American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) (2024)

1. The Program:

The Masters in Development Studies is designed to provide an understanding of critical perspectives on development issues for fulfilling the need for quality human resources. The subject focuses on developing professionals with a solid grounding in social and economic principles and equips them with the knowledge and skills needed to build on this through detail study of specific development issues. The objective of MDS is to produce professionals with technical capabilities to deal with evolving development priorities of the less developed nation under the complex socio-cultural environment. The program ensures the capacity of the participants in order to formulate policies and implement programs providing strategic leadership to achieve stipulated goals. The curriculum is combined with a rigorous course work and guided research. The students are expected to acquire adequate analytical and managerial skills to pursue research or development oriented careers in academia, administration, media and non-government organizations.

2. Aims:

This program aims:(i) to develop professionals and their capacity to deal with critical analysis of the issues within policy, planning and financing of development programs, and (ii) to formulate and design appropriate policies and strategies responsive to the welfare and needs of the people at large within a framework of social economic, environmental and political factors that shape the development opportunities and policies of a nation.

Graduates from this course can go into international, national and regional level policy, planning and management level employment opportunities. They can work for government, international agencies, NGOs and the private sector as policy-makers, researchers, advisors or work in advocacy or training.

3. Objectives:

By the end of this course, students should able be to: (i) demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a diverse range of international and national level management, policies including current and emerging trends; (ii) demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of development planning and financing issues under the complex global context; (iii) demonstrate specialist knowledge and skills in other areas selected from a range of options on the program relevant to the study of development strategy; (iv) apply their knowledge and skills using various approaches to formulate, implement and evaluate development policies, plans and programs; (v) show competence both written and verbal, in communicating empirical evidence and consolidating and critically appraising debates relevant to development issues. (vi) Inculcate research culture and be able to present and interpret findings as basis for future development of the programs and services of the country.

4. Admission Requirements

Applicants for this program are required to hold a three to four year baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an accredited academic institution within or outside the country. They could be in any discipline of social sciences, health sciences, and business administration, with no third division in any examination. The applicant must submit the completed application form, official transcripts of all previous academic study, the application fee and such additional materials and information as the program may require. The minimum cumulative gross point average (CGPA) for admission into this program is 2.85 for the applicants whose undergraduate degree was evaluated with the CGPA system. Although, prior formal study of economics is not required for admission but some knowledge of the basic principles of economics, statistics and computer use is advised. In addition, the Admission Committee seeks to measure each candidate’s potential for academic success and for subsequent contribution to the health sector in the home country.

4.1. Selection of Applicants

Written and oral tests are both conducted for selecting candidates. The final selection of a candidate for admission is made on the average score of the combined tests.

4.1.1. Local Students:

• Applicants are required to sit for a written test in Mathematics, English and general aptitude. Students with a GMAT score of 550 or better and GRE score of 1100 or better are exempted from the written test and eligible directly to appear for the oral test.
• The successful candidates in the admission test are called for an oral test.

4.1.2. International Students

International students are evaluated on the basis of the TOFEL, GMAT, and GRE scores. The TOFEL score of 550 or better is needed for the applicants whose mother tongue is not English. International Applicants with the TOFEL score below 550 can be considered for admission into the program providing they take English proficiency courses. A total of at least 1050 points is needed based on the following formula: 200 times the overall undergraduate grade-point average plus the GMAT score. In case of GRE, a total of at least 1400 points is needed (200 times the overall undergraduate grade-point average plus the GRE score). The GMAT or GRE can be waived for the students with excellent academic background.

5. Curriculum Requirements

Credit hours required for the degree range from a minimum of 45 credit hours to a maximum of 60 credit hours. The program is divided into two levels. A summary of these levels and credit hours required in each level is shown below:

6.1. Duration of the Program

This is a one-year intensive program consisting of 3 semesters considering the waiver and non-waiver status. A student can graduate earlier from this allocated time period by enrolling in the summer session. While writing the thesis, a student may take maximum four months longer than the scheduled semester time.

