electives by semester:

Spring 2015

GPIA Courses

Fall 2014

GPIA Courses

Summer 2014

GPIA Courses

Spring 2014

GPIA Courses

International Field Program Options

Development students can also participate in certain IFP programs for credit. Check back in the Fall for a listing of Development relevant IFP programs for Summer 2014. For more information on IFP visit the main IFP page.

Past Courses

These are courses that have been historically offered in the program that Development students can take towards their concentration and elective requirements when available.

Fall 2013