Spring 2017/Online

MD525

Smith

MD525: POVERTY AND DEVELOPMENT (4 Units: 160 hours). Josh Dee Smith with lectures from Bryant Myers.

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: (1400 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://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_01051991_centesimus-annus.html [48 pp.].

Christian, Jayakumar. God of the Empty-Handed: Poverty, Power and the Kingdom of God. Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-1887983136, Pub. Price $49.95 [235 pp.], or there is a Kindle version for $9.49.

Friedmann, John. Empowerment: The Politics of Alternative Development. Blackwell, 1992. ISBN: 978-1557863003, Pub. Price $52.95 [166 pp.].

Hiebert, Paul, et al. Understanding Folk Religion. Baker Books, 1999. ISBN: 978-0801022197, Pub. Price $36.00 [73 pp.].

Myers, Bryant. Walking with the Poor: Principles and Practices of Transformational Development. 2nd ed. Orbis, 2011. ISBN: 978-1570759390, Pub. Price $30.00 [350 pp.].

Populorum Progressio. Available at http://w2.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_26031967_populorum.html. [28 pp.].

Sen, Amartya. Development as Freedom. Knopf 1999. ISBN: 978-0375406195, Pub. Price $17.00 [111 pp.].

Course Reader: Beltran, Castells, Chambers, Myers, Narayan, 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. 1400 pages of reading. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 3, and 4]. [About 75 hours]. 

2. Lectures recorded by Bryant Myers [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 3, and 4]. [20 hours].

3. Directed Learning Activity 1: Forum Postings and pre and post course evaluation):  (10% of grade). [This assignment is related to all learning outcome sequentially]. [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 assignment 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 readings covered in the first five weeks of the course. (20% of grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [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 connects potentially to any number of learning outcomes depending on the paper topic]. [30 hours].

8. ThM students write an additional five-page theological reflection. (20% of 50% for final research paper).

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the 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.