Global Sustainable Development BA

Core modules:

Climate, Environment and Sustainability

This module provides you with a foundation to develop your understanding of both the contexts for and key issues around climate, environment and sustainability policy developments. You will be introduced to a range of global and societal challenges, from both physical science and social science perspectives. Examples in the Global North and Global South will include action on biodiversity loss, climate change adaptation and mitigation, water and land-use management and food. You will explore the drivers and existing conditions of environmental issues, their impacts and responses to these, and learn how to question assumptions about environmental processes.



This module aims to support you in developing your understanding of interconnected global and societal challenges, at a range of scales and levels, including learning about key environmental and climate issues and trends, equip you with methodological and analytical tools, to both (a) understand historical and contemporary 'solutions' to challenges; and (b) creatively identify contextually appropriate responses, engage you in reflective- and practice-based learning, including chances to conduct research and  develop professional skills in exploring interconnected environmental, political, economic and societal aspects of sustainability, and actors involved therein and contribute to your self-reflexivity regarding your principles, assumptions, positionalities and aspirations relating to global sustainable development.

20 credits

Understanding Inequalities: Policy Responses From Local to Global

Through this module you will explore the extent, causes, and consequences of social and economic inequalities and how public policy may help to prevent or reduce them. The module adopts a comparative approach focusing on examples in the Global North and the Global South, beginning with a discussion of key concepts and metrics that are used to discuss and measure inequality. We then follow a life-course perspective to trace out the institutions through which inequality is structured, reproduced, and experienced such as the family, the neighbourhood, the educational system, labour markets, and the criminal justice system, attending to the roles of race, class, and gender as axes of stratification in these domains. For each institution and social stratification axis we will be looking at public policy alternatives to tackle and reduce inequalities across them using examples from the Global North and the Global South. The module will also look at the role of international institutions at shaping public policy responses to tackle inequalities worldwide.

This module aims to, provide you with an understanding of the various dimensions of inequality worldwide, enable you to critically assess the role of public policy in tackling social and economic inequalities in a comparative perspective and help you develop good presentation, report writing and critical analytical skills.

20 credits

Analysing Global Challenges

This module introduces you to core theories and concepts in global politics and global political economy, and, in turn, their application to key issues relating to global development and sustainability. By examining the complex relationships between politics and economics, and contested explanations of them, it familiarizes you with key actors and institutions in the global system working to engender sustainable development, and the real-world battles and conflicts that occur in these arenas. By surveying both classical and critical theories, it demonstrates how different theoretical and conceptual frameworks deepen our understanding of these processes in various domains, including agriculture, energy transitions, and global climate governance. In the process, you will learn about patriarchy, imperialism, Eurocentrism and slavery as well as the class-based, race-based and gender-based nature of trade, production and finance and their ecological implications.



The module aims to provide you with basic knowledge of the main theories and concepts used in the fields of Global Politics and Global Political Economy; enable you to apply these concepts and theories to analyse real-life Global Sustainable Development issues; equip you with presentation, writing and analytical skills.

20 credits

Global Development: History and key debates

This module provides you with a core grounding in the key historical and contemporary debates encompassing both classical and alternative approaches to international/global development. During this module you will develop an understanding of key theories and ideas which have shaped the evolution of global development as a field of scholarship and practice. Through this understanding you will learn to critically debate different schools of development thinking and the evolving history of the field, from colonialism through to efforts to 'decolonise' the field. You will consider a range of policy approaches and how these have evolved in relation to changing global priorities and debates, including the shift from a discourse of 'international' to 'global' development and its implications.



This module aims to:



Introduce you to the concept of development and key debates over its definition and scope, build your understanding of the historical evolution of the idea of development and of associated spheres of policy and practice. Develop your capacities to critically engage with academic literature on development from a range of different perspectives and disciplines and foster your  abilities to draw links between development debates and the questions of sustainability and global political economy raised in other L1 core modules.

20 credits

Sustainability in Practice

This module provides you with an opportunity to build on and apply learning from other taught modules by undertaking a locally-based group sustainability project. Working in small interdisciplinary teams, you will identify a topic of interest and learn how to focus on a specific issue related to sustainable development. You will learn how to engage with key stakeholders to develop a thorough understanding of the current situation, their aspirations for a more sustainable solution and how to develop a plan of action to achieve change. You will identify appropriate measures of success and change.

 This module aims to:



A1: Develop your knowledge and understanding of how to undertake a sustainability quality improvement study;



A2: Build your capacity to evaluate a contemporary practice with respect to specific sustainable development priorities and propose relevant responses;



A3: Enable you to investigate stakeholder perspectives on sustainability issues and to understand diverse perspectives;

 A4: Provide you with experience of both conducting a small-scale sustainability quality improvement study and reporting findings and proposals to stakeholders



A5: Build your capabilities to work as part of a team, sharing and planning responsibilities equitably, communicating effectively and working to deadlines.

10 credits

Knowledges, Power and Interdisciplinarity

Through this module, you will develop an understanding of the complexities and intersectionalities at play within global sustainable development as a field of study and practice, alongside a range of key transferable, academic and research skills. These skills underpin the ability to think and work in interdisciplinary ways, to question the power behind knowledge(s) and develop critical reasoning skills. Through lectures, workshops and small group tutorials, run by academic staff, you will develop skills in finding, presenting, analysing and critically evaluating complex information, key qualitative and quantitative research methods. 

