The development management project
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| 4 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| End-of-course assessment | No residential school |
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This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees may vary by country.
Summary
Development managers are often called upon to undertake investigations that contribute to changes in practice and policy. The Development Management Project, the final, compulsory element of the MSc, provides an opportunity to learn, develop and practise the skills required for such an undertaking. The project is individually chosen, the choice determined by the student’s own passions and priorities. The process is guided by learning from previous courses of the Masters Programme. And the product is a report that makes the case for change in the understanding of, and/or the practice and policy related to, a significant development management problem.
Course content
Since your course-work will be concerned with practice-based organisational or management issues and problems, it is likely to result in recommendations that will contribute to decision-making, policy formulation, new strategies and so on. So the kind of activity that you are likely to carry out for your project can be expected to lead to a better understanding of development and management concepts and techniques.
The course is divided into four blocks that support your project work and are linked to the assignments and the final project report.
Preparing your initial project proposal explains the nature of the development management project; helps you to choose a suitable topic; explains some of the common pitfalls that you might encounter; offers some tips to help you to put your proposal together and prepare you for the rest of the project; helps you to complete the initial proposal form.
Planning and managing your project explains the nature of the research process and the strengths and weaknesses of various approaches; gives you guidance on planning your research project; gives you information to help you to carry out an effective literature search; helps you to refine your project proposal.
Collecting, analysing and using data reviews the various kinds of data and styles of research; gives you the information you need to collect data successfully; explains how to evaluate quantitative and qualitative data; helps you to organise your own research work; helps you to make sense of the information you have gathered.
Presentation of results and report-writing offers advice to help you to write effectively and produce a professional report of your project work.
Entry
You must qualify for the University’s Postgraduate Diploma in Development Management before taking this course. If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
If you would like more information about the Development Management Programme, you can visit our website which incudes additional information on the courses and awards, recommended routes through the programme and details of special schemes. You could also try our study skills exercise.
Discount for students in non-OECD countries
If you are resident outside of Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, South Korea, Turkey and the USA, you may be eligible for a discounted fee for this course. To enquire about/claim this discount, telephone + 44 (0)115 962 5451 ext 65972, or email us.
Qualifications
TU874 is a compulsory course in our
Some postgraduate qualifications allow study to be chosen from other subject areas. These qualifications allow most postgraduate courses to count towards them.We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
Excluded combinations
If this course is in a similar area to one you have already completed, you can find out if it is an excluded combination.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
Some of the course material is presented on audio CD. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our booklet Meeting Your Needs which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You can also find information about accessible course materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Course materials
What's included
Course books, other printed materials, audio CDs.
You will need
An audio CD player.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will be responsible for monitoring your progress on the course, marking and commenting on your written work and whom you can contact for advice and guidance. Your tutor will maintain pro-active contact with you throughout the course. There is also an often lively online forum for all students on the course which one of the course tutors moderates.
Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs), and a project report (not more than 10,000 words), online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in May and November 2010. We expect it to be available twice a year.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
About this page
A postgraduate course in Environment, Development and International Studies.
Study explained
- Course
- - a module of study that can count towards a qualification.
- Credit points
- - show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit point represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about studying with the OU.
Student Reviews
I really enjoyed this course. Unlike the other courses in the suite of development management courses there was little directed ...
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TU874 course materials are well-written, comprehensive and clear, providing all of the guidance and information I had hoped for and ...
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