Rurality, Livelihood and Gender
The course elaborates on the interrelations between rural and urban, farm and non-farm strategies in building household livelihoods. The focus is on low-income countries and marginal areas of production and livelihoods, particularly regions in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa that are affected by poverty.
The course addresses the interconnections between rural development, gender and technology, institutions, food security, social security and poverty. Students will learn how to describe and critically discuss, amongst others, dominant policies and programmes in rural development, people’s motivations and livelihood strategies and gender and development theory.
Information from the course leader
Welcome to the course Rurality, Livelihoods and Gender 2024!
(Please note that there is an updated schedule available in canvas, see link below)
Dear all,
The Rurality, Livelihoods and Gender course runs from 2nd of September to the 1st of November 2024. This is one of the core courses of the Master Program in Rural Development offered at the Department of Urban and Rural Development at SLU. The course is also open for students from other programs.
The course is designed to synthesize and discuss several theoretical and analytical approaches to the intersections between rurality, livelihoods and gender. This will include familiarizing you with current research perspectives on local and global dynamics and the use of different case studies representing contexts from both the global South and Global North.
The course leaders are Cristián Alarcón, Gwen Varley and Clara Gustafsson based at the division of Rural Development at the Department of Urban and Rural Development of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala.
Our first meeting is scheduled for Monday 2/9 at 13:30 hrs and we will meet in the following room: Sal Q. Ulls hus B-blocket, SLU Campus Ultuna. This first day is to introduce the course and give you an overview of the structure and goals of the learning activities during the course.
We will use Canvas as the main platform for the course.
The course's schedule and the grading criteria are available at canvas (this schedule can be subject to minor changes): https://slu-se.instructure.com/files/1349533/download?download_frd=1
Also, we will have a discussion room in canvas that you can use to write some words about yourself and share your expectations for the course.
Finally, please note that that the roll call for the master programme students and welcome by Heads of Studies is schedule for Monday 2/9 at 11.30. See information about room and time for this roll call here: https://internt.slu.se/en/support-services/education/education-at-bachelors-and-masters-level/new-students/welcoming-new-students/Roll-call-day-programme-and-time-slots/
We look forward to meeting you very soon,
Cristian, Gwen and Clara
Course evaluation
The course evaluation is now closed
LU0096-10169 - Course evaluation report
Once the evaluation is closed, the course coordinator and student representative have 1 month to draft their comments. The comments will be published in the evaluation report.
Additional course evaluations for LU0096
Academic year 2023/2024
Rurality, Livelihood and Gender (LU0096-10386)
2023-08-28 - 2023-10-30
Academic year 2022/2023
Rurality, Livelihood and Gender (LU0096-10110)
2022-08-29 - 2022-10-31
Academic year 2021/2022
Rurality, Livelihood and Gender (LU0096-10258)
2021-08-30 - 2021-11-01
Academic year 2020/2021
Rurality, Livelihood and Gender (LU0096-10232)
2020-08-31 - 2020-11-01
Academic year 2019/2020
Rurality, Livelihood and Gender (LU0096-10161)
2019-09-02 - 2019-10-31
Academic year 2018/2019
Rurality, Livelihood and Gender (LU0096-10162)
2018-09-03 - 2018-11-11
Syllabus and other information
Syllabus
LU0096 Rurality, Livelihood and Gender, 15.0 Credits
Landsbygd, försörjning och genusSubjects
Environmental Science Rural Development Rural Development Environmental scienceEducation cycle
Master’s levelModules
| Title | Credits | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Single module | 15.0 | 0201 |
Advanced study in the main field
Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirementsMaster’s level (A1N)
Grading scale
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.
Language
EnglishPrior knowledge
Knowledge equivalent to 180 credits, including 90 credits within a particular major within humanities, social or natural sciences. Knowledge equivalent to English 6 (Swedish educational system).Objectives
The course provides practical tools for analysing rural livelihoods within a gender and development perspective. After the course the student shall be able to:
describe and critically discuss the dominant theories and perspectives underlying policies and programmes in rural development
evaluate and critically discuss the role of institutions, policies and programmes which aim to improve food security and social security of rural livelihoods
describe and critically discuss interrelations between rural and urban, farm and non-farm strategies in building household livelihoods
evaluate and critically discuss people’s motivations and livelihood strategies, in relation to rural development
describe and critically discuss, in written and oral form, using gender and development theory, the relation between rural development, food security and social security of rural livelihoods.
Content
The course aims to provide an overview of the food security and social security situation of rural livelihoods, partly drawing on gender analysis. It elaborates on the interrelations between rural and urban, farm and non-farm strategies in building household livelihoods. The focus is on low-income countries and marginal areas of production and livelihoods, particularly regions in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa that are affected by poverty. The course addresses the interconnections between rural development, gender, institutions, food security, social security and poverty.
Grading form
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.Formats and requirements for examination
Written and oral exam, presentations and exercises. Approved examination.
If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Other information
The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.
If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Responsible department
Department of Urban and Rural Development
Further information
Litterature list
Books
The following books will be covered in more depth during this course. Hence, if you plan on purchasing any books, we recommend these three:
Ellis F. 2000. Rural livelihoods and diversity in developing countries. Oxford University Press. Available at the Ultuna Service Centre in limited supply.
Peet, R. and E. Hartwick. 2015. Theories of Development: Contentions, Arguments, Alternatives. Guilford Publications.
Arora-Jonsson Seema, 2014, Gender, Development and Environmental Governance –Routledge
In addition, selected book chapters are included in lectures, but either those will be available in Canvas or in the library (since it may not make sense to purchase a book for only a chapt.or two).