Department of Development Studies

The Department of Development Studies was established in 1996 as part of the Faculty of Arts.  Ever since, the Department has sought to improve its academic program to serve the development needs in Palestine, and to build the capacity of its students so that they become active agents in the development of their communities.

The program was initially focused on economic development issues, but it expanded overtime to include an interdisciplinary holistic approach to development that comprises social, political, cultural, environmental, and human rights issues.   As a result, the program  expanded and established connections with other academic programs, and it  was later annexed to the Institute of Sustainable Development.

The curriculum includes a wide range of theoretical and applied courses that deal with all the key issues and concepts of development. The courses are designed to provide a critical analysis of the economic, social, political, and cultural transformation of societies.  In addition, they shed a light on key development issues such as globalization, inequality, poverty, gender relations, community development, health, environmental degradation, foreign aid, the role of governmental and non-governmental orgaznaitions in development, conflict, good governance, democratization, and ethnic and cultural make-up of societies. 

The number of students who are enrolled in the program has gradually grown from 70 students in 1996 to 580 students besides 200 development-minor students in 2010. In addition, the number of the graduates of the program has grown from 24 in 2000 to 630 in 2010-2011.  

The program is open to students who earn a minimum grade of 70 in the Tawajihi (General Secondary Examination). In addition, the accepted students should earn a grade of at least 70 in 5 introductory courses before proceeding into the specialization track.

Dr. Azmi Ahmad Al-Atrash

 Dean  of the Institute for Sustainable  Development

Phone (mobile, home): +970-599233716 +970-2952212 
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.