Overview of Department

The Department of Development Studies (DDS) is one of the pioneering Departments of the Faculty of Integrated Development Studies (IDS). It focuses on running development studies programmes at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The Integrated Development Studies programme, which the Department offers, is one of the core programmes of the University. It is a programme that adopts a multidisciplinary approach to teaching, learning and research in development studies as well as practical field training.

Objectives

DDS aims at building the capacity of students to holistically handle developmental and environmental challenges confronting humanity, especially in deprived parts of Ghana. Graduates of DDS are equipped with both practical and theoretical knowledge and skills to tackle development issues holistically in both rural and urban areas.

Our progrommes

Programmes currently on offer in the department include the following:

    1. PhD Development Studies (3-year regular programme): The programme aims to produce highly qualified and competent researchers and professionals of international acclaim, who will not only proactively and constructively take part in national and international research and debates in the field but can also provide effective recommendations based on their studies to mainstream development, social transformation and shape development policy and implementation at various levels. Thus, the PhD in Development Studies programme seeks to provide advanced knowledge and skills to students to holistically handle global developmental challenges confronting humanity, especially in deprived areas in Ghana using problem-solving approach.Objectives of the Programme
      • To provide students a firm understanding of the discourses of both developing and develop societies and work towards social change and improvement.
      • To provide students with contemporary and innovative methodologies in the humanities and social sciences relevant to exploring community and global development challenges.
      • Utilise perspectives and theories from multiple disciplines to construct analytical frameworks and to analyze contemporary community and global development problems.
      • To equip students with interdisciplinary perspectives to understand community and global social, political and economic processes, transformations to enable them to develop well rounded analytical framework for critical investigation.
      • To equip students with interactive problem-based learning approach to develop innovative ways of addressing contemporary community and global development challenges to shape policy and transform society.
      • To produce scholars equipped with interdisciplinary analytic capabilities to systemically examine development processes, institutions, outcomes to contribute to evidence-based development interventions.
    2. MPhil Development Studies (2-year Regular and 4-year Sandwich Programmes):  It is envisioned that the MPhil in Development Studies Programme will produce scholars and practitioners who are sensitive to current developmental concerns by combining innovative theoretical and methodological perspectives to solve contemporary local and global development challenges.
    3. BA Integrated Development Studies (4-year regular programme): The BA Integrated Development Studies (IDS) programme aims at building the capacity of students to holistically handle developmental and environmental challenges confronting humanity especially in deprived areas in Ghana. The BA IDS program particularly aims at giving students training in development studies from a holistic and multidisciplinary perspectives. Graduates of this program would be equipped with both practical and theoretical knowledge and skills to tackle development issues in both rural and urban areas.
    4. Diploma in Integrated Community Development: The objectives of the programme are to produce middle-level human resource, offer an opportunity for development workers to access higher education and provide students with effective leadership in development work, training and research.

Career Prospects

Graduates of the DDS have over the years been employed in varied sectors of development and development agencies including donor agencies, teaching/research institutions and local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Majority of the Department’s graduates have also ended up working in ministries and local government agencies. Some specific organizations where our past students can be found include UNICEF, Actionaid, Vibrant Village, Ministry of Education, TV Africa, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, University for Development Studies and University of Education, Winneba. Based on their competence and resourcefulness, products of the programme fit well into the dynamic and competitive job market.

Enquiries

Email: fsanyare@ubids.edu.gh ;

Mobile: +233 ….

Admissions

Call: +233(0)392097256 or +233(0)392097257; 

Email: admissions@ubids.edu.gh ; WhatsApp: +233550918837