4.0

credits

Average Course Rating

This course covers major topics in agricultural development, historically and in our current time. Our class is grounded in core concepts of agricultural economics, but there is no math involved and you do not need any prior economics courses to take this class. We will focus on the role of agriculture in reducing poverty, how it has contributed to economic growth and improved outcomes for people around the world and try to understand why it has not taken off in some areas that remain at low levels of per capita incomes, largely (but not exclusively) in sub-Saharan Africa. You will learn in depth about one topic through a group project, which your group will teach to the rest of the class in the second half of the course. We will critically analyze issues of inequality and inequity as it relates to the class topics and readings throughout the course. Towards the end of the semester, we will hear from professionals who work in agricultural development to learn about career pathways in the field.