FACULTY OF PLANNING AND LAND MANAGEMENT
Department of Planning and Management
MSc. /MPhil. Development Management
Introduction
The proposed Masters of Science/Masters of Philosophy (MSc./MPhil.) in Development Management is aimed at creating avenues for graduates with first degrees to move a step higher.
Aims of the Programme
This proposed MSc./MPhil. in Development Management is aimed at:
- Accomplishing UDS mandate of blending academic work with practice.
- Providing avenues for development practitioners who want to further their career to acquire higher qualifications.
- Providing avenues for UDS products who may want to work in the area of development management to acquire a higher professional qualification.
- Enhancing research and publications in the Faculty.
- Generating income to support the Faculty’s or University’s growing programmes.
Degree Structure
The Masters of Science/Master of Philosophy (MSc./MPhil.) in Development Management degrees will run concurrently, they will be awarded on the basis of course work and research. The course work in the MSc. will constitute eighty percent (80%) and twenty percent (20%) for the dissertation. In the Case of the MPhil. the course work will constitute seventy percent (70%) and the Thesis thirty percent (30%).
Duration
Master of Science (MSc.)
For the Master of Science (MSc.), course work will be offered in two trimesters and the thesis written alongside, from the second trimester and completed by the end of the third trimester. The duration of the programme is 12 months. This could however be extended to 18 months for candidates who are unable to finish within the 12 months.
Master of Philosophy (MPhil.)
In the case of the Master of Philosophy (MPhil.), course work will be offered in three trimesters and the thesis written alongside taught courses, from the third trimester of the first year till the end of the third trimester of the second year. The duration of the programme is 24 months. An extension of six months could be granted to candidates who are unable to finish within the 24 months
Eligibility
Candidates for the programme shall be first degree holders, or their equivalence, with at least second class upper division or second class lower with a minimum of two years practical experience in development work. All applicants must be interviewed.
Award of Degree
A candidate shall be awarded a Master of Science/Master of Philosophy in Development Management upon successful completion of his/her course work and thesis with an average grade of B.
Department of Real Estates and Land Management
MA Environmental Security andLivelihood Change (Sandwich)
This programme is hosted by the Faculty of Planning and Land Management but coordinated by Centre for Continuing Education and Inter-Disciplinary Research (CCEIR). Teaching takes place at the Navrongo Campus, University for Development Studies.
Objectives:
The programme offers opportunities for students to focus on and discuss natural resources and environmental management issues as they relate to access and control for improvement of livelihoods in the context of changes in climatic patterns. Global, national and local impinging factors are considered.
The programme is aimed principally at enabling students to:
- Appreciate the multi-disciplinary and complex nature of natural resource systems;
- Assess the competing claims for natural resource use;
- Understand and appreciate the relationship between natural resources and sustainable livelihoods;
- Assess the changing dynamics of natural resource use and availability within the global social, economic and political contexts and how these affect local livelihood patterns;
- Examine patterns of vulnerability to changing conditions of climate as well as the coping strategies as essential input to policy formulation. The changing conditions of vulnerability as a consequence of oil exploitation will be a special case study; and
- Acquire skills for the integrated assessment and management of natural resources – their utilization and conservation - in a sustainable way.
By the end of the programme of study, students should be able to:
- Understand the key concepts of natural resources and natural resources management (NRM), land tenure and land management including governance, and sustainable development, vulnerability, access and exclusion in natural resources management and their inter-relationships.
- Analyze the inter-connections of global and local economics, politics, and cultural issues in assessing access to natural resources.
- Determine patterns of vulnerability and environmental stress in space and time in the Ghanaian context; and
- Evaluate national policies with regard to natural resources and translate them in a holistic manner to the local level.
Admission Requirements
In order to be eligible for admission candidates must:
- Have a bachelor’s degree with at least Second Class lower division
- Have a minimum of three years working experience in a related field
- Pass a selection interview.
Target Group
This programme is targeted at:
- Staff of District Assemblies and their sub-structures
- Staff of Development, Governance and Environment related agencies, NGOs, CSOs etc.
- Staff of international organizations
- Traditional authorities
Programme Structure
In order to qualify for the award of an MA, the student must pass 10 (3-credit hour) courses that will be run over two sandwich years with a cumulative GPA of 2.5. All the first semester courses are compulsory. In the second semester, students have the choice to select two optional courses in addition to the three compulsory courses. Finally, the student must complete a dissertation of 60 pages (minimum for the actual body of the work) but not exceeding 80 pages.
Department of Community Development
MA Non-Governmental Organizations Management and Rural Development (Sandwich)
This programme is hosted by the Faculty of Planning and Land Management but coordinated by Centre for Continuing Education and Inter-Disciplinary Research (CCEIR). Teaching takes place at the Graduate School, University for Development Studies, Tamale.
Goal(s):
The goal of the programme is to train qualified manpower to provide the required technical skills for effective management and administration of NGOs and related organizations for sustainable rural development. These professionals are expected to help NGOs in planning, designing, implementing and supervising programmes and projects in pursuance of the socio-economic development agenda of Ghana.
Objectives of the Programme
In fulfilment of the goal, the main objective of the programme is to provide participants the opportunity to acquire the necessary technical competencies and managerial skills to respond adequately to the bottlenecks in the management and administration of NGOs to be able to play their expected roles in contributing to national and rural development. In particular, the programme will afford participants the platform to gain:
- Knowledge in multidisciplinary approaches to development theory and practice,
- The fundamentals and dynamics of rural development, and
- Competencies in financial and human resources management and internal control systems in the management of organizations.
Target Groups
- The programme targets staff of international and local NGOs and related organizations including FBOs and CBOs who want to develop their career in development practice with specialization in NGO and rural development management.
- It is also targeted at all persons interested in the management of rural development projects.
Admission Requirements
To be admitted into the programme, applicants must have at least:
- A first degree in the relevant field from a recognized institution of higher learning or its equivalent,
- Have a minimum of three years working experience, and
- Pass a selection interview.
Requirements for Graduation
To graduate, a student must have passed all the prescribed courses and electives for the programme with a cumulative GPA of 2.5. The pass mark for a course is Grade C. Continuous assessment will constitute 40% of the overall score. Finally, the student must complete a dissertation of 60 pages (minimum for the actual body of the work) but not exceeding 80 pages.
Programme Structure
The students are expected to undertake five courses each year for the two year duration. Each course will have 3 credit hours. On the whole, students will have to successfully complete ten courses with a total of 30 credit hours to merit the MA degree.