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EDS430 Environment and Development Studies for and by PhD Students

Credits (ECTS):10

Course responsible:Esben Leifsen

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Engelsk

Limits of class size:12

Course frequency:Annually

Nominal workload:250 hours

Teaching and exam period:This course is taught in the Autumn and Spring parallels. Evaluation to the seminar part will be completed before the end of the year, while evaluation to the individual literature review part will take place in the Spring semester.

About this course

The course consists of two components: 1) A series of seminars where the PhD candidates discuss IEDS relevant literature. To each seminar one of the candidates presents a text (an article, a book chapter or similar), and participants (PhDs, supervisors and the course coordinator) discuss the texts taking on different roles of chairing, discussing and commenting. 2) An individual literature review developed in coordination between the PhD candidates and their main supervisors or supervisory teams. The candidates define a reading list relevant for their individual PhD projects and write a review paper.

Learning outcome

The main objective of this introductory course is to provide PhD candidates in international environment and development studies with a broad interdisciplinary basis for understanding environment-development relations, together with insight into basic knowledge and critical approaches to development theory, policies and practices.
  • The course adopts a participatory approach in that the PhD candidates, supervisors and course coordinator work together. The course consists of candidate seminars with the participation of supervisors. The PhD candidates also develop an individual literature review component together with their main supervisors or supervisory team. The course will train candidates in analyzing texts in discussions and writing.
  • Discussions between PhD candidates, supervisors and the course coordinator.
  • Participants should hold an Master degree or equivalent. Participants should also be admitted to a PhD programme.
  • Master´s degree based in either social science or interdisciplinary studies with a focus on development-oriented issues.

  • Combined assessment: Passed / Not Passed

    Portfolio consisting of: 1. Active participation in at least 80% of the seminars. 2. Participants take the role as presenter, discussant and chair. 3. A final literature review essay.

    Final oral exam with an external examiner



    Portfolio Grading: Passed / Not Passed
  • The oral exam is based on the individual literature review essay and will be evaluated by an external examiner.

  • Oblig 1 Active participation in at least 80% of the seminars

    Oblig 2 Take on the roles as both chair and discussant

  • Organized seminar acitivty will take place in September and the beginning of October.
  • The course will be based on a series 5 seminars (two hours each), and guidance and follow-up of the individual literature review.
  • PHD-IEDS
  • Participants should hold an Master degree or equivalent. Participants should also be admitted to a PhD programme.