This module aims to:1.    Introduce you to a range of core skills and methods used in global sustainable development research and practice2.    Provide key training in finding, evaluating, analysing and presenting data and information 3.    Support you in putting foundational research methods skills into practice4.    Develop your skills in self-reflection and an awareness of positionality, ethics, power and social relations inherent to global sustainable development 5.    Develop your skills and understanding of the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to framing and tackling key global sustainable development issues

30 credits

Core modules:

Research, Skills and Ethics for Global Sustainable Development

Ensuring the realisation of global sustainable development requires delivering policies and practices to achieve social and environmental justice. These policies must be underpinned by reliable, robust and ethical research. This module supports you in developing understanding and skills to design, conduct, analyse and present findings from research while being attentive to ethical, moral and logistical concerns. Beginning with understanding the philosophical background to and processes involved in designing research for global sustainable development, the module provides training in key quantitative and qualitative methods (including creative and participatory methods) as well as detailed engagement with the moral, ethical and practical complexities of delivering research. This module is delivered through lectures, small group teaching and practical activities. 



This module aims to:

Equip you with the knowledge and skills to design conduct and present findings from research and fieldworkDevelop your ethical competencies and awareness in conducting research for global sustainable developmentProvide you with a methods tool kit, and understanding of the appropriateness of these methods for conducting different research activities

30 credits

Critical Perspectives on Global Sustainable Development

 This module provides an opportunity for you to engage with a range of key critical debates in Global Sustainable Development and to understand diverse perspectives on the topics raised. Core topics will include areas such as Health, Education, Poverty, Social Justice, Conflict Resolution, Sustainable Cities and Climate Action. The module will be run in partnership with students and you will also be able to express preferences for additional topics to be covered, contributing to preparing resources and literature/policy reviews to support seminar activities. You will develop critical analytical skills and communication and debating skills in collaboration with peers. You will apply learning from first year modules particularly those related to history and key debates, inequality and global challenges.

This module aims to:

A1: Develop your analytical, reading, written and debating skills to enable you to critically engage with relevant literature, policy and public discourses.

A2: Familiarise you with contrasting critical perspectives on selected core global sustainable development issues.

A3: Create opportunities for you to apply learning from first year modules in examining competing arguments and approaches to global sustainable development.

A4: Foster your critical awareness of global power relations, hegemonic discourses and counter-narratives and appreciate the complexity of global sustainable development challenges.

A5: Build literature search skills and the capacity to interpret and appraise statistical evidence.

20 credits

Global Challenges: Live Policy Analysis

Through this project-based module, you will build on your knowledge of policy and discourse derived from other L2 modules to engage in a 'live' policy analysis of a prominent global issue related to GSD. You will be supported to select an appropriate current affairs issue relevant to the themes of the course, which you then track through media analysis and investigate through academic reading and any other available data. You will engage in analysis of policy frameworks relevant to a specific problem/challenge, media representation and how this changes over time, proposed solutions and how these are contested, and the role of different stakeholders seeking to promote change in relation to this particular issue. This module aims to:

Develop your understanding of policy processes and 'real world' debates on sustainable development issues Build your  skills in autonomous working and project management Develop your skills in critically analysing different sources of information Enhance your communication skills through  a range of formats

10 credits

Global Sustainable Development on the Ground

During this module you will gain substantive knowledge and critical understanding of researching global sustainable development through fieldclass-based hands-on research activities. Working collaboratively with external partners and with intensive support and guidance from academic staff you will develop skills in research design and implementation, while exploring the everyday realities and ethics of global sustainable development policies and practices. Addressing questions relating to areas such as social and environmental justice, environmental protection, poverty and power you will gain an understanding of the intersections of local and global sustainable development approaches, with particular attention to local, grass-roots perspectives. 



This module aims to:

Provide you with substantive knowledge, understanding and skills in researching global sustainable development Enhance your transferable, research, communication and employability skills through in-depth, high-quality field research practice Provide you with a structured and supported experience in addressing the ethical complexities of global sustainable development as a field of research and practice.

20 credits

Optional modules are to be confirmed.

Core modules:

Global Sustainable Development on the Ground

During this module you will gain substantive knowledge and critical understanding of researching global sustainable development through fieldclass-based hands-on research activities. Working collaboratively with external partners and with intensive support and guidance from academic staff you will develop skills in research design and implementation, while exploring the everyday realities and ethics of global sustainable development policies and practices. Addressing questions relating to areas such as social and environmental justice, environmental protection, poverty and power you will gain an understanding of the intersections of local and global sustainable development approaches, with particular attention to local, grass-roots perspectives. 



This module aims to:

Provide you with substantive knowledge, understanding and skills in researching global sustainable development Enhance your transferable, research, communication and employability skills through in-depth, high-quality field research practice Provide you with a structured and supported experience in addressing the ethical complexities of global sustainable development as a field of research and practice.

20 credits

Dissertation for Global Sustainable Development

During this module you will prepare and carry out your own research project on a topic relating to global sustainable development. Under the supervision of a staff member, you will produce a research report in the style and length of an academic journal article. This work will be based upon your own primary data collection and/or analysis of existing secondary datasets.



 

40 credits

Professional practice for global sustainable development

To effectively work towards the realisation of global sustainable development, it is vital to have a key toolkit of professional skills. This module provides key training in a variety of employability-related skills that will equip you to work in various sectors including the public, policy, private and charitable realms. Through the module you will develop specific professional skills, as well as the ability to reflect upon and develop your own skills and practice, and apply analytical tools and critical thinking skills to a professional practice scenario.



This module aims to equip you with the knowledge and skills required to work in a range of professional settings linked to global sustainable development. Develop your skills and competencies with regards to both employability and self-reflection and self-development. Develop your critical awareness of professional practice in relation to global sustainable development, including ethical challenges and develop your skills in responding to and delivering on common professional demands, such as competitive tenders and/or consultancies

20 credits

Optional modules are to be confirmed.