School of Sociology and Social Policy

Compulsory Modules

Debates on Disability Theory and Research gives you the opportunity to critically evaluate recent debates and developments within social research on disability.Not only will you discuss positivist, interpretative and 'emancipatory' methodologies, alongside associated data collection and analytical strategies, you will also examine their significance for disability research.

Through the module, you will investigate theoretical perspectives, the various definitions and approaches to impairment and disability, and disability as an equal opportunities and policy issue. You will explore the impact of myths and prejudices, industrialisation and the welfare state upon cultural representations of disability.

Disability and Development  This module will give students a thorough grounding in theories relating to disability in the context of development studies; an appreciation of the way understanding of disabilities articulates with varying cultural norms and a critical awareness of policy interventions around disability in developing countries, with particular attention to community based rehabilitation. Students will be able to critically assess the factors underlying differential patterns of impairment and prevalence of impairments across different countries and among different population groups.

Disability and Global Development Dissertation allows you to tailor your own programme of training and research in consultation with a member of staff drawn from the department's MA/PhD supervisory panel. Through the dissertation, you demonstrate your ability to develop and complete an in-depth analysis, select and use appropriate research methods, deploy advanced theoretical concepts and relate a focused study to broader debates and concerns relating to disability and global development.

Development Theories, Strategies and Issues The module aims to act as an introduction to the field of development studies and takes an interdisciplinary approach. It focuses on theories of development, substantive issues of development, development strategy and project appraisal. It aims to assess the historical process of development and underdevelopment, taking into consideration both internal and external factors. It attempts to provide an overview of alternative theoretical approaches in the analysis of developing countries and examines their policy implications.