6.2. Class Attendance

Attendance is mandatory for each and every class. Missing more than 20% of the scheduled classes will place the student for an automatic “UW” grade unless otherwise approved by the faculty responsible for that particular course.

7. Method of Instruction

Teaching under this program covers variety of methods applicable for specific topic. Outcomes will be achieved by a rich mixture of teaching and learning approaches bringing a wide range of professionals experience to their learning at AIUB. Small group learning methods such as syndicated group work, case studies, seminars and group presentations are emphasized. Lecture method will be supplemented by project work, case presentation, group discussions, workshops and audio-visual aids. Field visits are arranged from time to time during the year to provide direct knowledge and experience of special healthcare problems, and of ongoing initiatives to improve the management of healthcare services. Emphasis is also given on the project work, case method of instruction and other techniques that may be necessary considering the obtaining situations under review. The International and Bangladesh health and population sector related concerns are also integrated during the lectures and discussions to create and enhance positive attitude and appreciation among the students.

8. Grading

Letter grades are used for determining the quality of work in a particular course. While A, B+, B, C+, C, D are considered as passing grades, “F” is considered as failing grade. Incomplete grades may be given at the end of the semester to students who have unfinished work with passing academic standing. Students with “I” grade must complete the course within a month after the following semester commences; otherwise an automatic “F” grade will be given.

9. Curriculum

9.1. Level I (Program Prerequisites)

These prerequisite courses should be satisfied during the first semester. The conditions for granting waivers of each course are described below:

CORE COURSES:

This course offers a brief overview of selected topics in development economics. Basically, the course will discuss the major theories of development which are included ‘Classic Theories of Growth and Development: Balanced and Unbalanced Growth, Rostow’s Stages of Growth, Harrod-Domar growth Model, the Lewis theory of Development, Structural Change and Patterns of Development, The International Dependence Revolution, The Solow neoclassical Growth Model, The New Growth Theory, Starting Economic Development: The Big Push, New Institutional Economics etc. Following a general introduction to the subject and to the data the course focuses on long-term processes of productivity growth and structural transformation. This is followed by a critical presentation of the still rapidly growing, literature on cross country growth comparisons. The course discusses the issue of the economic development of Bangladesh, India and South Asia. Particular attention is given to economic liberalization and systematic reforms since the 1990s and the future.

The course will be designed to focus on the changes of development process as an impact of globalization. The content of the course will be included Global Food Crisis, Global Trade, Global Marketing System, Trafficking, Manpower, Tourism, Cultural Diversity and Natural Resources Management through co-management system. It will have an explanation over the new emerging theories of development and implantation of these theories within different parts of the world.

This course is designed to acquaint the students with scientific research methods for problem solving and decision-making in various business situations. Each student will be exposed to, and given a set of conceptual tools & techniques that will allow them to understand the nature of scientific methods as they apply to business. Emphasis will be given on research design, problem formulation, developing data collecting instruments; conducting a research project and application of research to special fields will be stressed. Besides, the course will given emphasize on the key Schools of Thought on Social Science research: Objectivity, Positivism, Empiricism, realism, Subjectivity, Idealism, Building Bridges, Postmodernism.

The governance and Development course is intended to provide students with a theoretically poised debate, and to enhance their practical capacity to develop and implement governance policies in public and NGO organizational settings. The program aims to cover both the politics, Leadership and Governance that state-centric and social aspects of governance as the primary focus is on the functioning of political institutions within their social context. The content of the course includes the following major issues:

o Critical issues in Political Science: Power, legitimacy and Authority, Sovereignty and State, Nationalism

o State: Meaning, Characteristics, Pillars of State, Failed State

• Political Institutions: The political executive, The Administration / Bureaucracy, the Judiciary, The Parliament

o Other Major Political institutions: The intellectuals, Civil Society, media anu Press, the military, Anti-corruption Commission, Ombudsman

o State and Market: Developmental State, Welfare State, Neo-liberalism

The course provides theoretical and conceptual grounding in contemporary issues relating to social development policy and practice. It highlights the diverse meanings of the word ‘development’ and explains alternative theories of why and how development takes place in a given society or fails to do so. Specifically, the course will explore the importance of different sectoral issues into: Agricultural Transformation and Rural Development, Industrialization, Income Distribution, Employment and Migration, Heath and Education, Choice of Techniques, Foreign Resource and Economic Development, Allocation of Resource, Investment Criteria, Structural Adjustment and development, The New International Economic Order etc.

