MA Gender and Development

Master

In Brighton

£ 11,300 + VAT

Description

  • Type

    Master

  • Location

    Brighton

At the end of the programme, the successful student will be able to: critically analyse gender as it relates to development theory and policy; show sophistication in distilling information from a body of knowledge relating to theoretical and conceptual issues in gender and development; and demonstrate originality in the use of practical skills in research methods, project design, policy analysis, and basic forms of statistical analysis.

Facilities

Location

Start date

Brighton (East Sussex)
See map
Sussex House, BN1 9RH

Start date

On request

About this course

IDS students are often development practitioners from a range of international, governmental or non-governmental organisations in the North and South. Relevant work experience is taken into account in assessing applications, but a good honours first degree, preferably in a social science or development-related subject, is a basic requirement. The minimum acceptable level of English language competence is grade 7 overall, and no less than 6.5 in each section of the IELTS test (or equivalent).

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Course programme

MA Gender and Development

This masters programme is one of the longest running and most popular programmes on gender and development. It is taught jointly with the School of Social and the School of Global Studies at the University of Sussex. It situates the study of gender and development within an academic social science framework, as well as in the context of policymaking and implementation. The programme aims to equip students with the analytical and conceptual skills needed to understand gender issues in both contexts, enabling them to participate effectively in gender and development-related research, policymaking and implementation.

The MA programme is taught jointly by IDS and University of Sussex faculty members as well as external specialists, with extensive experience in teaching, research, consultancy, and operational work, across a range of social science disciplines. IDS and Sussex are home to some of the world's leading thinkers on gender and development, and IDS co-ordinates a five year DFID-funded Research Partnership Consortium on Pathways to Women's Empowerment which brings together researchers, activists, policy makers and NGOs from the UK, Egypt, Brazil, Ghana and Bangladesh.

In the first term, students are introduced to core ideas in development and to the theoretical issues concerning gender in development. In the second term, two courses are offered: Key Issues in Gender and Development; and The Politics of Implementing Gender and Development. In the third term, students take two half-length options, one of which may be the 'Doing Gender and Development' course which focuses on aspects of development practice.

A broad range of teaching methods are employed to create a varied learning experience. These include lectures and seminars, workshops, work with computers, intensive project-work in small groups, and use of videos. Supervision is provided through group tutorials and individually. Students are assessed primarily through term papers (of 3,000 - 5,000 words) and a dissertation (of 10,000 words. Under exceptional circumstances, it is possible to write a longer, intensively supervised, dissertation).

Term Schedule:

Autumn Term (Oct-Dec)

  • Core Course 1: Ideas in Development and Policy, Evidence and Practice.
  • Core Course 2: Gender Analysis and Theoretical Perspectives.
  • Core Course 3: Introduction to Economics.

Spring Term (Jan-Mar)

  • Course 4: The Politics of Implementing Gender and Development
  • Course 5: Key Issues in Gender and Development.

Summer Term (April-June)

  • Courses 6 and 7: Dissertation (submit early September); Choose two half-length option courses 10,000 words.

Professional Skills Workshops run through the terms.

Ideas in Development and Policy, Evidence and Practice

This course is the foundation for all the Masters' programmes at IDS. It provides students with the opportunity for shared learning across the different programmes as well as to meet IDS researchers from across all the disciplines and points of view represented in the Institute. A weekly lecture series provides students with an appreciation of different perspectives on development theory as presented by some of the Institute's most distinguished Fellows. Each lecture is followed up by a tutorial that allows students to explore further the issues raised in the lecture and consider how these relate to their own specific area of study.

Gender Analysis and Theoretical Perspectives

The course begins with a session which reflects on 'What is Gender?' The course then introduces key concepts in the analysis of social relations between women and men in different cultural, economic, and political contexts. This includes examining the nature of gender inequality, the household as a construct and reviewing concepts of power and empowerment. These issues are placed in the context of the emergence of the 'Women in Development' / 'Gender and Development' fields and the various feminist perspectives which have contributed to it.

Introduction to Economics

The course is aimed at those with limited previous exposure to economics and aims to provide students with a basic understanding of key concepts in economics, and of their application in development policy and practice.

The Politics of Implementing Gender and Development

This second term course has several elements. First, women's political representation and the biases in formal political institutions and systems are discussed. The role and history of women's movements in civil society and the nature of their relationship with the state are also explored. Following this, theories of the state and of organisational change are reviewed in relation to development institutions, to identify effective strategies for, and constraints to, institutionalising gender-sensitive approaches to development policy.

Key Issues in Gender and Development

This course consists of a few key modules in which students explore the gendered dimensions of different development sectors. These modules, which vary from year to year, have included education, livelihoods, reproductive health and rights, environment and identity. Key policy and conceptual debates on specified modules are examined in conjunction with how development policies and interventions impact differently on men and women. The course aims to understand how gendered identities are formed and re-shaped as a result of the development process.

Specialisation Options (Summer Term)

Before starting their dissertations, students may choose two short courses from a range of options. Courses vary from year to year, but may include:

  • Decentralisation and Local Government
  • Governance of Violent Conflict and (In)security
  • Management of Public Finance
  • Politics of Pro-Poor Policies
  • Rethinking Health Systems
  • Aid and Poverty: The Political Economy of International Development
  • Assistance
  • Analysing Poverty and Vulnerability
  • Climate Change and Disasters
  • Post-Conflict and Very Poor Countries: Development Challenges
  • Doing Gender and Development
  • Reflective Practice and Social Change
  • China In Development
  • Competing in the Global Economy
  • Mobilising Knowledge for Development.

MA Gender and Development

£ 11,300 + VAT