Overview

Centre for Rural Development Studies (CRDS) is one of the six centres under the College of Development Studies (CDS). The Centre offers Master of Arts (MA) Degree in Development Studies, specialization in “Rural Livelihood and Development”, and advanced degree (i.e. PhD) in Development Studies, specialization in “Rural Development”.

Programs

The regular MA program was launched in 2004/2005 academic year (AY), while the PhD program has been started in 2009/10AY. Extension MA program in Development Studies, specialization in “Rural Livelihood and Development”, was also started in 2017 after the old curriculum has been revised in 2016.  In the MA program, a total of 219 students graduated since 2005/06 and in the PhD program 33 students since 2014AY. These programs have high demand and every academic year, a large number of BA/Bsc graduates who seek MA degree and as well as MA/MSc graduates seeking to work for their terminal degree apply to the Centre.

 Admission Requirements to Join PhD Program

• Candidates who have MA/MSc in development studies, social sciences (economics, population, geography, sociology, anthropology, etc.), or development-oriented natural sciences (environment sciences, resource sciences, etc.) can apply for the programme;
• Those who are with a relatively distant academic background will be required to take one of the masters’ program courses being offered in the Centre(s) of the College.
• Those whose previous training meets the above requirements shall be directed to the PhD path, which includes core units in development studies and research skills as part of the program.
• Candidates are expected to present a focused research concepts note (proposal) to the College as part of the application process.
• Candidates must have good first degree result (CGP of 2.00 and above) and MA/MSc degree (CGPA of 3.0 and above) in either the social sciences or development related natural sciences.
• Work and academic experiences in the field of rural development and environment is welcomed.
• Candidates who have publications are also most welcomed.
• Applicants must clearly demonstrate academic excellence in areas relevant to the strategic research interests of the College of Development Studies.
• Applicants are required to submit their own concept notes for research and proposals must be aligned with the strategic research goals of the centre.

 Admission Requirements to Join MA Program

• The admission requirement to join the MA program in rural development is based on the admission policy of AAU in general and the admission requirements of the College of Development Studies in particular.
• Prospective candidates who had successfully completed their undergraduate studies in development-oriented disciplines such as rural development, development studies, agriculture, economics, environmental sciences, geography, sociology and anthropology could join the program.
• Candidates who have BA/BSc in other related fields of study can also be considered.
• Relevant work and academic experience in rural development is most welcomed.
• Candidates who have publications are also most welcomed.

Resources in CRDS

CRDS has fairly sufficient support staff; shared facilities (classrooms furnished with necessary teaching aids and materials – LCDs, generator, etc.); resource center and library section housed at the AAU digital library); reading rooms, fairly good internet connections, etc.

Future Plan of CRDS

In addition to the existing programs, the Centre has a plan to open two new MA programs (i) Agricultural Economics, and (ii) Agribusiness and Development.  To this effect committees have been established to prepare curriculum for these programs. The center conducts curriculum reviews very three years in order to ensure the relevance and currency of program courses of each graduate programs. Regarding the research, the center has been making its endeavor to actively engage the academic staff, MA students and PhD candidates in publishing articles and research reports in journals to disseminate research results to the academic community and to the wider society at large.