GD5801 Interrogating Sustainable Development

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Open to MSc Sustainable Development students only.

Planned timetable

To be arranged.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr T C Mendo

Dr T C Mendo
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Team taught; teaching staff confirmed at start of semester.

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This core module provides solid theoretical foundations for your understanding of Sustainable Development, enabling you to critically analyse different and contested approaches to sustainability. The module introduces the origins of the concept, as well as its key critiques and alternatives, using ‘development’ as a broad entry point to a famously vague term. This provides an opportunity for you to discover for yourselves Sustainable Development’s diverse theoretical traditions and to evaluate what approach(es) are most suitable for your future goals. This module prepares you to develop research-led policy for sustainable development in semester two. The module is divided into three themes: Sustaining Development, Sustaining Capitalism and Sustaining Justice.

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%: (10% group presentation, 40% individual report, and 50% topic essay - choice of 2 from 3)

Re-assessment

100% Coursework (capstone essay)

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

2 hourr online or in person lecture/seminar/presentation x 10 weeks, 1 hourr online or in person assessment-related session x 8 weeks; additional skills workshops in some weeks; face to face (online/in person) office hours

Scheduled learning hours

40

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

260

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Develop student ability to read and assimilate material from the range of disciplines that characterise sustainable development.
  • Understand and be able to articulate in verbal and written form the contemporary meanings of sustainable development and how the concept is applied in various academic and practical spheres.
  • Appreciate the problem-set that sustainable development seeks to address and the tensions that characterise this field.
  • Develop an appreciation of the social, cultural, economic, political, biological and physical systems that shape human viewpoints and behaviour.