The course will deal with principles, activities and contents of Non Government Organizations (NGOs). It will also incorporate application and contextualization of these principles to Social Development. Case Studies are analyzed to illustrate the concrete application of social entrepreneurship concepts. The course contents will focus on Private Philanthropy Organizations and Socⁱal Business. -these are the new modes/forms of social entrepreneurship in the last decade and transforming into mainstream force etc.

The course is designed to give an introduction to the concepts and techniques of social science statistics. Topics include frequency distribution, charts and graphs, measures of central tendency, measures of dispersion, simple correlation and regression, probability & probability distribution, sampling and sampling distribution, theory of estimation, contingency table and test of hypothesis. The course will focus on real data applications, quantitative literacy, statistical thinking and the use of statistical software.

The objective of this course is to apprise the students of the conceptual framework underlying the current discussions on poverty and to introduce some of the issues related to its measurement. It will cover the definition of poverty, causes of poverty, income vs multidimensional concept of poverty, Millennium Development Goals and Poverty, PRSP etc. In addition, the course will focus on the dynamism of the poverty such as Urban Poverty, Environmental Refugee, Poverty and Immigration.

The course combines two course ‘Anthropology of Development’ and Sociology of Development' In Anthropology of Development’ the focus is on how anthropology became involve in development and development projects in different parts of the world. It will make the students familiar with the field of anthropology of development with the various histories, opinions and debates which have emerged during the relationship building between development and anthropology in the contemporary period.

The course is aiming to provide a practical overview of the cycle of the development process involved in the management if development programs and projects, including project conceptualization, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. The course helps to learn the Logical Framework and Social Cost Benefit Analysis (UNIDO and Little-Mireless Approach) for project planning and evaluation.

Elective Courses

This course will provide with an in-depth understanding of the scope of the public health field and a practical foundation for future career opportunities in the context of social changes. Students will become familiar with the evolution of public health as a field, including past achievements as well as current issues and future directions considering the changing dimensions of society. The course will emphasize the core functions of public health and it’s relate with the social changes describe how these functions relate to communities, the role of government, public health agencies and professionals in the development process. This course will feature presentations from experts in the field when appropriate. The course is concerned with analysis of problems and the achievement of the change in order to improve health groups of people and population. It aims to improve health through a number of means including the improvement of health services, the promotion of healthy living, and control of environmental threats to health and concerning issues of behavior changes in the aspect of social changes.

The course provides economics principles and models to understand the functions of the different types of health system undertake comparative analysis of health system design and assess new models of financing the healthcare programs and services. This topic aims to enable students to use economic analysis in financing of health systems and implement the health sector in a cost effective manner considering alternative avenues to achieve financial sustainability.

The course aims to develop and encourage students’ ability to apply skills and knowledge to practical demographic and population problems related to development in developing countries. Emphasis is placed on the concept and understanding of the technical aspects of the subject so that students can acquire comprehensive conceptual framework of the subject for its wider application in the field of development. In the development discourse, demographic dividend is key concepts that will give emphasize to discuss the population issue.

