Fall 2013/Fuller Online
MD525
Smith
MD525: POVERTY AND DEVELOPMENT. Josh Dee Smith.
DESCRIPTION: This course explores the challenges of empowering the poor in a world marked by marginalization, disempowerment, abuse and injustice. Poverty is explored from a number of perspectives, concluding with a biblical framework. Responses to poverty are then explored, including the goals of transformational development and the process and principles by which it is pursued. The focus is largely on development in the global South.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will (1) be able to articulate and critically apply biblical and holistic understanding of poverty in broad Christian perspective; (2) be able to describe and critically assess some of the current theories of development; (3) be able to articulate and critically apply a biblical and holistic understanding of transformational development; and (4) will have introductory knowledge of development principles and practice
COURSE FORMAT: Conducted online, the ten weekly lessons align with Fuller’s academic calendar. The course involves reading, writing, research, and weekly interactive discussion with other students and the instructor.
REQUIRED READING: (1600 pages) If you have previously read any of the required texts, please select an alternative text from the recommended reading list or a book approved by the instructor.
Centesimus Annus. Available at http://www.vatican.va/edocs/ENG0214/_INDEX.HTM.
Christian, Jayakumar. God of the Empty-Handed: Poverty, Power and the Kingdom of God. Victoria, Australia: Acorn Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-1887983136, Pub. Price AU$29.99 [238 pp.].
Friedmann, John. Empowerment: The Politics of Alternative Development. Blackwell, 1992. ISBN: 978-1557863003, Pub. Price $46.95 [256 pp.].
Hiebert, Paul, et al. Understanding Folk Religion. Baker Books, 1999. ISBN: 978-0801022197, Pub. Price $34.00 [chapters 1-4 assigned].
Myers, Bryant. Walking with the Poor: Principles and Practices of Transformational Development. 2nd ed. Orbis, 2011. ISBN: 978-1570759390, Pub. Price $30.00 [300 pp.].
Narayan, Deepa, et al. Voices of the Poor: Crying Out for Change. Oxford University Press, 2000. ISBN: 978-0195216028, Pub. Price $15.00 [chapters 1-2 assigned].
Populorum Progressio. Available at http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/
encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_26031967_populorum_en.html.
Sen, Amartya. Development as Freedom. Knopf 1999. ISBN: 978-0375406195, Pub. Price $17.00 [384 pp.].
All articles in Course Reader [introduction and chapters 1-4].
USEFUL WEBSITES:
Christian Community Development Association (USA): www.urbanministry.org/ccda
Center for Global Development (USA): www.cgdev.org
Institute for Development Studies (UK): www.ids.ac.uk
Institute for Sustainable Development (Canada): www.iisd.org
PovertyNet (World Bank): www.worldbank.org/poverty
INTRAC (UK):www.intrac.org
RECOMMENDED READING:
A complete list of recommended reading will be available in the syllabus.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
Complete all required readings, 1600 pages (0%) (65 hours)
A written 4-5 page critical assessment paper using course materials and course reading covered in the first five weeks of the course (22%) (6 hours)
Students, in groups of 4-6, will participate in weekly discussion forums (17%) (2 hours each week, 20 hours total)
Additionally, each group will create wiki pages summarizing various organizations’ understanding and approach to poverty and development (13%) (5 hours)
12- to 15-page research paper on a topic related to the course, agreed to by the professor (48%) (15-20 hours)
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.