The course is specifically designed to expose students to selected areas of Development Economics in order to prepare them to identify potential research topics for essay writing and presentation.  The course statrs with brief lecture sessions selected topics that are not well covered in undergradtuat and masters level programs.  These include topics in institutions and developmemt, human capital theory, the economics of conflict, and Africa-china relations. Students are required to review books and jornal articles for reflections and class presentations.  They are furhter required to write essays for conference-format class presentations and discussions.