Gender-based violence (GBV), Sexuality and HIV and AIDS, remains among the most pervasive problems along with poverty confronting women across the globe, with adverse consequences for almost all sectoral areas including agriculture and labour. GBV takes many forms – physical, sexual, emotional and psychological, and socio-economic. Harmful traditional practices are also considered a form of GBV. It is deeply rooted in unequal power relations and individual attitudes that condone violence within the family, the community and the State. As societies change, patterns of violence alter and new forms emerge. GBV is even more severe and widespread during a humanitarian crises, where state and community social structures are disrupted and agriculture fails to ensure food and livelihood security of populations. Such circ*mstances may lead individuals to engage in sexual behaviors (e.g. sex work for food rations, safe passage and access to basic goods) that can expose them to higher risk of HIV infection. There has recently been increased attention to the relationship between GBV, HIV and livelihoods. Gender inequality, limited access and control over land, water and other productive resources, lack of access to education and health services, food insecurity, conflict and displacement continue to fuel the vicious cycle of both GBV and HIV. GBV and food insecurity also contribute directly and indirectly to people’s vulnerability to HIV and their ability to cope with the infection. In this context, the course will provide in depth knowledge relating to above factors.The course is intended to provide an idea about gender based violence, sexuality and HIV/ AIDS. It also intends to describe details on different types of gender based violence, relationship between violence and sexuality, sexual changes, masculinity, HIV/ AIDS and global vulnerability.

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This course is designed to study of gender and development in both an academic social science context and in the context of policy making and implementation. It examines the theories/models of the past and provides an understanding of developing an alternate model of development for women in third world countries. These issues are placed in the context of the emergence of women in the development/and also various feminist perspectives which have contributed to it.

The course is primarily aimed at introducing the students with recent scenario of climate change by acquainting them with the key concepts, debates, approaches, issues and strategies relating to the analyses and dynamics of various environmental sectors, developmental practices, and linkages between the two. The focus is on bridging theoretical discourses with practical implication of disaster management and planning. At the end of the course, the students are expected to develop a broad based understanding of the key contexts, issues and challenges surrounding environment and development both globally and nationally.

This course will assist students to understand the role of microfinance program in policy development and implication, cliental service, rural financing and its challenges, gender relation and empowerment, project evaluation, global poverty situation and MDGs , concept of social business, theories related to rural financing. On the other hand, Micro-insurance is pathway of development activities. The course will help to understand linkages between the microfinance and micro-insurance in the changing scenario of global development partnership.

The relationship among media, technology and information management is very complex and dynamic. This course will introduce students to a range of ideas that will provide various perspectives on the relationship among three. It is admitted that technology is not merely a set of material artifacts with a straight forward impact on our world. This course will examine how the concept of technology has reshaped human understanding, nature, identity and so forth. Students will acquire abilities to think critically using the concepts and approaches of media, technology and information management. This course will give them insights to rethink about the effects of technology and its relationship with media and development in the society.

This course will be intended to provide student with an understanding of role of communication in social change, particularly in the context of its potential to facilitate changes in knowledge and behaviors among stakeholders in development programs. Students examine the theory behind the tools employed in communication programs and identify patterns in application.

As corporations invest greater resources in social responsibility, environmental sustainability and strategic philanthropy, managers are challenged to demonstrate the effects of CSR on the bottom line. This course explores how today’s leading corporations design, manage and measure social strategies to generate business value. Students will learn frameworks, methodologies and tools and use these to develop CSR strategies for real-world corporations. The course focuses on the history of corporate social responsibility, its rationale, current trends both internationally and locally, actual practices and implementation issues. It also emphasizes on its location within the discourse of business ethics and corporate governance.

A three-phase seminar on the necessary knowledge and skills to enable students to develop their own social enterprise, broadly defined as a social development initiative. In the first phase, inputs are given on social entrepreneurship and project management; in the second phase students come up with a social enterprise proposal. The third phase involves the actual implementation of the social development initiatives.

This course expects students to select and investigate one aspect of social service management practice in their employing organizations. The aim of the course is to engage students in critically examining the nature and characteristics of the selected aspect of social service management practice and propose innovative ideas and approaches for policy change and organizational improvement. In the process of conducting this project, students will, under the supervision of the course instructor, have the opportunity to learn research methods and further advance their understanding and integration of knowledge in social service management.