Bachelor of Arts in Rural Development

The major Rural Development courses for the four-year Bachelor's level are designed to make students familiar with the basic concepts, theories and approaches of rural development with reference to Nepal, simple knowledge of mathematics and statistics, situation analysis of rural economy of Nepal and problems, issues and solutions. It also aims to introduce students, to the natural resources and their importance in rural development and environmental conservation, with basic concepts, theories and methods of rural sociology and enable them to apply these concepts and theories in analyzing rural development process in Nepal. Students are required to study the nature, characteristics, concepts and theoretical framework of the state and government and different institutions of governance in local and rural development areas.

Development has always been subjected to critical enquiry. Rural Development is a sub-field of development studies. From this point if view, there are nine papers in this course of which seven are mandatory and two are functional. These papers bring students into discussion about issues of development, which are urgent, massive and complex. 

Objectives 

• The objectives of this course are to acquaint the students with theories, approaches, techniques and issues of rural development. 
• It is also to promote the scientific approach in identifying development issues and solving problems practically regarding social, economic, political and environment sectors.   

Rural Development studies, incorporating aspects of environmental, economic, social and cultural aspects from a sustainability perspective, have gained enormous prominence and research interest in recent decades. It has also witnessed rapid growth and much change in theory and practice. Study and research opportunities in this area are wide ranging, enabling students to become generalists, being able to advise on, manage or otherwise be involved in many different development issues. With the government increasing budget of rural development and other ministries extending their shares of schemes and also with the intervention of corporate houses as a part of their social obligation in the field of rural development, the job opportunities at various levels are also increasing. While the rural development is still a mission for development agencies, it has become a profession for young graduates, which gives them dual satisfaction of earning livelihood as well as undertaking social service. One can join a government agency, a non-government organization or even freelance.