Summer 2015/Fuller Online

MD525

Smith

MD525: POVERTY AND DEVELOPMENT (4 Units: 160 hours). 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: (1) Able to articulate and critically apply biblical and holistic understanding of poverty in broad Christian perspective; (2) Able to describe and critically assess some of the current theories of development; (3) Able to articulate and critically apply a biblical and holistic understanding of transformational development; and (4) Introductory knowledge of development principles and practice.

COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours, which is outlined below in the assignment and assessment section. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning.

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 $50.95 [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.].

Course Reader: Beltran, Castells, Chambers, Myers, Prahalad, Wiesenfeld, Williams, Zalanga.[Est 400 pp].

RECOMMENDED READING: A complete list of recommended reading will be available in the syllabus.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. 1,600 pages of required reading [75 hours].

  2. Weekly lectures viewed online. [All learning outcomes addressed] [20 hours].

  3. Directed Learning Activity 1: 250-word weekly forum posts, 250-word weekly forum responses, spiritual reflections and completing pre and post-course evaluations (10% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4 and school learning outcome on spiritual formation] [10 hours].

  4. Directed Learning Activity 2: Student groups will present a on-line Google document that summarizes and critiques the explicit and implicit (a) understanding of poverty and (b) theory of development of a major development organization based on the materials on its website(s) (10% of grade). [This is related to learning outcome 4] [8 hours].

  5. Spiritual Practices: Reflection (10% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 3] [5 hours].

  6. A written 4-5 page critical assessment paper using course materials and course reading covered in the first five weeks of the course (20% of grade) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2 and #4] [12 hours].

  7. 12- to 15-page research paper on a topic related to the course, agreed to by the professor (50% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4]. [30 hours].

  8. ThM students write an additional five-page theological reflection (20% of 50% for final research paper). [This assignment is related to all learning outcomes].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the C1, C2, or C3 requirement in the 120 MDiv Program. Meets core competency for MA Crosscultural Studies program (CSCC), pre-2010 curriculum. Required course in the International Development and Urban Studies emphasis. Option in the Children at Risk or Just Peacemaking emphases.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None. Final paper in lieu of.


NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.

For your convenience, order these texts online through the Archives Bookshop.